Stories from the February 08 issue

Looking For Downeys who live in Wallingford

Hi Andy


I hope you can help me in some way, I am in England and my mothers side of the family are from Irish immigrants from Castlecomer, Conahy, Co. Kilkenny, in Ireland. I am doing research into family trees and have uncovered the above URL link to a Diana Mary downey who is in Connecticut Wallingford and was requesting information about her ancestors who were born in Conahy near Castlecomer Co. Kilkenny,


I am almost POSITIVE that we are connected as my grandfather and great grandfather (I am now 50) were born in Castlecomer, Lower firoda and Conahy.


The problem I am having is that the e-mail address given on the above link is coming back as undeliverable (working it out it seems to me that the person who has posted that information on the website in 2001 is probably now deceased,


My question/request is: could you put something in your free paper asking Downeys who live in Wallingford and are interested in Genealogy to contact me via this e-mail address? I can then start trtying to find more of my own tree.


Incidentally I have just got an Irish Passport because of my grandparents birth in Ireland and this is possible to do by "descent" as I am sure many of your readers will know, as Irish Immigrants who can "prove"their family line can apply for Irish nationality.


I know I am grasping at straws but I am finding it impossible to find e-mail addresses of the many downey's who I know must still live in wallingford and surround areas, and of course to do this postally would take forever.
Hope you can help
My name is
Mr. Laurence Wilby,
lmwilby@hotmail.com

my mother was Catherine Downey and my grandfather was Edward Downey who married margaret Curran around 1903 (in Manchester England) he was born 14 sept. 1873 in Lower Firoda to Martin downey who was a farmer in Conahy, Castlecomer Co. Kilkenny Ireland, he was married to a Mary Murphy.

I know I dont need all this detail but it might help if you can summarize it and put it in a little spot in your local paper with my e-mail address? thanks a lot.



“Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective”
by Gregory M. Simpson

If you love cats - all cats - you need to know about these letters – TNR.

They stand for Trap-Neuter-Return and represent the most humane steps to assisting feral cats. But what is a feral cat? The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) defines feral cats as the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats that are not spayed or neutered.

They are not accustomed to contact with people and are typically too fearful and wild to be handled. They also do not easily adapt or may never adapt to living as companion animals. A stray cat, by contrast, is a lost or abandoned pet cat. Strays are used to people, are tame, and may be reunited with their families or adopted into new homes. Thousands of feral cats live in Connecticut; perhaps as many as 300,000 – 400,000 according to the Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut (AWFCT). At a Connecticut conference on feral cats sponsored by HSUS and the Petco Foundation, Bryan Kortis, executive director of Neighborhood Cats in New York City (www.neighborhoodcats.org), offered wryly, “In Connecticut, you’re like a lot of people; running around with teacups trying to empty the ocean.” With so many feral cats, clearly a widespread application of a proven method is needed. TNR basics consist of humane trapping (the “T”), spaying or neutering with a vaccination minimally for rabies and typically ear tipping for identification (the “N”), and the return to the colony from which the cat came (the “R”). Daily monitoring of food, shelter, illness, and trapping of new arrivals is the work of a long-term caretaker. This monitoring constitutes the additional unsaid letter “M” after TNR. Besides caring about cats’ welfare, there are public health reasons to promote TNR. Remember that all of these issues were present with feral cats prior to TNR. The approach does not cause these public health concerns. They would still be there without it. Since feral cats interact with raccoons which are the most common vector wildlife for rabies (along with bats and skunks), it is important that feral cats be vaccinated against this disease. Kortis notes that since 1975 there has not been a single case of a person contracting rabies from a cat, however. Cats that are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and monitored do not present the same nuisance issues such as the caterwauling due to fighting and mating, the strong smell from unaltered males spraying to mark their territory, and the deadly, emaciated or sickly animals seen in non-maintained colonies. With TNR, experience shows that a colony with a 70% spay/neuter rate will exhibit stabilized numbers. Once a 90% spay/neuter rate is reached, colony attrition is fairly assured.


Connecticut was the first state to award grants to feral cat groups for the purpose of spay/neuter, through its Department of Agriculture. Connecticut is also the state with the lowest euthanasia rate, however largely because most animal control officers and many private shelters do not take in feral cats. In the rare instances where they are picked up, they are typically euthanized. So what are the options when finding feral cats in one’s community? There are four approaches for addressing feral cats. The most prevalent is to do nothing. Another is to trap and remove the cats, but that usually amounts to a death sentence, since finding alternative living arrangements such as barns are rare. Even with relocation that necessitates a three week confinement to assimilate cats to a new territory, only slightly better than two-thirds of cats typically will stay on site. Thus, trap and remove usually means trap, remove and euthanize. Even then, unless one is willing to pay a significant amount of money for trapping, removal and euthanasia, there is no one who will do it. In addition, it’s difficult and time consuming to catch all the cats in an area. What usually happens is some cats are left behind and they, along with any new cats which show up, quickly repopulate the area.

The third approach is a legislated feeding ban, based on the thinking that removing the food source will lead to feral cat attrition. This is universally unsuccessful, however, since it is impossible to prevent caring people from feeding hungry cats. Cats also will not leave an area that has provided food and shelter, because cats are territorial. Regarding feeding bans, Kortis asks legislators, “Can you pass an amendment that it won’t rain on Sundays? Because that will be as effective.”

The fourth, and only humane approach, is TNR.TNR needs to be a community-wide approach and not limited to one site in order to be most effective. Otherwise, as the size of a colony declines, it’s possible that unaltered ferals from adjoining territories will move in to take advantage of the extra food and shelter. Roger Tabor, in his book, The Wild Life of the Domestic Cat, first documented this “vacuum effect” which occurs when ferals are removed or eliminated from a location only to be quickly replaced by new cats.

Using a community-wide approach was successfully demonstrated in Newburyport, Massachusetts, which went from three hundred feral cats on its waterfront to six. On Rikers Island in New York City, Neighborhood Cats, working with other groups, noted a 50% decrease in the population over the course of five years through adoption of friendly strays and sterilization of feral cats. TNR is not new. The practice goes back to at least the 1950s in Great Britain. In the U.S., Ellen Perry Berkeley wrote the first extensive report on neuter and release in Cat Fancy. This 1984 article was entitled, “Controlling Feral Cats.” She has also written two books on the subject, Maverick Cats: Encounters with Feral Cats and TNR Past, Present and Future: A History of the Trap-Neuter-Return Movement.

Those helping feral cats share two purposes: reducing the number of feral cats over time and humanely treating feral cats. A secondary goal of maximizing colony caretaker participation is also essential. Optimum is having a statewide feral cat council. Since Connecticut already has the statewide Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut (AWFCT), this is a reachable goal. The council should include not only feral cat advocates, but also members of the wildlife community, public health agencies, and animal rescue groups and shelters. An excellent model is the New York City Feral Cat Council (www.nycferalcat.org), part of the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City’s Animals. Other models include those in San Diego (feralcat.com) and Seattle (feralspayneuter.org). Kortis counsels, “Being a feral cat caretaker means also being a community activist.” For more on TNR, contact HSUS (www.hsus.org/feralcats) and the ASPCA (www.aspca.org), the two largest U.S. animal advocacy organizations. Other resources include Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org) and these advocacy organizations: www.azcats.org and www.petsforlife.org For veterinarians in your area that spay/neuter feral cats, contact SPAY/USA at 1-800-248-SPAY or Friends of Animals at 1-800-321-PETS. Feral and stray cats produce about 80% of the kittens born each year.

They are the principal source of cat overpopulation. Address cat overpopulation at its source by both effectively and humanely aiding feral cats through TNR. For the animals,Gregory M. SimpsonGregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S., he is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.


I am a stay-at-home mom that was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis. It is hard for me to work a conventional job, so I need to be on a strict budget when it comes to food, clothing, transportation, and even frills like furniture and appliances. I don’t have a lot, if any money to “play” with so I do what I can in and around the house by reusing things, buying less, and conserving.


One of the biggest things that I can do for the environment is to use my car less. This may be hard for some people in rural areas, but I live in a well established town with lots of shopping centers that are in walking distance. If I need, say a gallon of milk, I will not use my car to get that milk, I’ll use my legs. This cuts down on CO2 emissions, my gas bill for the week, and I even get the extra bonus of exercise in the process.


The next big thing I conserve on is electricity. Lights can give off a lot of heat and can also use a lot of energy just by being on. I personally will not use a lot of light in the summer because the house gets hotter from the bulbs. Sure, I could go out and buy those expensive alternative florescent bulbs that are supposed to be better, but I see little point in wasting what I already have since it still works. I just use them less now. I also unplug everything that is not in use like my cell phone charger, mini food processor, toaster, and any other small appliance you can think of in order to save on electricity and help the environment.


I use less water by washing large loads of laundry, washing the dishes per meal, instead of per dish, and taking shorter showers. Using less water is an important thing for all of us to think about since our water supply as a whole is getting less due to contamination and less rainfall. I find that waiting to do a load of dishes or laundry is helping us save the environment because I use less water this way. We live in an apartment, so I do not have grass to water, but I do have indoor plants that need water. I save on watering by filling a watering can with water per week instead of watering per day. This not only controls water intake, but it also helps the plants. By keeping the water in a container overnight, the chlorine dissipates, and becomes healthier for indoor houseplants to drink.


Using fragrance-free products or “green” cleaning products also helps the environment by emitting less toxic fumes into the air. There are many people who have allergies in today’s day and age, my family is among the allergy-prone people. Using products that contain no fragrance, helps out with this. I buy laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and even bar soap that contain no fragrance to help with our skin irritants. I also use cleaning products that contain little fumes to help with our allergy related asthma. Products like white vinegar and water, baking soda, and even trademark products like Murphy’s Oil Soap, and Borax have little fumes to breath in and work just as good as any other product out in the market today that’s used to clean your house.


You can save the environment by using your dryer and dishwasher less too. Letting your clothes and dishes air dry saves on your energy bills and helps the environment. Air drying your dishes is also better for you because it is harder for bacteria to live on the dish if it’s dried by the air. Some molds and bacteria love heat and can multiply quite fast in hot temperatures. Allowing some time for the air to get at your dishwasher and your dishes, will eliminate this potential threat.


Recycling is a word that has been around for a while and most people know how to throw out their garbage today because this term is used so often, but some people forget the other meaning of recycling, which is to try and reuse what you have, or give it to someone else who can. For instance, that old tee-shirt that doesn’t fit could be converted into a shopping bag to use at the store in place of their plastic counterpart. You can stitch up the bottom of the shirt by sewing it or using iron-on tape and then cut out the sleeves to make your handles. The tee-shirt can also be used as a dust rag or even a sponge for washing your floor, car, or even the family dog. You can use old pasta sauce jars as storage containers for nuts, bolts, nails, beauty products, or even food and cooking herbs. And how about that laundry detergent bottle or coffee can being turned into a piggy bank for the kids or even a pot for a plant. An egg carton can be transformed into an organizer for ornaments or even craft accessories. There are many different things that we have in our possession that could be used for something else with a little creativity and this helps out the environment by keeping it out of a land fill.

Another popular recycling craze is called free cycle. This is a group of people in your community that will give away clothing, furniture, toys, and even coupons to others for free. These groups are popping up on the internet in online communities like Yahoo! Groups, AOL, and even MSN. They are passionate people who are dedicated to keeping good products out of a landfill. I personally belong to such a group and I think it’s a great idea.


This is just a short list of what can be done to “go green” without spending a lot of green. But if each and everyone of us did something small to “go green”, we’d all be doing something big while saving and conserving for our planet. And that’s really what “going green” is all about. Kimberley Linstruth-Beckom Founder of Writers With Chronic Disease Writerswithchronicdisease-owner@yahoogroups.com.
Author and Publisher Kimberley Linstruth-Beckom http://www.kimberleylinstruth-beckom.com/


Castle Runs
Part 1
David Radcliffe

In the early part of 2006 I had a pain in my neck.

At the start, I complained about it on a fairly regular basis to my wife (suggesting, with a wink, that she might be the source of it!). But then, as the days of pain turned to weeks and then months, I got just plain worried.

I didn’t know it at the time, but a January ’06 run up to the top of Castle Craig in Meriden’s Hubbard Park would be my last bit of exercise until later that summer. Over the next weeks it became uncomfortable to do most everything, including sleep. My left arm and leg became numb and tingling, and my left leg was dragging slightly behind when I walked. I tried massage therapy, heat, cold, stretching and pills. Nothing worked. As Winter turned to Spring, I watched most of the changing seasons through a window. No lawn mowing, no playing catch with the kids. Finally, the doctor took an MRI. He showed me the pictures, and, shocked, even I could see trouble.

A disk was out from between the 6th and 7th vertebrae in my neck, and pushed half-way into my spinal cord. While my prognosis was good, the doctor said if I didn’t have the surgery soon I could lose my ability to walk by the end of the summer. That was a terrifying thought. While plenty of people have this issue – more than you can imagine - this was devastating news to me. I’ve been blessed with a very healthy and active life. I’ve been running since 12 years old. Except for chicken pox in the 3rd grade, I had never been sick or injured.

Several months later, I had surgery to repair a severely herniated disk. If you have to have this problem, said the doctor, this was the best spot due to easy access for the surgery and better odds for recovery.

Today, a year and a half later, I’m totally fine. I have a very slight loss in range of motion in my neck – so if I need to scratch my chest with my chin, that’s not so easy.

The following collection of journal stories is of the year I took to revisit visit Hubbard Park and Castle Craig, the site of my last run before that long dark winter. At least once a month in 2007 I ran the three miles from the park-proper and on up – way up - to the Castle. For me this was a way to celebrate recovery from what started in early 2006 as a painful, mysterious malady that ended with a full recovery.

OOOOOOOO If you haven’t been up to Meriden’s Castle Craig, you’ve certainly seen it, a tiny rock sentinel watching over Meriden for over 100 years. The way up deserves a description. It’s a highly unique geologic feature born from volcanic activity eons ago. The road starts at an old zoo area, going about three miles on paved road to Castle Craig. The way goes under the I-691 overpass and carries along the east edge of Merriemere Resevoir. About one mile from the park, the road takes an elbow turn to the left, along the north end of the reservoir.

One half mile later, there’s another right-angle left turn. In front of you is the sharp face of the ascent to the Castle. There is a 700 foot elevation gain over the three miles, with 500 feet of it over the last mile. Some call this the ‘Wall’.

A 10% grade may not sound like much, but it is extraordinarily steep. And if you choose to reach the top under your own power, the ultra-rise that gets you there is one of the most challenging there is. And some people do choose to walk or run up that hill.

Take Bernie Jurale. In 1970, according to a website describing the run that now bears his name, Bernie Jurale celebrated his 70th birthday by running up to the radio towers at the summit of West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut USA. A teacher at a local high school, Jurale was joined in the following years by some of his students. Bernie made his last assault of the mountain in 1979 at age 79, but his spirit and determination have been carried forward by area runners, creating a tradition that has lasted over 30 years. Now, each January, a few hundred runners each winter run to reach the top. It's the camaraderie of sharing a frosty challenge, notes the website, ‘a small test of backbone, courage and good sense’. I am one of those runners.One of the most memorable moments in the run's history occurred in 1983 when the run had been "officially" postponed. From the website:“A storm had deposited ten inches of snow on the mountain. Two dozen runners refused to be denied, and began the 3.1 mile trek through virgin snow. In the last mile, where the climb is steepest, runners desperate for solid footing followed snow-mobile tracks to the summit. As the runners reached the top, they formed a receiving line to greet the succeeding finishers with handshakes and high-fives.”January 15, 2006 Up until last night January has been a mild, coatless weather. We had temps well into the 50s this week and it was hard not to think of spring. Today, however, was a different story. The air was 15 degrees, and winds were a good 20 to 30 miles an hour. The ground was covered with an inch or two of ice and snow. That made the three mile Bernie Jurale run up to the Castle a tricky one. Despite the weather there were about 100 people lined up at the start. The first mile was tough, into stinging, blowing ice and the teeth of wicked cold wind. I wore gloves but my hands got painfully cold, and didn’t warm again until about two miles. Even though I wore special cleats over my running shoes, those only seemed to help me now and again. In places where there was snow I could get little traction. This run is very challenging in any condition. On this day though there was something different. I had a pain in my upper left back, I took a couple of aspirin to take the edge off. Maybe I was still sore from shoveling a recent heavy snow? Whatever the cause, it was very tight and uncomfortable on the run. OOOOOOOOOOO One year later . . . January 21, 2007 When I ran this race last year in 2006 I felt that shoulder pain that ended up being the herniated disk on which I had surgery four months later. I didn’t know that at the time, of course. Castle run today, biggest crowd I’ve seen in the four or five years I’ve done this. 275 people! It was decent weather. Dry and mid-20s, clear sky. It was surprising to come upon ice on the upslope, that made it quite an effort in spots to keep traction and power. On the whole I did OK. I felt sluggish that first two miles – the easier part of the track. As I neared the finish line, legs shaking with fatigue, I was reminded that sometimes the best part of running is the stopping part.February 14, 2007 Today was meant to be a major winter storm – the first of this season. Even though school has been closed for today, there’s not much going on at this point (8 a.m.) I got up early, in part to see about school closings and also to prepare for a run up to the Castle. If the driving was meant to be ‘hazardous’ as the TV warned, I had to be a part of that! I was at the park by 6:15 a.m., the only car in the lot. It was still dark and there was a light sleet. It was windy, as it often is alongside the reservoir. The pond had an eerie look to it, frozen solid, a dalmation color with the black ice and white spots of snow blowing around.

It was noisy, noise mostly from the crinkle of my jacket and the crunching of my feet on the icy road. Around me was the sound of pellets of ice as they hit the dry leaves left from last October. An orchestra of sound. And grey – even as night lifted there was no color – a bleak, stark, and isolated landscape. I took my time running up. Wasn’t super cold, but at the top was hit with wind and driving pellets that hurt my face. Meriden was gone, covered by clouds.



Home Country

Slim Randles

The reporter from the big-city paper looked a bit uncomfortable as she sat at the philosophy counter of the Mule Barn truck stop. Doc ordered some coffee for her, and introduced her to the guys. She came here to interview Doc, who has been patching people up around here since the invention of pain, but there was something about her that told us she’d rather be covering the White House, and that she was determined to save the world by Tuesday at two o’clock. “I brought you here,” said Doc, “because I wanted you to see the heart of this valley, the salt of the earth, the people … my people … and the reason I’ve practiced medicine here all these years.” She looked at us and we tried to look earthy and salty for her. “So you’re saying,” she said, “you want me to do the interview … here?” “Sure. Why not?” “Yeah,” said Dud. “Hey, if you want to know the real dirt on Doc, this is the place to do it.” “Well … tell me about some of your most unusual cases, Doctor.” Steve whispered in Dud’s ear, “If he mentions where that horse bit me on New Year’s Eve, I’m out of here.” So Doc rattled off several interesting cases, without using names, and without using us, and the interview got going pretty well. “And you deliver babies, too?” she asked. Three of us raised our hands. “You delivered them?” “Yes … well, I was just a kid when I did that.” We all laughed. “Actually, I’ve delivered more than 4,000 babies here over the years,” Doc said. “That’s amazing,” said the reporter. “I didn’t know there were that many people living here.” “There aren’t,” said Doc. “I sat down and did the numbers once, and I figure I’ve delivered everyone in this valley at least once.”


Letter to the Editor

This letter may be late in being printed but was too important to miss all together. After all, this is the spirit we all hope to embody throughout the year. I hope the sentiment touches you too.Letter to the Editor:
Living The Spirit of Christmas


I would like to thank an amazing person this holiday season. He is someone who reflects the very spirit of this holiday season - year round. He offers his time and money to less fortunate children in his Wallingford community on a regular basis. He consistently gives special attention and care to elderly friends and family. He volunteers his time to charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity. He never has harsh words for anyone and despite facing many personal obstacles through the years, he never complains.

As a single Dad he does the dishes, the laundry, the food shopping, helps with homework, pays college tuition, provides loving support, and does yet more dishes, all while modeling for his daughters the very values of gracious kindness and selflessness this Christmas season represents. He punctuates this idea each year by laying out several envelops by the Christmas tree inscribed with the names of various charities so that his daughters, upon waking Christmas morning, can pick which charity they want him to send money to on their behalf.


I am honored to know him, a true embodiment of the Christmas Spirit. I am especially honored that he is my brother. Thank you John, for living the Spirit of Christmas everyday.
Your brother,
Robert A. Hubbell


MY WALK IN THE WOODS Part 1

In 1999 I began to think about my retirement that was coming up in spring of the coming year. I would think of what this new chapter in my life would bring. I knew that it would afford me more time to do a lot of projects, around home, that I had put off. I knew it would allow me to spend more time with my grandchildren and family. It would also give me more time to go skiing and fishing. I started to think of other things to do and one of them was to hike the Appalachian Trail.

The Appalachian Trail is a foot path marked by white painted 2” X 6” rectangles called blazes, it starts in the mountains of northern Georgia passing through fourteen states as it follows the Appalachian Mountains north ending in Maine. Its total length is 2170 miles.

In 1987 I had read an article about the Appalachian Trail, in National Geographic magazine. I wrote to the Appalachian Trail Conference and requested information on hiking the Appalachian Trail. I received a pamphlet called, “Walking the Appalachian Trail, Step by Step”. Reading the pamphlet ignited a spark, but the spark soon faded. I filed the pamphlet away, but whenever I would come across it I would read it again and the spark would once again glow. Hiking the trail from one end to the other in one season is called a thru-hike and each year 1,500 folks start out to do a thru-hike but only about 300 succeed.

My son in law and his brother were backpackers. They had asked me to go on overnight hikes with them several times. I declined to go because I had little of the required equipment for overnight camping. One day I purchased a backpack at a tag sale thinking that I could acquire the rest of the needed equipment and if I was asked again, I could go. They asked me to go hiking over the Columbus Day weekend and I accepted. I pieced together what gear I had and borrowed the rest from them. We hiked in southern Maine, sleeping out under the stars for two nights. I was hooked.

I thought more and more about hiking the AT after I retired. I brought hiking boots and started to take local hikes to break them in. I started to read books about hiking the AT and also brought a video about thru-hiking. I wondered if this was something that I could do. During the summer of 1999 I decided that I would attempt an AT hike after I retired. I told my wife, Donna, about my plan but I don’t think she realized the true impact of me hiking the AT. When Christmas came I asked for the additional equipment I would need. A tent, new sleeping bag, backpacking stove, water purifier and other hiking equipment. I set April 17, 2000 as my starting date. I purchased an airline ticket to Atlanta.

I retired in March and spent most of my time getting ready. I took local hikes with my pack loaded with everything I would be taking. I practiced setting up my tent. I would pack and repack my gear until I felt I had everything I would need and was ready to go. I was ready to start my adventure. I considered it an adventure that would be for a duration that was unknown to me. I did not know how long I could endure being on the trail and away from my wife and family. I decided that I would hike until I could not do it physically or got tired of my adventure.

Donna and her friend Peggy drove me to the airport. I kissed my wife goodbye and told her I would call her when I could and that I would be careful. I arrived in Atlanta and took a train to Gainesville, Georgia. I checked into a motel and spent a restless night. In the morning I hired a taxi to drive me to Amacola Falls state park. At 7:30 on April 18, 2000 I started walking the 10 miles up Springer Mountain to where the AT starts.


I began to wonder, had I made the right decision, is this going to be something that I would like, would it be too physically demanding, could I endure not having the daily contact with my wife and family. These were the thoughts going through my mind as I hiked to the top of Springer Mountain.

The days that followed were full of seeing new sights, meeting new people and experiencing the trail. It became a vast learning experience not only about backpacking but also about myself. It became a new way of life for me and I found it enjoyable. We would sit around our camp, after the day was over, discussing the events of the day. I soon learned that we were all experiencing the same joy and hardships and we were all on the same learning curve. It was hard work but rewarding. I commented, “Hiking the AT was the hardest job I ever had.” I decided I loved what I was doing and would stick with my hike as long as I could.

Most folks, who hike the AT for any length of time, tend to leave the real world, off the trail, behind them. For many it becomes a new life for one reason or another. Most hikers give up their real name and identify and adopt a new name. It’s like a nickname but is referred to as your trail name. I decided to be known as “Grampie” it is what my grand kids call me and I did that, sort of, in their honor.

I met hikers of all ages. I met a young boy, 17 years old. He entered Columbia University at the age of 15. I met him carving on a stick. I asked him what he was making and he said a spoon. “I forgot to bring one.” He became known as Craftsman. I hiked with a hiker from New Zealand. He had a business, back home, of making woodenware including spoons. He took the trail name of Spoonman. I met an Indian woman who was called Woods Walker. Some folks pick their own trail name and others are assigned one. It doesn’t matter what age, gender or what you did before. The AT has a way of making all equal. Eventually you fall into hiking with the same group of people. They hike at the same pace as you and at the day’s end you camp at the same spot. As you talk you begin to learn more and more about these new friends and long lasting friendships develop.

Everything was going good. I had hiked for over 100 miles. One day after hiking some hard uphills my knees started to bother me. It became worse and worse. I realized that it was something more than just doing too much. When I reached Fontana Village. I took a day off from walking. My knees didn’t feel any better. I decided to go into a near by town and see a doctor. I found a clinic and saw a doctor. He thought that my problem was from overuse, gave me a prescription for some medicine. I took the pills and rested for two more days. I decided to try and hike again. The section I was about to enter was the Smokey Mountains National Park. Access from the trail is limited. The next road crossing would be 40 miles away. I knew if I had a problem and had to leave the trail It would be difficult . I started back into the woods. My knees hurt as bad as before. I sat down on a rock to decide what to do. All the friends that I had been hiking with had gone ahead. I would not be able to catch up with them. I had tears in my eyes. I would have to leave the trail and give up what I had learned to love.

After returning home I saw an orthopedic doctor. He examined me, took X-rays and sent me for a MRI. The results were that I had a bad stress fracture in my left leg. The pain in my knees, he thought, was caused by overuse. He said that the stress fracture would heal in six weeks and that the knee pain would go away with time. I rested for six weeks. My daily thoughts were of the AT. I missed it a lot and I was hoping to get back out hiking.

That didn’t happen. My knees still hurt and I was not able to walk any distance without pain. I went back to the doctor. He took new X-rays and said the fracture looked fine. He now thought that I had arthritis in my knees. He prescribed physical therapy. My daughter Amy is a therapist so she prescribed an exercise program to straighten the muscles that support my knees. I also started to take glucosamine and chondroitin. I also would swim a lot. By fall my knees were feeling better. I decided to finish the AT in Connecticut.

With a new feeling of hope I began to make plans to return to the trail the next April. Hiking the AT was in my blood. I continually thought of it. It is hard to explain what is so addictive about hiking the AT. It is just something that if you like it, it becomes an addicted desire. I became addicted. I knew that I had to return to try and finish or at least give it another try. I would continue from were I left off. I still had 2000 more miles to go.

On April 9, 2001 I flew into Knoxville, Tenn., got picked up at the airport and returned to Fontana and resumed my hiking north. I passed the spot where I had stopped before. I paused and was thankful to be back again.

My plan was to hike short days and taking a day off from hiking to rest every five days or so to allow my body to get back into hiking shape. While on the trail, a day not hiking is referred to a “0” day. I hiked that day to the first camping area. A shelter five miles from where I started. It was quite warm for early April. The leaves were not on the trees yet. I had set up my tent and was talking to some other hikers when a tall somewhat overweight guy came hiking in. He introduced himself as “Texas Jack, Dallas fire department retired”. This was the start of a long friendship. The AT passes near several towns that are accessible from the trail. Most of these “trail towns” offer services that hikers need. Many have inexpensive motels or hostels that you can stay in. A hiker will usually go into these towns to buy food, supplies, wash cloths, take a shower, sleep in a soft bed and eat a meal or two. Stop at a Post Office to get or send mail and make phone calls to those back home. Depending on the distance between these towns I would do this every four to seven days. Arriving into town in late afternoon doing what had to be done and leaving town the next morning or spend two nights and take a “0” day to rest. As you progress along, on your hike, you begin to plan around and look forward to going into trail towns.

Texas Jack and I just sort of fell in to hiking together. His plan was to hike the AT to loose some weight and to get into better physical shape. He had started at Springer Mountain and had hiked 170 miles when I met him. We would hike together sometimes I would break camp and leave before he did but he would soon catch up to me and we would hike together. He was quite knowledgeable about the outdoors. He knew about birds, flowers, wild plants and much more. As we walked he would comment on what was around us. He had many stories about his life and his experiences as a firefighter. His tales would entertain me for hours as we walked together.

A typical day on the trail would go like this; wake soon after sunrise, have something to eat for breakfast, pack up my gear, decide on a destination and start hiking. In a good day I would cover 10 to 14 miles stopping along the way to rest, enjoy the views, eat a snack or get water. Reaching my destination around four in the afternoon, set up my tent, get water, clean up as well as I could and cook some supper. Sometimes there would be a campfire to sit around and talk to others about the day’s hike and what was ahead. As it began to get dark most Hikers would turn in for the night. I found that I was easily sleeping 10 hours each night. This process went on day after day. Seeing new sights, meeting new people and experiencing the wonders of the AT.

Along the trail, every 8 to 12 miles there is a camping area with what is known as a shelter. A shelter is nothing more than a three sided, roofed platform where six to 12 hikers can sleep out of the weather. It’s first come first serve and during bad weather they fill up fast. I would try to sleep in a shelter if the weather was wet. I hated to put up my tent in the rain and pack it up wet in the morning. It was normal for me to sleep in my tent. I sometimes snore and upset others if I was in a shelter.


I had been hiking for five days and needed to go into town to resupply. I was at Newfound Gap, the highest part of the whole AT, a met a guy hiking with his son. The weather was cold rain that soon turned to sleet. He offered Texas Jack and I a ride into the town of Gatlinburg and we accepted. Jack and I shared a motel room. Quite a few other hikers were also staying at the motel. We took showers, went to the laundromat and had a nice supper. We had decided to take a “0” day the next day. Gatlinburg is a real tourist town. It reminded me a lot of Lake George. We spent our day walking around town and checking out the sights. It was a sunny warm spring day. We made arrangements to have a taxi take us back up the mountain to the trail. We called to be picked up and were told that the road up the mountain was closed because of heavy snow and would probably open later in the day. I called back around noon and was told that the road was still closed do to a bus sliding off. We ended up renting a room again and spending another night. We talked to some hikers who had come down into town that day and they told us there was 8” of snow in the mountains. The taxi picked us the next morning at 7. He drove us the fifteen miles to the trail to a winter surprise. It was about 20 degrees, snow on the ground and the wind blowing. We took refuge in a rest room and put on all the warm cloths we had and started to hike. Our destination was a shelter five miles away. Hiking was difficult. Snow would be knocked from the trees by your pack and would fall over you. The marked trail was hard to follow and the footing was slick. We reached the shelter, named Ice Water Spring, in mid afternoon. The temperature was falling. I found a spot in the shelter, took off as much of my wet cloths as I could and got into my sleeping bag. It was the coldest night I would spend on the AT. It was 8 degrees in the morning. The cloths that I hung to dry had frozen. My boots were also rock solid from being wet the previous day. I did not want to get out of my sleeping bag and have to put on cold damp cloths.

The weather soon changed. All the snow melted after a couple of days. The tempeture climbed into the 70s. Spring finally arrived in the Smokey Mountains. I learned a lesson, it doesn’t matter how bad it can get, it will soon improve.

We hiked along daily clicking off the miles. Walk for 4 or 5 days, go into a town, resupply, have a couple of good meals, clean up yourself and gear, sleep in a soft bet and call the loved ones back home to let them know how you were doing. The longest time I ever went between phone calls was six days. Now and then I would find an Internet connection and send e-mails to some of my friends. I had settled well into this life of a nomad. I had left behind all the cares of everyday life away from the trail. I was enjoying myself on the adventure of my lifetime.

Texas Jack was having a problem with his boots coming apart. He called the store in Texas he had brought them from and they said they would replace them with a new pair.

He had them shipped to a post office in a town up the trail we would reach in about a week. Jack went intown and picked up his new boots. Walking with the new boots, not broken in, caused some severe blisters on Jack’s feet. He was having a bad time. I could tell that he was not enjoying himself. He started to talk about leaving the trail and going back to Texas. We had hiked a difficult day, a lot of ups and downs his feet were really bothering him. To top it off we got caught in a downpour. We got soak and wet. We arrived at a full shelter and had to tent in the rain. The weather cleared during the night. In the morning Jack was not stirring in his tent. I went over and asked him if he was all right. He said,”Grampie I’ve had enough. I’m going home.” I thought that he would change his mind and I would see him up the trail. I packed up my gear and headed out. We had hiked together for ten weeks and I didn’t believe what he was saying. I hiked all day without seeing him. I camped that night and some other hikers that we knew, told me that he hiked to the next road and got a ride into town and was going home. It saddened me to loose my hiking buddy. I had enjoyed the time we had spent together but I understood. The enjoyment of a thru-hike had faded for him. He had had enough.


I continued on hiking alone or with other hiker friends. It wasn’t the same without Texas Jack. We got along so well together. He had become a true friend and now he was gone. Thoughts of leaving the trail myself started to enter my mind. I pushed them aside; I was still enjoying my hike. While hiking with Jack we would keep track of our progress. The AT ends in Baxter Park in Maine. They close the park each year on October 15. That closing date kind of sets your schedule to finish. Jack and I were not making exceptional time hiking north. We had to average 10.5 miles a day to get to Baxter before the closing date so we had come up with a plan, some time before he left the trail. We would continue north until we reached Harpers Ferry Virginia. Once there we would take a break from hiking, go home for a week, than return and go to the trail’s end in Maine. Climb Katahdin to the end of the trail and start hiking south. We could than extend our hiking season if need be. I had told my wife of this plan and she was going to drive down and pick me up.


The weather had become quite hot. We had almost a week of 90-degree weather. It was taking a toll on me. I began to think again of giving up. I decided that when I called home on July 4 I would inform my wife of my decision to quit. I was in a campground in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. I was just short of having completed half of the AT. I called Donna. Her first words to me were, “Texas Jack called. He is coming back to hike. This changed everything. This good news made me want to continue.


I called Jack. He told me that he had an uncle in New Jersey; with failing health that he promised his mother he would visit. We arranged some dates and he decided that he would drive from New Jersey to my home in Meriden and than my wife would drive us up to Maine. I began to hike with new vigor looking forward to the return of my hiking buddy. My wife was to meet me in Duncannon, Penn. I had a week of hiking to get there. I was looking forward to seeing my wife after having been away for three months. The miles just flew by. I reached Duncannon and booked a room at the Doyle Hotel. The Doyle is right on the trail and is a famous hiker stop. It was built in 1902 by Anheuser-Bush as a hotel and tavern to stimulate the sale of beer. It has become somewhat rundown but the rooms were cheap and so was the beer. I spent my night there with a lot of hiker friends celebrating going home for a week to see my wife and having Jack return. (Begin Section 2 - Andy save this for our next issue.)


My week home flew by; spending time with my family and friends. One morning I heard a car in my driveway. It was a red Ford Mustang convertible. It was Texas Jack. He had made the visit with his relatives in New Jersey and had rented the car and drove to my home. We had some friends over for a party so that I could introduce Jack to them.


A friend of mine, Chuck Gardeinier, wanted to hike Katahdin so he came along with us to Baxter Park. It worked out well; my wife would not have to make the trip back alone. We drove to Millinocket Maine and got a couple of rooms. We were told that it was important to get to the park early for the gate opening at 7:00. The next morning we arrived at the park just after 6:00 to find a long line of cars waiting to enter. Promptly at 7:00 the gate opened and the attendant started to issue permits for day use. When it finally got to be our turn we were asked what were we planning to do. We told the attendant that two of us were thru-hikers and were planning to summit Katahdin. To our dismay we were told that Katahdin Springs Campground, where the AT passed through, was full and no more cars would be permitted to enter that area. I could not believe what we were being told. We had come too far to put our hike off for another day. We needed another plan. I was lead to believe that there would be a park ranger at Katahdin Springs Campground that would check our permit to summit. Our new plan was to get a permit to hike another area further into the park. We would than look for the point where the AT crossed the park road. We would get out of the car and walk into the campground as a thru-hiker hiking in would. We did as planned. We got our permit, my wife drove us into the park, we came to the trail crossing and we got out of the car and started to follow the AT. We reached the campground. No one stopped us. It was a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. The temperature was about 70.


The AT follows the Hunt Trail up Katahdin. In a little over five miles the trail climbs 4,000 feet. In a few places it is quite steep and steel handholds have been placed into the rocks. We reached the top and touched the sign that proclaims the northern end of the AT. The view from the top was amazing seeing nothing but wilderness in all directions. After the taking of some pictures, a thru-hiker must, we started down reaching the campground parking lot at 5:00 to find my wife waiting for us with cold beer. We spent another night in Millinocket. In the morning after a hardy breakfast we drove back to the trail and said our goodbyes. My wife and Chuck headed home and Jack and I started to hike south.


Maine was nice hiking. The trail passes many streams, lakes and ponds. It offers many opportunities to stop on a hot day for a cooling dip. We soon began to meet hikers who had started at Springer Mountain early in the year. We had been hiking for over a week. It was like old times again. Texas Jack and Grampie hiking the AT and enjoying it. We were coming down a steep slope, Jack was in the lead, he had grabbed a branch for support and it gave way sending Jack for quite a spill. He landed with his arm underneath him and had quite a bit of pain in his rib area. He had cracked some ribs. We continued to hike. The next town was Monson two days away. We got to Monson and got a room at Shaw’s boarding house. It’s another hiker favorite place to stop. We took a “0” day so that Jack could decide what he was going to do. He was having a lot of pain when he had to breath hard.


Jack felt that he could hike; he had had cracked ribs before and knew there wasn’t much you can do about treating them. He decided that his best decision was to leave the trail. The folks at Shaw’s could give him a ride to where he could get a plane back to Texas. It was a sad time for both of us, me especially when Jack said “Grampie, you go along and finish this thing for both of us.” Jack rode back to the trail with me. I got out of the truck, said goodbye, with a parting hug and with a tear in my eye I hiked away. Those parting words would dwell in my mind for the rest of my hike.


I left hiking with some hikers I had met at Shaw’s. There pace was quite a bit slower than mine and I soon left them behind. It was now early August. Most folks who started a thru-hike going south had already started and were far ahead of me. Hikers who had started down south had yet to reach this point in any numbers . I would hike for long periods of time without meeting anyone. I was spending a lot of time alone giving, me a lot of time to think about things. To make the time go by, while walking, I would pick a subject, my wife, my kids, grandkids, work experiences, my future and any thing else that would enter my mind. I would than try to replay my experience in my mind sort of like watching a movie. I would do this for endless hours while walking. It would often make me think of all the things in the “real world” that I had left behind when I decided to hike.


I had talked to my wife and we decided to meet up in Gorham, New Hampshire. It would be a good chance to visit with her and she could bring my cold weather gear that I would need before I entered the White Mountains. I called ahead and reserved a room at the Hikers Paradise Motel. It was a week before we would meet and the time flew by. I had finished Maine and was now in New Hampshire. I arrived in Gorham at midday and checked into the motel. It had been a month since I last shaved and Donna was not fond of what I looked like with a beard. I shaved, took a shower, put on some clean cloths and went out to eat. It was only two o’clock and my wife wasn’t do to arrive until around seven or so. I walked around town a bit, talked with some other hikers staying at the motel, brought a newspaper and retired to my room. There was a bus stop outside the motel with a bench. At about six I went out and sat on the bench to wait. The time went by slow. I would get up and walk a ways up the street and than return. I would wait some more and than walk in the other direction. It was hard to wait around after being on the move for so long. She didn’t arrive until after eight. I was getting a little concerned. She had gotten lost and had to backtrack. I was so glad to see her. The next day we drove to Andover Maine. I had stayed at a place called the Andover Guest House. While there I had washed some cloths. They had clothing that you could wear while your stuff was being washed. I had left my Swiss Army knife in the pocket of a pair of shorts that I had borrowed. After I returned to the trail I discovered it missing, when I needed the can opener. As soon as I got to a phone I called and they said they had it. I told them I would return for it in a few days. We drove to Andover to retrieve my knife and than to North Conway, New Hampshire and spent the day doing tourist stuff. The next morning Donna drove me back to Gorham and the trail. Now that I was getting closer to home we agreed to meet again in Hanover.


The next section of the hike would take me into the White Mountains. The weather in the Whites can turn nasty, any time of the year. Snow has fallen every month of the year in the past. Most hikers I spoke with had traveling through the Whites as a major concern.


The Appalachian Mountain Club maintains buildings called huts, through the mountains, where hikers can stay. They offer a fully enclosed building with running water, bunks and meals. Thru-hikers who wish to stay at a hut and do not want to spend the $70 fee can do what is referred to as “work for stay.” The folks that run the hut will give you a place to sleep, dinner and breakfast in exchange for doing some chores. Most huts only allow three or four hikers to do this and they usually give the first hikers that ask to work for stay the privilege. Madison Hut was my first work for stay experience. I arrived at the hut in early afternoon. I found the person in charged and asked him if I could work for stay and he agreed to take me on. I was given a chore of washing pots and pans that had been used to prepare the evening meal. I finished in less than an hour. I enjoyed my dinner, slept in a cozy bunk and had breakfast the next morning. I left Madison to cross over Mt. Washington to that days destination, Lake Of the Clouds Hut. A distance of 7 miles. I got to the top of Mount Washington it was shrouded in clouds and the temperature was about 40 degrees. I went into the restaurant brought some lunch and a lot of post cards that I sent to friends. They would be post marked from the top of Mt. Washington. I headed out. Down to Lake of the Clouds Hut, arriving around 2:30. Once again I asked to work for stay and my request was granted. For my work, myself and three other hikers were asked to defrost two large refrigerators. We removed the contents and washed the shelving and walls inside with hot water. We took our time and the whole job lasted for only a little over an hour. The hut was filled with paying costumers that night so none of us got a bunk. We were given mattresses and were able to sleep on the dining room floor. The next morning was cold and the top of the mountain was engulfed in a cloud, visibility was poor. I left the hut with three others dressed in my cold weather cloths. The hiking was difficult on the wet rocks combined with the lack of visibility. After an hour we descended a couple of thousand feet, we left the cloud cover into warmer weather. The rest of my hike through the Whites was great. The weather changed to sunny days and warm temperatures. The views from Franconia Ridge were some of the best on my whole hike.


I was starting to meet folks that I had left behind when I went to Maine. It was good to see these hikers again and hear their stories. Quite a few of the hikers I asked about had left the trail for one reason or another. I had met a hiker with the trail name of Dartman. Jack and I had hiked with him on and off and I hiked with him more after Jack left the trail in Virginia. One day out of the blue he appeared on the trail before me. We were so happy to see each other that we just sat down, right in the middle of the trail, and talked for over an hour. It was good to see him and know that he had come this far.


Donna was going to meet me in Hanover. I would be going home to attend an engagement party that we had been invited to. I met her at the bridge that spans the Connecticut River. Hanover, New Hampshire is about a three and a half hour drive from home. She left right after work, picked me up, stopped for some supper and we were home before midnight. We attended the party on Saturday. It felt very strange to be dressed up in a jacket and tie. I was able to visit with a lot of family and friends but I could not wait to return to the AT. On Sunday Donna drove me back to the trail to return hiking. I was now in Vermont. It always felt good to finish another state.


I probably met a couple of dozen hikers that I knew that were heading north. I was looking forward to meeting another hiker friend. He was a young man from just outside of Boston and wore a Red Sox cap. His trail name was Shepherd. He got that name because he hiked with a staff. I had last seen him in Duncannon, Pennsylvania and had hiking with him for about three weeks. He and Dartman said goodbye to me at the Doyle Hotel, when my wife picked me up. I would ask the hikers that I met if they knew where he was. Some said he was coming but one told me that he had left the trail. Most of the shelters, motels and hostels where hikers stay have a notebook like register. In this register hikers can leave information about the tail that they had just passed through. They could also leave messages for other hikers, behind them, to read. I did believe that Shepherd had left the trail until I stopped at the Inn At the Long Trail. The inn is another famous thru-hiker stop. I had stopped for lunch and was looking at a hiker register and to my surprise Shepherd had spent the last night there. I could not believe that I didn’t pass him. I had left the trail, at a cross road, that morning and walked a half mile to a store to call home. He must have passed me then. I was sad that I missed him but was glad that he was still hiking.


The AT travels over several ski mountains in Vermont. I camped just below the summit of Killington Peak and hiked to the top to view an amazing sunset. I passed Pico Ski Area. Bromley ski area and Stratton. Stratton Ski Area has a ski patrol building and a rest room on the top of the mountain that is used by thru-hikers. I got caught in a driving rainstorm as I approached the top of Stratton. I was soaked by the time I reached shelter. The ski patrol building had electricity, heat, a cloths dryer and even an outdated black and white T.V. set. On entering I was greeted by three other hikers who were staying the night. One was a thru-hiker going north and the other two were just out for an overnight hike. I was able to dry my cloths and I found a nice spot to put down my sleeping bag. It was nice to have a roof over my head when the weather was so bad outside. The T.V. didn’t work very well and it was soon shut off. The two guys that were just out for a overnight hike had many questions to ask about thru-hiking which we were more than glad to answer for them. They both said that they wanted to thru-hike some day. The morning still brought light rain. None of us were anxious to leave the snug building. The date was September 11, 2001. No one turned on the T.V. set. Around nine we all headed out to continue our journeys not knowing what had transpired out in the “real world.” We hiked to the trailhead at the bottom of the mountain and I left the two guys that I had hiked down with. I carried a small radio. I would mostly listen to it at night to get the next days weather while in my sleeping bag. Every once in a while I would listen to it as I hiked. I had probably only done that four of five times. This day I decided to listen. I fastened the radio to my pack strap and put the ear buds into my ears. As I walked I was trying to get some music to listen to. I could only get talk and wasn’t paying much attention to what was being said. All at once a thought raced into my mind, I don’t remember the exact words I heard but the message I got was that someone had dropped an A-bomb on New York City. I stopped and listened, in shock, as the announcer began to go over what had happened. I was alone in the woods. My first thought was to get to a phone and call home. I would go into Bennington. As I was hiking down the trail to the road two couples approached me. They had no hiking gear so they were probably just out for a walk. As they got closer I asked,” Did you hear what happened in New York.” One of them asked what I was talking about. I told them about what I had heard on the radio. His reply was “What the hell you been smoking.” I’m sure that when they found out later they had different thoughts. I hitched a ride into Bennington and called home. My wife informed me that know one we knew, as far as she knew, was involved in the tragic happening. I checked into a motel and spent the next several hours glued to the T.V. I wondered what I should do. Continue to hike or return home. I was now close enough to home that I could get there in a few hours. Not knowing what the future would bring I discussed it with my wife and decided to continue.


It was after Labor Day. I would see less and less folks on the trail. As I checked trail registers I could see that there was a group of three hikers going south in front of me. I was trying to catch up with them so that I wouldn’t be alone as often. My problem was that as soon as I closed the gap I would go home and they would pull ahead. I had finished Vermont and was now in Massachusetts. My wife met me on the top of Mt. Greylock and I went home again. The temptation was too great I was so close to home. I came back to the trail Sunday afternoon and hiked for a week to return home again.


The days were getting shorter. The temperature was falling. Winter was on its way. I had to get serious and get my hike finished. I still had three hundred miles to go. I would not be returning home or taking any more days off until I finished. My plan was to do one hundred miles a week I finally caught up with the three hikers in front of me. We would meet off and on for the remainder of my hike. One of the trio was a young guy with the trail name of Leaps. We would spend the night together and when I would leave camp in the morning he would still be in his sleeping bag. He would ask me where I had planed to spend the next night and would say “I’ll see you there.” He always showed up. Sometimes it would be totally dark and I would already be in my sleeping bag and in he would come. One morning while packing up my gear I could not find a pair of sandals that I carried strapped to the back of my pack. I would wear them in camp and when I took off my boots to ford a stream. They were old and kind of worn out and I was not concerned about loosing them. I mentioned, to Leaps, that I had lost them.


He told me that he remembered seeing a pair on the trail some miles back and felt bad that he didn’t pick them up. At the time he didn’t know that they belonged to me. He offered to go back and get them but I told him not to bother for I was almost finished with my hike and wouldn’t be needing them anymore. We had discussed to stop in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Palmerton lets hikers stay in the basement of a community building that has bunks and showers. I arrived into town and checked in, took a shower, brought some supplies and ate supper. I walked around town for a while, got bored so decided to go back and turn in. I expected to find Leaps there when I returned. It was after 9 so I figured that he was not coming. I went to sleep. It was around 10:15 when I woke to a noise I heard. It was Leaps. I asked him what had happened and how I did not expect him. To my surprise he produced my sandals. I had hiked twenty one miles that day to reach Palmerton. He said he hiked back without his pack and the sandals were further than he estimated. He hiked for two hours before he found them. He must have hiked about 35 miles that day. In the morning I told him I would buy him breakfast for his deed. He had told me a story of how he ate 12 pancakes at one sitting during his hike so at breakfast I told him to order as many as he wanted. We sat down to order. He asked the waitress how big the pancakes were. She put up her hands to show him. He ordered twelve. The owner came to our table and suggested that he just take six and if he was still hungry he could get more. Well, Leaps ate the six and eight more for a total of fourteen. He had worked hard the previous day.


I was nearing my goal. I would count off the miles daily. I was able to call Donna and make the arrangements to have her pick me up in Duncannon. I would soon be finished. I had told the hikers I was hiking with that at the end of my hike I would buy them beer at the Doyle Hotel. One of them needed some new boots.

They decided to take a “0” day and go into a town to find a pair. I didn’t think I would see them again so I wished them well and we said goodbye. With them gone I spent my last two days on the trail without seeing a soul. My last two nights alone in a shelter gave me more time to reflect on what I had accomplished. I felt proud that after seeing so many hikers I had met quit their AT hike for one reason or another. I had hike 2000 miles at the age of sixty six. I felt that I was in the best shape of my life after loosing 37 pounds.

On the afternoon of October 12, 2001 I crossed the bridge over the Susquehanna River. The first blaze after crossing was my last. I had hiking for almost seven months and now my AT hike was finished. I got a room at the Doyle Hotel. Took a long hot shower, shaved and went out and got a haircut. My adventure was finished. I ate supper and sat in the bar. My thoughts were of all the friends that I had made over the last six and one half months. I wanted to celebrate but the bar was empty.


Donna was due to arrive around eleven. I ate breakfast packed up my gear and went outside to wait. I was sitting there, just daydreaming when I herd someone call “Grampie.” It was the hikers I had left behind a few days ago. They had rented a car and drove down to see me one last time and say goodbye again. I could not buy them a beer because it was Sunday and the bar at the Doyle didn’t open until noon. We sat around and talked about once again of what lay ahead for them.


My wife arrived. It was only 11:00. I would not be able to buy the promised beer for my hiking friends. I gave them $20 and told them to have a “couple on me.” I said my final goodbye and wished them “Happy trails”, for the remainder of their hike.


During my hike many of my friends wanted to meet me and hike with me for a while. Most of them only wanted to do this for the day. The problems this poses to a thru-hiker are somewhat. You have to set up a meeting and probably loose a considerable amount of time before you satisfy their want. What I decided to do was to skip a nice section of the AT in Connecticut and after reaching my destination in Pennsylvania invite my family and friends to join me for a day while I officially finished hiking the AT.


After returning home I started to plan to do the final piece of the AT that I had put aside. I sent out invitations to friends, family and members of a ski club that I belong to. We would meet near Falls Village and hike a three mile section along the Housatonic River. At the end we would gather for a party at a parking lot along the river. The day came. It was a beautiful early November Sunday. When I arrived, at the meeting spot, I was amazed to see so many of my friends and family. We hiked the last miles to our designated picnic spot arriving to find more people. Everyone had brought food. Someone had a grill cooking food. My two sisters were there. They had brought my Mom. My Three daughters were there along with my two granddaughters. Seventy people attended. I felt very honored. We stayed and celebrated until almost dark. For me it was the most memorable day of my whole walk in the woods. I had now hiked every mile of the AT from Georgia to Maine.


I would e-mail and talk to Texas Jack regularly. He talked often of returning to finish hiking the AT I tried to encourage him to do so. Jack returned to finish his hike in March of 2003. He would call me to report his progress. I drove to the trail and hiked with him three or four times. I was there to support him and give him encouragement. That October I drove to Monson, Maine to be there when he finished. I started to walk south, finally meeting him. Needless to say Jack was happy to see me. He too had finished his hike on the AT.


Texas Jack and I have gotten together and hiked on the AT for a few days or a week a couple of times since than. It always feels good to be back hiking the AT with him. We have so many memories to share.



Chinese New Year of the Rat: 2008/4705

We’ve just celebrated the Chinese New Year of 4705 and it’s been a blast. For two weeks we’ve been celebrating and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m Hui Chen, and am going to tell you about it.

The New Year began on the day of the New Moon with a big feast. Before the big feast, we’d spent a lot of time getting everything ready. I had to help clean the house from top to bottom to make sure all the bad luck had been swept out. I found a ball I’d lost and that was good. Then I went with my family to get new red clothes for the New Year. Red is the color for joy and happiness and is supposed to keep bad luck away.


We also got loud noisemakers and firecrackers to scare away bad luck; then we got flowers, fruits, candies and small gifts for the guests that would come to visit us. Finally we got home from shopping and I could finally try out the noisemakers—they were great until I was told to put them away! I even helped decorate the room with bowls of fruit and flowers. I helped Father hang red banners by our doorway. They had poems of good wishes on them, and we were finally ready for the New Year! This is the Year of the Rat, I knew they were smelly, lived in dirty holes and snuck around nibbling on the food in our pantry and I’d felt dirty and was angry because I had been born in the year of the Rat. I told Grandfather how I felt and he told me the legend of how the Rat is the first year of the twelve-year cycle of years. The legend is that Buddha asked the animals to come to a feast on the other side of the river, and the first to arrive would have the first year named for it. The rat knew he couldn’t swim fast enough to reach the shore first, so his strategy was to climb on the back of the ox. When the ox was about to step onto the shore, the rat jumped off at the last moment to win the race.


So you see, for ages the rat has been known to be smart and very clever. He told me that when we concentrate on the negative traits, we miss seeing all the good traits that make someone worthwhile. He also said that rats were industrious, charming, and good providers and protectors of their children. People born in the year of the rat have these same traits and Grandfather told me that I have them too. And he told me not to be ashamed that I was born in the year of the Rat, but to be proud of it. The rat sees better in the dark than we do, his hole is comfortable and warm, safe from cats and other enemies. Finally it was New Year’s Eve; Father and Grandfather sealed the doors with red tape to keep bad luck out, and we sat down for the feast of seafood and dumplings that Mother and Grandmother had made. There was a lot of other food, but I liked the dumplings best. My aunts made predictions for the New Year and some of them were funny—I liked mine because they told me I will make the soccer team this year, and I hope they are right because I like to play soccer. After the feast, we played games and listened to stories until midnight when we said ‘Goodbye’ to the old year. At the stroke of midnight, the sky exploded with lots of fireworks that lit up everything with bright colorful showers. Father broke the seal on the door, I grabbed my noisemaker, and we all went outside to yell and make noise for the New Year. Some of my friends came by and we had a great time yelling to each other. For the next couple of weeks, we did a lot of visiting with our aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors, where we got to eat candies and fruits, just like the ones we gave to our visitors. Getting Red Envelopes with money in them from older people was special. I even remembered to bow and thank them for the gift envelope.


At the end of fifteen days, the moon was full again, and we spent the day getting ready for the Lantern Festival that would end the celebration. Fancy lanterns were hung in temples and along streets and I got to choose one to carry in the parade! It was the first time I got to do that and I held the pole so tightly, my fingers cramped. But it didn’t wobble! Watching the long, decorated dragon come along the street was great fun. The young men who carried it danced and wound their way along the streets trying to scare us, but we just cheered them along with our noisemakers. Someday when I’m older, I hope to be one of those carrying the dragon. I’ll dance and sing down the street too. It was such a noisy, exciting evening that I didn’t want it to end. But it did. By ‘Hui Chen’ 12 years old Dorothy Gonick


Inspiration Monday By Katrina S. Axelrod

Dedicated in loving memory to the spirit of Llewellen Jane Moss, Ph. D, which I think should never die

So, what are we thinking today? Really, how are we thinking today? And Why? Planning a class? Concerned about something? Happy over something? All of the above?

Well, I’m always open to a discussion on inspiration. Call it what you want- creativity, ideas, ingenuity, innovation, responding to your muse, invention- it is all the same. It comes from happenstance and it comes from disciplined thought and action. It comes in a poof and it comes in streams that last a long, long, time. It is aural, it is oral, it is visible, it is light and shade, zeroes and ones. Some years ago I wrote four children’s stories that I’d like to get in print. The spirit struck me to write them and I sat for a long time with the stories just about whole-cloth coming through my fingers, misspelling almost everything, but close enough so I could remember what I wanted to write. A burst of imagination then and I am very proud to call my own today. They’ll be published, it will just take time and what is that awful word? Oh, yeah, patience, Ick. Ickity-Ick.


I let these creative bursts pretty-much run my life. Whether it is puling a meeting together or planting a garden, it takes the exact same energy that comes from somewhere and ends up visible. I have been cited as the most colorful employee, the nicest to work with and always the most creative. The one who pulls the weird out when necessary, and makes it work. I have 'pluck'.


Teachers do the same thing. Instructor, tutors, professors, mentors, all do the same thing. No classroom is the same twice. It is like a river- you can’t teach the same class twice. My best friend for quite a while was Dr. Llewellen Jane Moss, who got her Doctorate in Music and after many years of teaching music, switched to teaching Business. LM, as she was called by a very few of us lucky enough, taught a class in Entrepreneurship, called "Creative Problem Solving". She taught me to think in 360 degrees - like a globe. Think of what you are doing, think of the ramifications, think of the long-term impact, think about the street you are crossing right now.


That is how I like to think of heartsinthearts.com. 360 degrees. A globe of an idea that captures the imagination. That leaves no one out. So, what now, LM?


Heartsinthearts.com would have made her smile, and then it would have made her inventive and humorous, and then frustrated. Yeah, I know the feeling. But whether it is a blog or a classroom plan or the chance to change student’s lives for the better, it is an idea that will inspire some to action, and that makes it all worthwhile to me. The Arts need to be in everyone’s lives. Young people especially need them and the best way to get them to children and young adults is through the schools and through community resources.

So what are we waiting for? A schematic. Next time, a schematic. A Schematic


Dear Housewives - Central Connecticut's Know It All Gals

Dear Readers, Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail or phone with your confidential question and we will answer it in the next issue. Let us all make a positive difference in the world in 2008. June and Flora

Dear Housewives, I have been wanting to write you but felt uneasy and kept putting it off. I figure, no one will know who I am so here it goes. I have a problem that no one knows. Not even my family. I think I have a social anxiety disorder of some kind. I like people, I enjoy being around them but I get nervous in social settings. If I am meeting a friend for lunch or going to a family birthday party, I am ok. It is when I am around strangers I feel like everyone is watching me. I feel awkward. Any tips?Oh, I think you both are great. You have good answers to some tough questions. Signed, Not saying who I am in Connecticut

FLORA: Hey, I think I know who you are...just kidding. Dear friend in CT, since you are alright around those you know, it does not appear to be a disorder. Maybe you need some guidance on the art of small talk. If you have an upcoming event, read the paper or go on-line to be up on current events. Is there something you are passionate about? If so, share it if a conversation is struck up. And always ask questions about 'the other person', ask about their interests or ideas. And deep breathing may work well in this type of situation.

JUNE: First, may I thank you for your impeccable taste in advice givers; we aim to please. Your problem is a totally common one. The commercials on TV would have you thinking you need to get on some medication that may or may not make you pass out, pass wind, have blurred vision and so on.

I disagree with Flora, being around strangers is the problem, anyone can be around people they know. Anxiety disorder usually is around strangers. Is the anxiety disabling? For example, are there physical symptoms like dizziness, difficulty breathing or a panicky feeling? If so, you should see your doctor. Those are signs of an anxiety attack and you may need medication. You could see a therapist to find out what makes you anxious. If you are just a bit nervous before parties then don't worry since almost everyone feels a bit nervous of the unknown with strangers. Go mingle, have a drink and enjoy.


Dear Housewives, "I wish that I can have my own house with my brother so we can get our own dog. I am five years old. I have no idea why we can't have one. I wish that I can have a pet with my brother and me. I wish that my parents would let us get a puppy this month or what ever day you want. Just let us get a puppy. We will have a lot of funny playing together with my puppy. I will name him Max." Written by a friend for a friend.

FLORA: Dear five year old dog lover, I hope that you are able to read this response to your request. Dear Housewives cannot give you a puppy but perhaps we can influence your parents to start talking with you and your brother about pets and all that goes with having one. There may be a good reason why your parents do not want one. I hope you have a nice talk soon.

JUNE: Maybe if Flora comes to walk him, mommy and daddy will say yes. I bet if you show them how grown up you both are, after time they may give in. In the mean time, write to Santa Claus, tooth fairy and the fairy godmother with your request--we are not that powerful. Good luck.

Hi Flora, I am currently reading "The Wicked". It is the true* story about the Wicked witch of the East in the Wizard of Oz. I will tell you what I think of it next month as I should have it done by then. For now, movie picks of the month are "Bourne Ultimatum". Good movie, Matt Damon is great and it wraps up all the questions about him and his true identity. "Knocked Up" did not have me knocked over with laughs. A seemingly together girl has a one night stand with a "loser" and you know the rest. Not believable at all, nor was it funny.

Hi June, You will be proud of me! I am learning to knit. So the only book (besides my trusty Bible) I have been reading is "Learn How to Knit". So when people say knit, purl, I can now say with confidence, "oh sure, I can purl, I can knit, not a problem". I am reading the entire Bible this year and so far, so good. I read Our Daily Bread (free little booklet or on-line at www.rbc.org click on Our Daily Bread ) they give you what to read so it is manageable. Monday - Friday is the Old Testament and a little Proverbs. Saturday is the New Testament with a little Proverbs and Sunday are the Psalms.

JUNE: Geez, Flora you have your very own little bible belt over there. You really need to get out. Oof, I hope I don't get struck by lightening.



“Too Much, Too Soon” – a musing by Ernie Larsen

I’m not much of a political person, I do vote in every election, local, state and national. I also urge everyone else to vote – it’s a right that many in this universe do not have. Plus, in my thinking, if you don’t vote, you really have no right to complain how government and politicians are running the shop.

Starting way too early last year all the presidential wannabees started their campaigns, visiting old age homes, talking to unions, going to rallies mainly it seemed in the Midwest and seemed to be steering clear of the Northeast. There were some on the stump who didn’t ring a bell in my steeple, but that’s nothing new, I guess. One of my big pet peeves is the politico who moves to a certain state just so they can run in their election, you know the professional politician. For example, Hillary Clinton, Senator from New York – wasn’t her husband Governor of Arkansas or one of those other Civil War states? Well, she was born in Illinois, went to college in Massachusetts and Connecticut and was first lady of Arkansas for 12 years. Then she “moved” to New York and is now one of their senators, how convenient.

Even our own Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd, had to take up out of state residency to run in a primary, I’m not even sure what state that was, makes no never mind, he dropped out of presidential race anyway. It really boggles my mind what these people do just to run for office, and while he was a ‘citizen’ of the other state, did he still represent Connecticut, does his pay get docked for this? Gets you thinking, no?

Then when he comes back to Connecticut, there is a big homecoming – for what – a guy who jumped ship, and is coming home, not a war hero or someone who did something extraordinary, I guess any excuse to have a party and photo op.

Every morning, before I go to work, I watch the TODAY show; it seems that almost every day a candidate takes advantage of NBC’s generosity for free publicity and is available for an interview, this past week, both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama were scheduled – during one of the debates a day or two before the dialogue started getting nasty. And both candidates were trying to justify their remarks toward each other; they both made an attempt to rationalize their views and also explain why their opponent was wrong. Really meaningless childish banter, just like when you were a kid and a playmate who wasn’t chosen for a team claimed ‘ it’s my ball and I’m taking it and go home’ - maybe it’s time some of these candidates to do just that. These politicians can say whatever they want now, but when their in office they usually have mind lapses and go on a different course than what they promised, with the average Joe and Jane left holding the bag, as it were. The point of this essay is that I really don’t care for politics, it is a necessary evil, and possibly the worst example is what goes on in a smaller scale like say right here in the “Silver City” – I wonder how many residents even know to what that term is in reference to?

Seems like there are a few individuals who were not chosen/appointed to the majority party town committee and are singing the old ‘Sour Grape Polka’ by trying to have some sort of special election/primary to regain their seats. Sure, I’d be peeved if I was serving, voluntarily, on a committee and was bounced for someone else with little or no reason, but this election or whatever is going to cost taxpayers around 30K as I was led to understand. How about it folks, this could pave a street or buy some much needed equipment for a police officer or firefighter.

Politics – not my cup of tea, necessary evil, but when it comes to the point that money will be wasted to give a boost to a very few egos, that’s where I draw the line. And as for the national level, there should be legislation that you can only start campaigning 6 months before the election, that’ll work, wouldn’t you think? The most important thing to remember – get out and vote in November, 'cause if you don’t, you can’t complain; plain and simple. Thanks for reading, stepping off the soapbox.


Fibro What? What is Fibromyalgia and how does it affect the sufferer?
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that effects some 3-6 million Americans today, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Other studies are now showing that some 6-12 million are suffering from this condition today and that the previous figures were only the beginning of this epidemic. Fibromyalgia, or fibro, for short, is not a new illness. It has been around for about a century and gained attention in the 80's when it was called rheumatism and chronic fatigue. Many doctors today, believe that chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia are the same condition.

The term "Fibromyalgia" is defined as a group of common symptoms which include but are not limited to, generalized muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, and irritable bowel. The only "test" that exists to diagnose Fibromyalgia is for a doctor to look for tender points on a patient's body. There are 18 tender points located on the body that are looked at to determine the diagnosis. If 11 out of the 18 points are "tender" or sore in a patient over the course of a three month (or more) period, then the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is determined. The points of pressure are in the neck, shoulders, chest, elbows, lower back, and knees.


Fibromyalgia most often occurs in women; however, men can also be affected. One study states that women out number the men by an eight to one ratio. It has been determined through several studies that some sufferers had a previous injury to the neck causing the on site of fibro symptoms to occur. It is also common for Fibromyalgia to occur in patients that have previously had Lyme disease or have been infected with the hepatitis virus. It's more common for people who suffer from rheumatic disorders or inflammatory diseases to have Fibromyalgia as a diagnosis as well as their other aliment. Fibro can occur at any age.


Even though there is a way to determine whether or not a patient has Fibromyalgia, it is still difficult for a doctor to diagnose. Most commonly, a patient that suffers from Fibromyalgia is misdiagnosed with arthritis or depression because the symptoms are so vast. It can also take a patient several months to possibly several years for a diagnosis of fibro, because symptoms can come and go in the patient, even to the point of "remission" from the symptoms. Other factors for the patient can be as simple as the actual doctor they have gone to with these symptoms. Most rheumatologists and pain management clinics are aware of Fibromyalgia today, however, general practitioners can still be leery of the condition. The reason for this is because of the misdiagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Many patients were suffering from another condition or disease and were misdiagnosed as a result. Some doctors to this day still think that Fibromyalgia is just a "blanket term" for symptoms being "all in a person's head". The best a patient can do is to seek out a doctor who they are comfortable with.


There is relief for the diagnosed, however, and it can come in several forms. Some patients do well with medications, while others do well with minor changes in diet. Stretching exercises like yoga seem to also be beneficial as well as alternative therapies.


Common pain medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs are usually prescribed for fibro. These are commonly known as ibuprofen and naproxen. A small amount of patients have also been prescribed narcotics because of the severity of their pain. Again, due to the vast symptoms, a doctor will prescribe different kinds of medications, depending on the patient.


Other patients find relief in the changing of their diet. It is believed that people suffering from Fibromyalgia are sensitive to certain foods and certain additives. For instance, a substitution of unbleached flour, in place of bleached, may be helpful. Other foods or additives to avoid are MSG, nicotine, alcohol, sweeteners like refined sugar or artificial ones like aspartame, and caffeine, to name a few. Most people, who choose to change their diet, often go "organic".


Organic foods are foods that have no chemicals processed in them. The term "organic" is simply a food that has nothing added to it or is a natural occurring food. Organic has been trendy in today's society and it is fairly easy to find these products in your local super market. Most markets dedicate at least 10% of their isles to products like these for not only food, but cleaning products, beverages, and pet foods, to name a few.


Exercise is another factor for elevating pain. Yoga and other exercises that promote stretching have seemed to help the most due to the low impact it has on the muscles. Exercises that also offer relief are walking and low impact aerobics.


Acupuncture, massage, stone therapy, dietary supplements, and magnets, are other forms of alternative therapies that help sufferers. These are not for every patient, and should be discussed with your physician before you start this form of therapy.


No matter what road you take in your recovery of Fibromyalgia, know that you are not alone. There are many outlets to help you in your search for a healthier you. These outlets can be discussed with your doctor. You can also find helpful information on the web, support groups, and books written specifically for sufferers.



ALL PET OWNERS, PLEASE READ:

“Common pet illnesses and info you should be aware of if you’re not already”

by Nicole Giannetta

Since the thought of “our baby” being sick is heartbreaking and the thought of costly vet bills is bank breaking, please do your pets and yourselves a favor and have them vaccinated, and also take the proper precautions to protect them against heartworms and lyme disease. These illnesses are so easy to prevent but can be very costly to treat. Although dry and warmer areas like the south have a much bigger issue with ticks and heartworms, our pets are still vulnerable living in this area. It is our responsibility as pet owners to protect them because they cannot protect themselves from nature’s bad guys. Distemper, Parvo, Lepto, Corona Virus, and Rabies are all illnesses that an animal can and should be vaccinated for. Frontline which is a treatment that is applied to the animals coat on a monthly basis, is used to prevent ticks, fleas and lyme disease if in fact a tick should latch on. Frontline and generic brands are sold at pet supply retailers like Petco, Pet Smart, and can also be purchased at your vets office. Heartguard, or Iverheart is a chew that is given orally on a monthly basis to protect your pet against Heartworms. This product has to be purchased at your vets office.

It is also extremely important to spay or neuter your pet, and not just for the obvious reason of population control. Spaying/neutering can prevent many health problems such as cancer primarily in females. Females are at a much greater risk of developing breast cancer, if they are not spayed. I encourage people to research the benefits of spaying and neutering, because there is much more information out there.

Certain breeds of dogs can be prone to certain diseases, and infections. For example all of you who own dogs with floppy ears, such as : Cocker/Springer Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds, etc, you should be aware that your dog is more prone to ear infections, due to the fact that their ears do not have any ventilation. It is a good idea to flip or tie their ears back every now and then to allow air to get in and dry things out. Air infections are painful for them and having to frequently put drops in their ears is no fun for you either. Those of us who own large breed dogs such as : Huskies, Sheperds, Rottweilers, and American Bull dogs, should know that our dogs are prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis. Hip dysplasia is a common degenerative joint disease, and a dog doesn’t have to be old to have it. Buying a dog from a pet store or from a “backyard breeder” where incest exists, could increase your dogs chances of developing the disease. The symptoms of hip dysplasia are limping or an altered gait, stiffness in the rear legs after exercise or first thing in the morning, and as the condition progresses the dog will loose muscle tone. Regular vet checkups are crucial to check for early signs, and there are many natural supplements on the market like calcium and glucosamine tablets that may help slow and/or relieve some of the symptoms.

Dental care is also an extremely important part of your pets overall health. In humans oral health is so important that a dentist can basically tell your overall health just by looking in your mouth. Dogs and cats are very similar, and just like with humans good dental care should begin at a very young age. Teeth should be checked at each vet visit and an office cleaning should be done every few years beginning around age 4 or 5. However, in between these cleanings pet owners should brush their pets teeth every few months, with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for animals. We all know how painful a tooth ache can be and a “grumpy” pet can indicate an abscessed or decaying tooth. Buying quality food for your dog goes hand in hand with good dental health. Actually quality food is crucial to a pets overall health, so choose your pets food wisely a little research goes a long way and think of it as an investment in their health. Rawhide chewies and certain bones are also helpful in removing some tarter from your dogs teeth. It is also wise to make sure you are not just feeding your dog/cat a soft or wet food diet. The dry food is much better for their teeth, so make sure to mix it in with the wet food if your pet prefers the wet/soft kind. And make sure to select a non-fatty food for your fur baby, because fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis in dogs and this can be deadly. As for weight, pay close attention to your dogs weight because a hypo-thyroid can be common in dogs and cause them to gain a lot of weight. It can be treated with medication, but the sooner you catch it the better.

I have covered a variety of health issues and the preventative measures we should all be taking to protect our pets from them. The most important thing you can do for you pet besides love them is take them to the vet regularly. So it would be wise to find a vet you are comfortable with and develop a good relationship with them. And whether you buy or adopt a pet, make sure to take them to the vet for an overall evaluation as soon as possible regardless of whether they have seen a vet recently or seem healthy.