I'm Still Standing...s

I guess after nearly 18 months, it's time to play catch up. But first off, some may ask if I have any regrets about coming out as a gay man. Only one; that I didn't do it earlier in my life. Other than that, I have finally become comfortable in my own skin. Yes, sometimes it seems like I have much more "skin" than normal. Being more sedentary than  I am used to, I have put on some weight. I am learning however, that my biggest problem is serving portions. and that damn sweet-tooth. Over all, though I would say my life is pretty good-much better than it has been in years. I have a man in my life that I am truly in love with. I have a job that I look forward to going to. An ever =widening circle of friends here in the NOVA/DC area. I do miss the mountains and just being able to walk out of town and go for a week long hike or more.

Manassas, VA, February 2014

Because of some physical ailments, I may be able to go on a long walk again. Or it may just be, that a long walk is precisely what I need. In any case, nothing will be happening for a while. I am a couple of years away from being out from under debt. And Axel and I have decided to get married. No time has been set yet, as we are still working through the details. Amanda, my daughter, is getting married this August as well, and Axel is also planning a trip to Niagara Falls this summer.

So there is a potential for a busy year. I will try to keep things more up to date. Oh yeah...we finally got snow this winter in Manassas. We got about 8" in one day. I really want a foot or more. But we can save that for next year!

Love Is Never Easy

Axel and I along the Blue Ridge Parkway, July 2012.

Relationships are hard work! This summer I have been working on mine. Back in the spring, as I have mentioned previously, I fell in love again. At first, everything was fresh and it was all smiles and happy times. We wanted nothing more than to be in each others company and that was enough. We dreamed and made plans to do things together and some things actually happened. In July, Axel and I drove to Tennessee together and while it was mainly for a court appearance for child support, it became something of a mini-vacation for us. About a month ago, we drove to Connecticut to visit of friend of his and to take part is his god child's birthday. Although the trip itself had moments of stress, it was nonetheless enjoyable to get away from everything and just be together. It is the daily grind of everyday life though-dealing with work schedules, finances and free time-where things get tough and complicated.

While on our trip to Tennessee, Axel and I met up with my
 close friend and her daughter. Pictures, L to R: Autumn Hensley,
Axel, myself and Janet Hensley.

When we first met, we really didn't know each other but we knew there was something that attracted us to each other. I moved in believing it was best to be together as much as possible. I did not want to be apart from him anymore than I had to. Where a lot of people spend months or years dating and getting to know each other before taking that step, we took the plunge early on and now are discovering each others imperfections in much more intimate situations. I think we are both trying to make things work, but both of us are finding the adjustment more difficult than we expected.

Axel, enjoying a moment at a lake along
the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Axel had been in his previous relationship for 8 years before I came along and in fact, that relationship had just ended not too long before we met. His biggest challenge in our relationship has been trust. I, on the other hand, had lived by myself for 15 years and had become used to doing what I wanted, when I wanted with no explanation to anyone needed. My biggest challenge in our relationship has been communication. One thing we both agreed upon in the beginning was to have a monogamous relationship. With STD's still a real problem within the gay community, we were both clean and wanted to stay that way and the best method was to be committed to each other sexually. That was a particularly difficult commitment for me especially to make but I can honestly say that through all the stress of working out the knots in our relationship, neither one of us has strayed from that commitment.

My favorite photo of us together, and
one of the first!

We have been together for four months. We still don't know each other as well as we would like, but each day brings new discoveries, some good and some bad. It would be easy to throw the towel in and give up, walk away and move on. But that is the easy way out and doesn't really solve anything. We are working things out still and although we may not say it as often as we should, we love each other deeply. Relationships are never easy. True love. the kind that will last through the storms of life, is hard work.

The Rest Of The Story

Since I'm really not positive how many people read my previous post from this blog, I would recommend starting with that post. Then this post, and the reasons behind it, will be a little bit better to understand. I'm sure with the last post, I generated some questions. Now I will provide the answers.

I've known I was gay since I was 8 years of age. As a child, it was more a matter of self-exploration, but as I entered my teens years, things  became a little muddled. I tried dating a couple of girls, although none ever got further than one or two dates. My first crush was a friend of mine; I had worked for his mother at my first job. He wasn't gay but was willing to play along. We were great friends, but because of the difference in our sexual orientations, I knew nothing serious could happen. Still, I knew I was attracted to guys more so than women.

Then in my early 20's and continuing to my mid 30's, a strange time in my life occurred. I became heavily involved in a pentecostal church and was convinced that homosexuality was a sin, and that I had to bring that part of my life into submission. I played the good church boy role as much as possible, although I still found my heart and eyes drawn to members of the same sex. I don't recall if I ever acted out on any of those desires, but they were very present still in my life despite all the promises of God's deliverance. Then in 1987, something happened that I thought would change everything. I married. Yes, a woman.

Still the marriage did nothing to abate the desires I felt inside. It was as if I was torn in two, between being who people expected me to be, and being true to who I knew I really was. I did have several one night stands, cheating on my wife with other men, during the ten years I was married. The only thing that changed that was the birth of our daughter. I felt a tremendous responsibility was placed on me, but even that could not undo the damage done by years of mistrust and anger during our ten years of marriage. Even though the divorce was not finalized for another ten years, our marriage effectively ended in 1997.


With my marriage over and no longer tied to a church, I decided to try to figure out who I really was for the first time on my life. I took on a new career in the outdoor industry as a trail builder, and would work out my personal life internally. During that time, I have only let a few close friends in on the secret I had harbored, but to most, the question of my sexual orientation went without discussion. My private life became off limits. The reason for this was two fold. First, I did not want to be judged as a person based on one facet of my life. I've never been a flamer and most people assume I am straight as a nail. Second,and probably more important to me, was the need for friendship and the fear of rejection. I was afraid that if I opened up too much to others, I would be rejected as a person and possibly lose a friendship. So I became one person to most of my friends and another person, the REAL me, to that close circle of friends. And that lasted for nearly 15 years until last week when I made the decision to come clean to everyone.

The response I have received has been one of support and for that I thank you. For the first time, I feel happy as a person with nothing to hide. My friends list on Facebook does not seem to have diminished any, but it no longer matters. I have found love. I have found acceptance. I am still the same Jim Davis that many of you know. It's just that now you know....

...the rest of the story.

Recovering A Sense Of Self-Worth

Over the past 20 years or so, my self esteem has taken a gradual nosedive. As I've gotten older, I have realized that I no longer look like I did when I was in my 20's or even 30's, for that matter. I'm a little broader around the midsection so much so that I closely resemble a pear with legs. My hairline has receded to the top of my neck. There are wrinkles around my eyes and my skin just seems to hang a little looser than it used to. I have bad teeth. My eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be. Let's not even talk about my hearing. In other words, I've aged, and at times, not very gracefully. I've made some bad choices in life and have hurt those who at one time were close to me. Career wise, I'm not where I thought I would be at this point in my life. But something has happened in my life recently that has started to change how I look at myself.

A little over a month ago, I met someone that I fell in love with. Sure, I've been in love before and was married for ten years. Somehow, though, this seems a little different. Because for the first time, I'm in a relationship where I'm being true, not only to the one I love, but to myself as well. I've kept the "true me" hidden from most of my friends, family, and associates and have only let a half dozen or so ever get to really know who I am. Most people agree that I am good at keeping secrets and that's because I have had quite a bit of practice. I don't run around blabbing my business or anyone else's to others. The time has come, though, for me to let the cat out of the bag.

I'm gay.

There I said it. And the man who I have fallen in love with accepts me, warts and all. He makes me feel special. He makes an overweight, middle aged man, with a  balding head, bad teeth, and poor eyesight, feel, well, sexy. He has helped me rediscover my self worth as a person. So often in society, we place value on people who are physically ideal. Look at today's celebrities and you will see that society celebrates youth and beauty. certain groups would say that I am flawed or even diseased. and some might say possessed, simply because I am attracted to a member of the same sex. I am who I am and have been who I am for 51 years. For 43 of those years, I've known I liked men. I just spent a great amount of time convincing others, and at times myself, that it wasn't so.

Hate me. Love me. Curse me. Walk beside me. I am the same person that I have always been. I have value and self worth as a person. And for the first time in my life, I will be true to myself and to those I call my friends. I will choose to love.

Connections With The Hereafter

An unopened bottle of Corona. A tin of Copenhagen. A dead squirrel. Various medals. Flowers. Cards. Letters. These are among some of the things that I have noticed people have left on the graves of their loved ones at Arlington National Cemetery. Most of the things left behind are left on the graves of the recently departed, mainly within the past ten years. The section that holds the heroes killed during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars is probably the most heart wrenching. These were the sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to those left behind who try and cope with their loss. So they visit the grave of their beloved and leave a memento, a treasure, a trinket, some object that helps to give closure to the living.While to most people, those objects might simply appear to be trash, to those who have left them behind it forms a connection with the one no longer among the living. It helps keep their memory and spirit alive.

As I've grown older, but not up, I've thought quite a bit about death. I agree it is a somewhat morbid topic to contemplate, but like it or not, every person alive today will have to deal with death at some point. The death rate among the living is 100%. Everybody dies. What is done with my body at death really doesn't concern me. At that point, things are a little bit out of my control. Bury me. Burn me. Throw me out to sea. I do not care what happens to my body when I die. I've got enough to worry about before I die without stressing over the things that happen afterwards. But one thing does give me a reason to stop and reflect. What will people leave at my grave when I"m gone?

There's quite a few things that I think could be left. Some of these, although not necessarily practical, could include a backpack, a pair of boots, some object pertaining to the US Air Force, a pulaski, a grip hoist, an unopened bottle of Pepsi Max, a chocolate bar or two, a winning lottery ticket (something I never saw in life and would find utterly useless in death, but whatever) a camera, or a map. Any of these items could be left but I doubt anyone will leave one of them. Still, I would like to know what others would remember me for. I hope that, after I die but before I pass into the Great Beyond, I'm allowed to listen to my eulogy. Just to be able to hear what people think. Not that any of them would be telling the truth, but just to hear what they say. I would also like to visit my grave after a couple of years just to see what people have left on my tombstone.

There's a really nice compass I've had my eye on for a couple of years......

Lessons From The Slow Lane

As I've aged, I have found less interest in going through life at a  fast pace. Whenever I am out for a hike, I find it much more enjoyable to do less miles and take more time soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of nature. I'm one of those people that everyone passes on the trail. Usually, I'm hunched over my hiking poles trying to catch my breath and cursing the person who just had to take this trail straight up the mountain without even a thought given to throwing in a switchback or two. Typically, as well, I wind up in close proximity to everyone has passed me during the day. It just took me a little longer to reach my destination.

My biggest accomplishment this week hasn't been surviving my first full week of work. The thing I am most proud of is that I haven't been run over by a BMW or a Nissan Xterra in the process of getting to and from work. Rush hour traffic is something I had expected. What I didn't expect is that the people who are passing me in the fast lane and those just simply going from one lane to the next and back in hopes of catching a break in the traffic. You see, I drive the same way I hike. Yes, I am becoming one of those people who just sort of meanders to and from work. I pick out my lane and stick to it, never changing lanes unless I just have to pass someone. I know which lane leads directly to work and which lane will carry me home in the evening. And despite the fact that others out there are passing me, we seem to arrive at the same place at the same time. I've seen people after leaving work that move across the lanes trying to find a faster one. They are usually not more than one or two car lengths away  from when I take my exit off of I-95 some 16 miles later.

So I will continue to take the slow lane. I'll leave plenty of space between me and the next guy in front of me so we don't crowd each other out. I'll stick to the speed limit, if possible, but you can usually find me along with everyone else, stuck in traffic. I'll enjoy my drive in the mornings and use the afternoon commute to wind down from work. And, if this week is any indicastion, I'll get there about the same time as everyone else.

Unless, of course, someone plows me over.

Back To Work

When I first started this blog, I had just recently become unemployed after being terminated from my position with the National Park Service. Although I am not pleased with how things came to an end, I can honestly say that I am not disappointed. Fifteen years of building trail tends to wear a body down rather quickly and it rapidly became evident last year that I was not as young as I once was. So trying to fin a new job and "selling myself" became my full time occupation. i submitted over 50 applications during that time and had a half dozen interviews. This week, I returned to full time employment. I had to move closer to Washington DC, but I can now say that I am working for Greenleaf Services. In particular, I will be part of a team that has responsibility for the grounds maintenance at Arlington National Cemetery. Yes, that one.

This will be the first time in a while that I have lived in a major metropolitan area, and also the first time in nearly twenty years that I haven't lived in close proximity to the mountains. As much as I will miss looking out my window at the Shenandoahs, I have other priorities in my life that must take precedent right now. One day I will return, but for now I will have to be satisfied driving an hour or so to get there.

The past three months have not been easy. Unemployment only provided me with $358.00 per week and child support took half. By the time rent and other bills were paid, there was not much money left over. Had I chosen not to look towards DC for a position, there is no doubt I would still be unemployed. Sometimes, in order to accomplish the things in our life that we need to, a drastic change is asked of us. It could be pursuing a career change, or it could be a change in location. Being unemployed is as difficult as becoming employed, but there are jobs out there. It took a concerted effort on my part, doing the things I knew I needed to do, and leaning on close friends for encouragement in order to find this position I now have. Hopefully, my body doesn't give out any time soon. I guess there is always MacDonald's!

Now, excuse me while I go lie down and recover from a hard day of work.

Back Home Again

Early this week, I had to make a trip back home to Sevierville, TN for a court appearance. Due to my being unemployed for the past several months, I had requested a reduction in child support. I used to love to travel long distances but it seems that lately, I dread every time I have to make a road trip of any length. In order to help reduce the stress that I was already under, as well as to avoid heavy truck traffic that seems to be the norm along I-81, I chose to travel US Route 11 for a majority of the trip. The backroads, although slower and thus more time consuming, always seem to be more scenic.

I left Sunday morning and drove 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Waynesboro to Roanoke. The weather was fantastic and afforded the opportunity to take a few pictures from several of the overlooks. This was a stretch of the Parkway that I had not visited very often, and although less scenic than portions further south, it nonetheless provided for a pleasant drive. Once in Roanoke, I picked up Rt. 11 South and aside from a stop for fuel in Wytheville, drove straight through to Damascus. I had hoped to spend the night there, but there were no places available so after visiting with a couple of friends, I drove to Kincora Hostel near Hampton, TN where I spent the night.

The following day I drove to Sevierville and rented a hotel room for the evening. That evening,I had dinner with my Dad, whom I hadn't seen in about 18 months. Following my court appearance on Tuesday, I spent some time driving around different parts of the Smokies including the Greenbriar area. That night, I stayed with a friend near Hartford, TN and drove back home on Wednesday. It was a relief to be done with the driving, but overall I had a good time.

Success Is Never Final

As I was surfing the web this evening, I came across a story about Kathleen Vermillion and her work in Las Vegas among homeless youth. She too had dealt in the past with homelessness, depression, and substance abuse. Three years ago, as she pursued political office, she described her life as a "rags to riches" story. However, in recent weeks, things began to unravel and she found herself face to face with issues, I' sure she felt were in her past. I've posted the link below so I won't go into detail with her story but simply use it as a launching pad for commenting on my own experience.

I've mentioned before that in 2008 I was diagnosed with depression. In a brief moment in time, my emotions crashed around  me, leaving me unable to sort through various personal issues I had been dealing with for several years. Through therapy, I found out that a major part of my depression was situational. Being unemployed and unable to meet my basic financial needs was the major trigger; so long as I was working things were fine. But when the economy tanked and I found myself without a job or a place to call home, the downward  spiral began. I have struggled with recurring depression over the past several weeks as the prospects of finding work dimmed and my remaining finances dwindled. It can be difficult to reach out for help because it involves an uncomfortable level of vulnerability. Many times I've thought that I had my personal demons under control only to find out that they were just waiting in the shadows for an opportunity.

Since I've started this blog, circumstances have changed. Last week, I was offered a position with a firm that does the lawn maintenance at Arlington National Cemetery. I am scheduled to start work in mid-March, and while that would be a very good  thing, I can't count on any position until I actually start work. Circumstances change and anything could happen. I hope for the best but am prepared for disappointment. I've began the process of seeing a counselor once again, something that I haven't done since I was in the VA hospital in Johnson City over a year ago. Things aren't as bad as they were four years ago, and just simply having a job offer has made a difference. I want to keep moving forward and not fall back into old thought patterns and  destructive habits. Success in life is never final; it is something that I must continually reach for.

For more on Kathleen Vermillion, click here.

Homelessness and Poverty in America

Homelessness and poverty are issues that are faced by millions of Americans on a daily basis. It affects people of all ages, backgrounds, race, creed, and color. Having been homeless before, I know first hand what people have to do to survive. Shelters are full and the government wants to cut funding to social services while providing tax breaks for the richest Americans. The Department of Veteran Affairs has set a goal to end homelessness among veterans within five years, but they seem unable to meet the demand as more veterans return home with no job, and no place to turn. I have been told that there is at least a two week waiting period for a homeless veteran to get into one of the VA's homeless programs. Good, but not good enough.

Since losing my job with the Park Service this past December, this is something that I must deal with every day. I only see $720.00 per month from unemployment benefits. Those benefits could very likely expire next month, leaving me without any income to pay for even the basic needs of life. Congress is debating cutting social services so desperately needed by the poor, while pursuing tax cuts for the rich. My landlord is a fantastic person who understands my dilemma and has been working with me. But in spite of everything, the truth of the matter is without a job, I too will soon be homeless and will have to make some important decisions.

I have included the video below as part of this post. It is a special produce by the BBC entitled "Poor America". It shows in stark terms, the things people do just to survive. I honestly believe every person should watch this, and that is not something I say very often. Homeless people won't just go away. Our government is turning it's back on the people who need help the most. Mitt Romney's assertion that the poorest among us have a safety net, may be true in theory, but in every day reality, people are slipping through the net every day.

Hikers And Hiking

Bears Den Lodge and Hostel

I find it unbelievable that it has been a month since my last post; so much has happened. At the end of January, I went to the RUCK at Bears Den Lodge near Berryville, VA. The RUCK is an informal gathering of hikers and is put on by ALDHA, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association. I spent three days there and it was a great opportunity to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while, as well as to make new friendships. I have spent many nights at Bears Den over the years and find it to be one of the better places along the AT to stay.

A few days after the RUCK, I made an overnight camping trip to Great North Mountain on the VA/WV border. This  area lies west of Edinburg, VA and north of Harrisonburg. There are many of trails in this area as well as a great little campground  at Wolf Gap. It was from the campground that I hiked up to Big Schloss, a large rock outcropping that straddles the ridgeline. It was a spectacular day.

The view from Big Scloss

I am continuing the job search process and am beginning to get some responses from prospective employers back. I have to make a trip to Tennessee at the end of this month and it would be nice to have something to come back to. In any case, I am trying to figure out my plans for afterwards. I recently signed up for services with the VA hospital in Martinsburg, WV since I no longer have any medical coverage of any type. Luckily there is an outpatient clinic about 30 miles away in Harrisonburg. I am doing my best at maintaining a positive outlook, although I don't always succeed.

Selling Myself

     Being unemployed can create a lot of stress on a person. Just because you aren't employed doesn't mean that the bills stop coming in. I've found that just the daily activity of looking for a job can be stressful. It seems that every day,I find at least several job openings available in my area. The problem is that I'm not the only one looking for work. I still haven't quite figured out how to market myself for every one of those jobs. Having spent a good deal of time in a non-traditional job (i.e.-trail  construction), it is a challenge to convince prospective employers that I have skills other than simply playing in the dirt.

     Some positions, such as landscaping and tree work, are much easier to apply for considering my job skills. However, winter time is typically not the season that these types of positions become available. I am finding that I have to tailor every cover letter to the specific position I am looking into and at times it can be a struggle to figure out how trail construction skills could be applied in a warehouse situation. Once all is said and done, I should be able to just about anything to just about anyone!

Surviving Unemployment

   Although I haven't worked in a little over two weeks, at times it feels much longer. There are some things That I am discovering that seem to help relieve some of the stress and boredom that accompanies the job search process.

    First of all, jobs don't come looking for you, you have to search them out. I've been treating my job search almost as if it was a treasure hunt or the latest video game. I'm finding that the old methods of job hunting no longer apply. With the advent of the Internet age and social media, a lot of companies want you to apply online. In some ways this helps to expand the job search; I'm not restricted to pounding the pavement in one small locality. I look at other job markets and locations. Of course, if you don't have the freedom to move from one location to another, this could limit your job prospects.

   The second thing I've found is it that it is extremely important to have a hobby or two. For myself, as I have mentioned previously, photography is something that I have an interest in. I find myself spending a little time each day working with my photographs-scanning more into my computer, organizing them or digitally editing them. To take a rough photo and work with it until you create something that brings satisfaction, helps me deal with a lot of the stress that goes along with being unemployed.

View from Mt. LeConte , GSMNP, TN (original)

 Here on the left is an example of a photo as it was when the film was developed...

View from Mt. LeConte, GSMNP, TN (edited)

 

  ...and then on the right is the finished product using a couple of online editing  programs.


    Looking for employment can be a tedious and mentally draining process.It helps me though, to have something to turn to when the process becomes overwhelming.

Looking For Work In All The Wrong Places

     It is amazing how difficult it is to find a job these days. I was in this same situation a little over a year ago and was unemployed for all of 2010. It makes life a little bit tough at times. I have been putting out applications this week for positions in different places. Admittedly, it is primarily for the purpose of keeping my unemployment responsibilities in line, but I never know where lightning might strike. There have got to be jobs out there somewhere, people are still being hired.

Where are the jobs?

    The biggest struggle I have is trying to figure out how to market myself. For someone who has spent a good part of life building trails, I have to get creative when trying to figure out how my skills might fit into a vacant job position that I would like to apply for. Grounds maintenance, a tree service company or even an outdoor retailer are positions I could see myself qualified for. But there aren't that many of those type positions available right now. So what to do in the meanwhile?

     I think that I have decided to stay here in Luray until at least the end of January 2012. I have a place to stay and there are some important loose ends that I still have here. If something turns up, job wise, all the better. I suspect I might have to take a position in Harrisonburg, about 30 miles away, but it is a larger college town with a couple of distribution centers for large retail chains. Also, Miller Coors has a plant about 20 miles south of here, so there are some options. But how exactly do I land one of these positions when I know I have no qualifications for that type of work?

An Amateur Photographer

     Over the past 15 years as I have travelled around,one of the things that I have enjoyed is documenting my travels with pictures. Until a couple of years ago, they remained nothing more than a collection of 35mm prints, organized by year and held together by a rubber band. Their home was a $4.00 plastic container purchased from Wal-Mart and they went with me wherever I went. When I switched to digital a few years back, I started adding to that box a collection of CD's with digital copies of my photos I had taken. It wasn't until 2009 that I purchased a computer and was able to unlock some of the memories that they held.

     I have never owned a high end camera. All of the cameras I have owned have been point and shoots, although I am hoping next year to make an upgrade. I have discovered a couple of photo editing programs that have allowed me to make some improvements to the some 4000 pictures I now have in my collection. I almost have everything scanned into my computer now and every one brings back memories from the past.

The first picture I took that made me think that I might have an eye for composition was taken during the time I worked at LeConte Lodge in the Smokies. I was a winter caretaker up there and for several month, it was as if I was living inside a snow globe. To this day, I've not applied any edits to this picture. The original makes me smile every time I look at it.

I have used GIMP as well as the built in edits in Google Picassa to make most of the changes to my pictures. Most of the improvements have been in contrast and lighting, but every change that is made seems to enhance the memory that much more. I can still feel the excitement of having climbed Saddleback Mtn in Maine in 2001 whenever I see this photo.

Other times I will make artistic changes in hopes of evoking a particular emotion I may have felt. Such is the case whenever I hike in my favorite location, the Roan Highlands of upper East Tennessee. On this particular hike, I felt as if I had the entire mountain to myself. It was unusual for there not to be other people around but I had this feeling that I was in an ancient place.

Developing a hobby like photography has been vital to maintaining my sanity. I'm not able to always go back and see the areas I have been to before. But the     photographs have served has timepieces to mark a particular moment in time for me. I know that when my body totally gives out, at least I will still have the memories!

Unemployed...again

      It appears as if another chapter in my life has come to a close. As of today, I am no longer employed. I was terminated from my position at Shenadoah National Park this afternoon. They said they felt I wasn't suited for the position. I have my own ideas as to why things didn't work out but at this point, it really doesn't make any difference. The question is-where to now?

     Given the economy, this is a tough place that I find myself in. Luray is not a large town by any means, and Page County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. If a job is to be found around here, more than likely it will be a minimum wage position. I also haven't made many friendships in the area so I have no real connection here. I do have an apartment, but with no income, that wouldn't last very long.

     I think I am left with two options. Being a veteran, I could take advantage of the services offered through the VA. I spent a year in the hospital in Johnson City and do have a few friends there. There is also a VA hospital in Martinsburg, WV that I understand has a fairly good job placement program. I'm not sure that would be the most beneficial move, but it is an option.

      The other option would be to try to find a place where work would be available and attempt to locate a position there. Searching for work in this economic environment can be a rather depressing endeavor. It is not something I look forward to again. Wish me luck; I'm gonna need it.

Financial Stress and Unemployment

     I don't deal good with stress. As I've gotten older, it seems that the stress triggers in my life have only become more numerous. Luckily, they rarely pile on me all at once, but as soon as I get one under control, another rears its ugly head. I rarely have time to catch my breath in between crisis moments.

     Right now, the biggest source of stress in my life is financial. When I was younger, I had thought that at this point in my life things would be somewhat stable. It seems though, that like everyone else I know, a lot of people, myself included, live paycheck to paycheck. The size of the paycheck doesn't appear to make any difference.

     Even though I work for the Park Service and have what most people would consider a good job, my position  call for a furlough period anywhere from 4 to 26 weeks. Furlough means that you don't work for a certain period of time without pay. Most benefits are suspended, with the exception of health insurance.This year, I have twelve weeks off with no income. I'm having to rely on unemployment, something I have only collected once before in my lifetime.

     This past Monday, I applied for benefits at the local office. I had a good case worker, so I was aware that there might be some speed bumps along the way. Today, I received a letter from the state benefits office and my claim has been rejected. Apparently, there is a problem with the way the Federal Government communicates with the state as to my earnings. I've made enough to qualify, it just hasn't appeared in state records yet. I'm pretty sure that eventually I will be able to collect but this is a delay I don't really need.

     Even though I've made more money this year than I ever have before, When I look at my leave and earnings statement, it's surprising how little of it I see. After taxes,health insurance, child support and other little expenses are deducted, I brought home exactly half of what I earned. I still had to pay rent, groceries, gas, phone, Internet, car payment, and the list goes on. So needless to say, I didn't have much to fall back on at the end of the year. I'm going to have to look at how I can reduce my expense next year so I don't wind up in this same situation a year from now. And so the stress continues.

     Does this qualify me for being part of that 99% I keep hearing about?

The Beginnings of My Meanderings

Tricorner Knob Shelter, Great Smoky Mountain NP, July 1997

I started hiking when I was 35. I took it up as a means of losing weight, plus to help escape an unhappy marriage situation. Prior to this point in my life, I had spent many years in the retail industry and had lived a rather sedentary lifestyle. As a result, my weight had ballooned to over 300 lbs and I did not feel healthy at all. Walking seemed easy enough, I'd been doing it all my life!

There were plenty of trails in the Smokies from which to choose, so naturally I started out easy. I think my first hike was less than a half mile in length. The more I walked, the more I wanted to see. I wasn't content with just doing short strolls on the same trails. There were over 900 miles of trails for me to explore!

Finally, in 1997, I did my first multi-day excursion. I backpacked the 70 miles from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap-the entire length of the Appalachian Trail through the Park. Never had I considered doing anything of this sort, but afterwards, I knew I was a changed person with a new zeal for life. This picture was taken at a trail side shelter I stayed at on July 4th, 1997.

My new found love for hiking shortly took me into a whole new direction in my life. I was determined to find some way to make a living doing what I loved. Most people, it seemed, woke up in the mornings only to go to work at a job that they really didn't enjoy. They simply did it for the paycheck. I wasn't sure that I could accomplish this goal, but I gave it my best shot.

The first several years weren't easy. Luckily, at the time, I had no bills, and after my marriage fell apart, no commitments. The first two years, I worked as a full time volunteer with the Forest Service in Southwest Virginia for fifteen bucks a day and a place to stay. Even though I was poor, I was happy. I was hiking every day in some one of the most beautiful areas in the southern Appalachians. I was also beginning to learn some of the fundamentals of building and maintaining the same trails that I was hiking on.

Fast forward to today. I have a dream job with the National Park Service building and maintaining trails. Everything seems to be relatively stable at this point in my life. At 50, though, I find I don't quite feel like I did at 35. The aches and pains are more frequent and the recovery time is longer. I tend to favor a slower pace these days. Some of my weight has come back. Finances continue to be a source of stress. Even though I'm making more money than I have before, my bills are also larger. I have glasses, hearing aids and dentures. The stuff of old people.

Mary's Rock, Shenadoah NP, Jan 2011

I am trying to age gracefully but I don't always feel like I am succeeding at it!!!

A Brief History Of Time; Pt. 1

Meander:
       1.)To follow a winding and turning course; streams tend to meander through level land
       2.)To move aimlessly and idly without fixed direction; vagabonds meandering through life



To say that the past fifteen years of my life has taken a meandering characteristic would be an understatement. Starting after the dissolution of my marriage in 1997, I took to living a lifestyle similar to that of a vagabond, blowing about with the seasons of the year while pursuing a passion of hiking and outdoor adventure. I was 36 years old when this new phase of my life began and I had never expected it to become a career path.

Initially, I worked at a wilderness lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee near my hometown of Sevierville. Time and opportunity took me to places as varied as the swamps of south Florida to the boreal forests of northern Maine.

For the better part of 14 years, I found myself living in either a tent, a vehicle of some sort or in some sort of employer provided lodging. In 2010, I officially became homeless and wound up at a VA hospital in a program for homeless veterans. It was at this point that I started the process to attempt some changes that were long overdue.

As of the first day of 2011, I began working for the National Park Service in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. There have been quite a few changes as a result of this position, and reaching the milestone of my fiftieth birthday this past April has caused me to pause, reflect and evaluate on not only where I have been, but where I go from here as well.