16. Last Entry Before I Leave for Africa – July 28

This will be my last entry before I fly out of Asheville on Tuesday, August 1.  This week has been busy with getting many last-minute details taken care of.  There were purchases to make, packing to be done, bills to be paid and many other things to attend to.  By far, the highlight of my week was the Bon Voyage Party my hiking club gave me.  I started my own hiking group when Covid had the country shut down.  I knew I could not take a break from the outdoor activity that gave me so much help in dealing with PD.  Other groups I had been hiking with decided to halt activity for the most part, but I felt this was unnecessary to stay safe.  In fact, I felt that being active in the outdoors was a good way to preserve immunity and health.  So, I offered invitations to hikers I knew and started Lucretia’s Hikers.  By now, the group has grown to about 60 members with about two thirds of them regular hikers with me.  The others hike infrequently or are “lurkers” as they enjoy the pictures of the group hikes I post to our site.  Over the many miles and hours on the trails, I have gotten to know the members well and many have become very close friends.  They have been a constant support in every aspect of my life.  The party was overwhelming by the outpouring of support and affection shown to me. The attendance was large, and they gave me flowers, gifts for the trip, a banner to pin to my pack on the trek and a card signed by everyone.  Individual members gave me personal cards, and one member wrote a limerick personalized for me.  Another member created a picture from stones, moss and a stick that displays a hiker climbing a mountain. The box it came in was wrapped in a beautiful silk scarf with fresh flowers instead of a bow decorating it.  I was rendered speechless and in tears by the overwhelming demonstration of love and support.  To say thank you does not seem adaquate to express the gratitude I want to express to them for the many, many ways they have been there for me. But my hiking group members are not the only ones who have been very supportive both in my ambitions to climb Kilimanjaro but in the daily, continuous struggle of handling life with PD.  I have a long list of friends, family, church members, neighbors, and even strangers who have offered both monetary contributions to my fundraising campaign as well as overwhelming love and support.  This is not casual support but the kind where one will be available 24/7 to listen, or talk, or go places, or take care of physical needs.  My well is brimming over with genuine friendship, concern, and love.  I wonder how I got so lucky to have such a tremendous throng of advocates but am eternally grateful to the many, many people who have touched my life with their generous outpouring of kindness and devotion.  The list is too long to name everyone I appreciate and want to thank but I would like to mention Lisa Scaterragia, my publicist, who has given many hours helping me get the word out there. Then, I would like to thank my family members comprised of my four brothers and their wives, my nieces and nephews and their spouses and children, my father’s wife, my husband’s family especially his children who I consider my own too, and their significant others and children, and my daughter Lauren.  But the one who gets the most billing and who has stood by me through everything is my precious husband Jay of 32 years today.  He is my rock, my best friend, and the love of my life.  I love you with all my heart and will be running to your arms when I return.  

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