Day 1: Here We Go

Saturday, May 24, 2025

A.M.

Shenandoah National Park is beautiful. We saw a whole bunch of robins and deer on our way in last night, including a really precious baby deer with his mama. Enjoy your baby, little mama. Keep him safe as best you can. Find joy in every little thing you do together.

The views are breathtaking on the drive to our cabin. (Yes, we’re not roughing it and camping, but with it being cold and the heater on the fritz, it feels like camping without the s’mores and campfire.)

The AT marker: a symbol of resilience and the journey ahead.

We have our backpacks, our poles, lunches, and hopefully everything we need for today. We’ve been planning this for months, so I hope we’re ready.

I’m walking with someone I met through my virtual support group soon after Matthew passed. We finally met in person, and although I knew we clicked virtually, I’m so glad that we mesh together and have such similar paths, relationships, struggles, and passions. We even thought the same and brought something special for each other that we thought the other would really appreciate. She got me some really interesting stuff that I can’t wait to try, but the beautiful green M keychain with a butterfly and the little jade butterflies were my favorite. I also got her a few little things, and I think the banner is her favorite. (See picture.)

Tribute banner for Matthew and Maisa. Our hearts are with you both every step of the way — you are forever loved, forever remembered.

I was asked yesterday how I felt about this walk, and I answered: excited, happy, nervous, and also sad. I’m sure along the way there will be many different feelings. Most of all, I hope this walk will make me feel more connected and closer to Matthew and find some healing and peace.

That said, here we go. We are starting from Lewis Mountain cabin and hiking approximately 9 miles to Big Meadows Lodge. More to come…

P.M.

We had beautiful weather and it was a wonderful day. We ended up hiking close to 10 miles—lots of ups and downs, both physically and emotionally—and my darn ankle is giving me trouble again. But that didn’t stop me from finding some joy in my surroundings.

We encountered no bears, no snakes, but lots of birds and butterflies—and one deer that just stared at us, filled with curiosity.

I was a little apprehensive at the start when two hikers told us they saw a rattler down the road. I was initially like a gazelle—“As a prey animal, they are vulnerable and always alert. They seem to radiate a nervous, anxious energy, which is fully understandable when you’re surrounded by predators.” I needed to relax and evaluate whether my anxiety was rational. Tomorrow I am going to try to be more at peace and enjoy the beauty of it all—to be a gazelle that seems to always find a way to be at peace with its vulnerability.

On a lighter note—I had to get a butterfly guide at the end of the day because we saw purple, yellow, dark brown with white border, and a lot of white butterflies.

Stunning sunset after dinner on the Appalachian Trail.

Watching the sun setting after dinner painted a stunning end to a day where countless cherished memories were revisited.

In loving memory of Matthew—Rest in peace.