When I encouraged people to come and walk part of the Natchez Trace with me, I really didn’t think anyone would. My offer was sincere, but it was also my warped sense of Southern hospitality. I mean, I couldn’t very well throw myself a masochistic party and not invite people to come.
Lisa Kramer messaged me and said she wished she could come. My response? “You should just invite yourself to stay with Tori Young in Nashville and book a flight!” (After all, I invited myself to stay with Tori at the end of this crazy walk……even though I’d never met her. Oh, and I invited MTM to join me.) Why wouldn’t Tori host Lisa, too???
Lisa booked that flight. I’d followed Lisa and Tori for several years, and I’ve grown to adore them. Lisa is earnest and sincere and quirky, and Tori is balls-out funny. They’re both gifted writers, plucky women I consider my friends.
On a sunny Sunday, we met. A car barreled down the Trace toward me, horn blaring and noise-makers blasting through the open windows. These two ladies were a motorized party on wheels. We shared a picnic lunch at Meriwether Lewis and laughed more in our first ten minutes together than some friends do in a lifetime. Tori tried to pick up a stray dog while Lisa charged into the ranger station to sell my book. I FaceTimed MTM, and Tori was there when he answered. We were so loud and giggly that MY DAD WAS SPEECHLESS.
I love these ladies. To pieces. The miles they walked with me were among the most joyous ones I experienced. Thank you, Tori and Lisa, for giving me two big chunks of your time.
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43 Comments
What a wonderful and beautiful testimonial to the power of friendship! (Just like the entire book.)
I was tickled to death that they joined me for TWO days.
That time with them had to be priceless!
It was perfect.
Yep. Good stuff.
One of the best things about this whole business is meeting people. I just love it.
Sounds like you are having way too much fun. You need to cut that out! This is supposed to be a _serious_ adventure. 😉
It has been. Very serious.
Seriously out of control maybe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-sxM20RMM
And Roy was rendered speechless? Incomprehensible! 🙂
I saw it happen.
Fantastic! You’ll be friends for life after sharing this transformative experience. You do have a habit of attracting good people, Andra. You’re so close now. I can’t really imagine what you’re feeling, but this is exciting!
Right now, I’m just numb. Very, very tired. And excited about the possibilities for every bit of this experience.
Well, now you know what it takes to render your dad speechless – I predict more of these ladies in your life 🙂
Dad is pretty tired by this point. I’ve pushed him hard for an old man. Ha.
Love the noise-maker clatter arrival in the car to greet you! Priceless!
I wish I’d recorded it, Nancy. It was great.
Goodness, I LOVE them too! AND they have both been to my house! Hope you all will come stay at our home here in the Andes, and we can do the Inca Trail together. How does that sound?
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Kathy, MTM and I are determined to do that sometime next year.
Sounds absolutely wonderful! Friends are blessing we give ourselves. 😀
I’m so glad to be making more of them. So many blessings.
Laughing with girlfriends is the best. Walking and laughing is even better. You are almost there, Andra. One more day! 🙂
I can’t believe it, Mary.
That is the best!!!!!! Giggling with the ‘girls’ is the best therapy!
I do love to giggle. 🙂
that’s so cool !
It was HOT here yesterday, so I don’t know how happy they were to be out with me. Yesterday and today were both blistering hot, compared to what I’ve done otherwise. I sweated a ton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skyuybdkb4w
Roy, speechless? Ha! Well, I guess that’s another first for you on this hike from heck. Did he ever explain why he was rendered that way? Too many ladies in the same space having more fun that he? I can’t imagine him as a silent, well-padded mummy… but it’s a fun thought…
We were outside, and I think he couldn’t hear anything.
Sounds like you guys had a great time together! Blogging buddies are the best.
They are. 🙂
I love that Lisa joined you! I am feeling so jealous of this crew of awesomeness!
I’m hoping we’re going to be back in High Point this summer. I will definitely let you know.
This post made me so happy, I’m thrilled that you had such great company!!!
It was the best, Lisa.
Those are great friends to have – AND they left Roy speechless. Mercy, me!
I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself, Penny.
The great company and the constant support kicked the hell out of the blisters and exhaustion.
bravo
So cool that you are closing in on the FINISH line! Have a GREAT last day on the Trace.
Hope Roy didn’t mind my hugs. He went in for a handshake, but I’m not about all that 🙂 Had SO much fun!
So glad you have such great company on this historic walk, Andra!!!
This post brought tears of joy to my eyes. I had so much fun and I’m glad I did it. You are an amazing woman! I’ll be posting about it all today. Good luck tonight.
<3 Lisa
I had a surreal moment just now – I was looking for material in my facebook news feed I could snark on this weekend. I almost fainted when I saw you in my newsfeed. I silently screamed that I knew you, but silently because my family would die if they knew I blogged at all. Many congrats on the Tennessean article, that’s super cool. Wicked cool.
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