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

sad day

It was good to talk to Jed today. He is in Sebree tonight. Staying at a church hostel for cross country travelers. I think he will be able to get his shoes tonight or tomorrow morning. I'll be grateful for that. Don't feel much like writing tonight. Our dear little Maltese dog Lady died today in my husband's arms. She had a really bad heart from birth. We, of course knew that, and is the reason why we took her. We knew no one would want her with that defective heart. We wanted her. She became like a little child to us in our old age. The vet's prognosis of not living to see her first birthday was outdone, but she didn't quite make it to number 2. Our little granddaughters were planning a "burthday party" for her. They were going to spend the night and let her sleep in bed with them, and lavish her with kisses and pats on the head. She'd have loved it. Good bye little dog. We loved you so.

My thoughts travel to Jed again. Good night my son. May heaven's angels travel with you all your tomorrows.

hey there lonely boy

I would blah blah on, but Jed's caption for this photo he took of himself says it all.......the caption?

"She was lonely.....I was lonely.....what else can I say?"





Jed, you can always find a way to laugh, and to make us laugh too.

Woot!! Woot!!

Whew, Jed put up a post today. He has run his first thousand miles! I have to tell you, that is really hard to wrap my mind around. Even in the days when I was in great shape dancing, I know I would never have been able to do this much. A thousand miles. The post mentioned that he had merely another three thousand to go. My feet are hurting in sympathy. I want to find more ways to gather support for this run. I did get word today that the Kansas City Star wanted to do a story on him when he gets to Missouri. I have not been able to contact him to let him know they are interested. but I am excited about the possibilities this could have to spread the word. I can only hope that the more people who know about this, the more who may find it in their hearts to donate to the foundation who will be the benefactor of this incredible journey. If any of you read this post, and missed the link to the page to donate,.....please go to www.firstgiving.com/jedediahbrown . If you have a dollar, it would help. The year Jed was born, my father lost his battle with thyroid cancer. Jed never got to know him, and yet is so much like him in so many ways. The mountain man part of Jed is somehow my father living on. When my oldest brother was only six years old, he died of lukemia. Just a few short weeks before Jed began his run, a dearly loved uncle died of lung cancer. That same uncle's wife is fighting cancer right now, just two months after losing her beloved husband to the ravages of the disease. Jed has known a number of people he really cared about that fought and are still fighting this disease. He has done well, and in the words of the V Foundation, he NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVES UP. God Bless you for this Jed. I am more than proud of you. I have told you before, and I tell you again, you are my hero.

The Kentucky Hilton!

Well, here is the Bunny at his hotel room for the night....an abandoned farmhouse somewhere in rural Kentucky. I am looking at his shoes, hoping that the ones I ordered for him will indeed get there in time. Supposedly they are guaranteed for tomorrow. I believe they will be there. I know the ones he has on here are pretty shot, falling apart. They were good enough shoes, but the miles and constant soaking has shredded them. As someone who works on their feet, I want him to be well shod for this run. I pray they arrive on time. I was touched by a post today that Jed made. I have told you of the really discouraging things he has faced in his run, and of the good things also. The pit bulls, the harassing policemen and their dogs, but also of the kind and generous firemen in Virginia, the laughs he has had along the way. Today's post was another vote for the basic goodness and trust of still many in this harsh world. Jed posted that he came across a man named Francis Whitfield. Mr. Whitfield opened his wallet and gave Jed 20 dollars to support the charity Jed is running for. He never met Jed, hadn't a clue who he was, but gave him the money and said good luck and God bless. Later, he received another 20 from a Maggie Love. Same thing....they didn't know of Jed, just wanted to help. A little further on, Jed met a unicyclist along the trail. They HAD heard of each other, and the cyclist carried Jed's pack for a few miles so Jed could run awhile without it. If you've ever carried a weight for a time, you can appreciate how much that meant. Jed is right....he will see both the good and the bad that is America. I thank God that today, concidentally the Sabbath, Jed found the good that is still everywhere in her. To all you that have lent a hand, shared a smile, a meal, an encouraging word, and to all those who have sacrificed a few dollars or many dollars, I thank you. If evil prevails when good men do nothing,...... then good prevails when we, as a nation, as a friend or just a stranger do something good. It matters not the size of our deed, it just matters that we do. Mr. Whitfield, Ms. Maggie Love, firefighters, cyclists.....all of you out there....God Bless You and keep you for your generousity.