Pain and Fatigue

Jed says pain and fatigue are his faithful companions......I'm sure they are. I was doing some weeding in the garden today....it was hot and it didn't take long to wipe me out. I came in from my yard work feeling like I had been chewed up and spit out. Thought about the last post I read on Jed's site....."34 miles in 92 degree heat..." YUCH!!! I have never been a summer person. I like fall and winter. It is sickening to me to be hot. Can't imagine running in it. Of course I am not 31, I'm sure I would have been better at things then, but even so,...I would be wimping out you can be sure.
I also don't like to be super hungry and have no way to get food. When I read that Jed was brought to tears at the sight of a Pizza Hut on the horizon, I did remember a day long ago when I was so very hungry. It had been days since I had eaten, and I had really gone past the hunger point to the point where food was hard to eat without getting ill. I remember and never want any of my children to be hungry, but I know he is. I'm not sure how many calories you burn up running 20-40 miles per day, but I think it would be hard to eat enough to maintain weight at this rate. I think my son will be pretty thin by the time I see him again. After thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, Jed took a bus back from Katahadin in Maine to Kansas City. I remember clearly going to the bus station to pick him up that day. My husband and I were so excited to go get him that evening. When he emerged from the bus, he was shaggy and wan. I threw my arms around him for a hug. They went too far around. I felt as though I could have circled him twice with one arm. That was a little over two thousand miles......this will be over four thousand. I pray he will be able to eat more this time around, or I will be taking a twig home for a little R&R before he returns to the mountains where he works changing lives. A phrase was coined concerning Jed. It is TAKING THE "I CAN'T" OUT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE...ONE STEP AT A TIME.

When I am not feeling well, am tired or discouraged....I remember..and say "I can do this." "Yes, I can!"

Thank you for that Jed. Thank you for showing me I can. mom

Right Back at Ya Governor!!

I absolutely LOVED this message from Jed, so I re enter it here:

"Met the Governor of Illinois today. He gave me his business card, and I wrote my charity website info on it and gave ir right back to him."


I wonder, governor, what you thought about that....? Maybe you should go to the site, and lend a hand. That would do more good than public relations. Have you ever watched someone die from cancer? I have. Have you ever loved a little three year old child who is battling brain cancer? I have. Perhaps one less latte, one less soda pop, one less fancy dinner or show or new suit. One less beer or martini at lunch......who's to say what the turning point will be in the search for a cure. Isn't it worth something? Isn't it worth the sacrifice of something, anything you won't really even miss in a day?

Jed is running...daily...through rain and wind, pain and hunger. He is doing it on his own dime. No one is driving along behind him to feed and shelter him at night as they do with so many runners. So, Governor, if I could will it to be so, I would make the image of Jed stick with you till you went to this site and sacrificed just a few dollars, so a life might be helped. And to anyone else out there who might read this.....please do the same.

www.firstgiving.com/jedediahbrown

God Bless this Country...and God bless all who have the courage to do what others only dream.

Finally, out of Kentucky!

Well Jed,...I know you were so glad to finally get out of Kentucky. From what I have heard, I don't think I would have any desire to go through rural Kentucky on foot. I am grateful you are out of the area. I had family who lived in Kentucky many years ago. I always thought it would be a beautiful place to visit, but now I am not so sure. Things have changed. All I can think of now when I think of the state are charging pit bulls! For whatever reason, the trail seems to go through more difficult places than an average person would want to contend with. Perhaps I will pass on a visit to Kentucky. Most of this leg of the state was pretty unpleasant for Jed with a few exceptions. The weather was pretty bad through here. I think he was waterlogged most of the way. That's a rotten feeling...being wet all the time, especially your shoes. I try to imagine myself running day after day, wet...hot...tired and in pain most of the time. In Sebree, Kentucky he finally got the pair of shoes I was able to send to a General delivery along the route. I was stressing about getting the shoes to him on time, knowing he was moving fast, anxious to get out of Kentucky and into Illinois. I was so glad to see his message that the shoes had arrived and he was just in time to get them at the post office and finally get out of the duct taped ones they replaced. His uncle, my brother, sent an additional pair that are sitting on my dining table ready to give him when he reaches Missouri. He should be ready for another pair by then. With any luck, he will not have the problems from here on in that he has experienced so far.

I always thought I was strong inside, but I cannot even fathom the inner strength he has. I read a post from him just recently that said "Dreams are for those who lack courage to make them a reality."

Once someone told me that I had courage......I am pretty sure I do not know the meaning of the word.....but you do Jed....you do. I love you. mom