Southern Hospitality

It’s something us northerners often here but aren’t quite sure what it entails…until now.

We have been welcomed into so many homes and for that we cannot be more thankful.

One hot May day in Cocoa, FL we were finished walking for the night, we walked over to an unpromising, empty church parking lot and there we met the most selfless, knowledgeable man. After our usual spiel, Kate was about to continue to try to persuade the man until we realize that after one short attempt, he had already said “yes.” Stan baked us apple pie and we listened to some fascinating family history. He, literally, opened up his house to us. The night was full of sharing stories and mostly us listening to this man and his unmatched life experiences. In the morning, he took us back out to the road and he prayed for our safe travels. Thank you Stan, you were amazing and that apple pie was just as good as you promised it would be.

Days later, yet another church. Josh claimed that our salvation would be just behind the corner, and it was. We met Sharon as she anxiously awaited a job interview with the church that was settled just behind the corner. She took us in, her big heart couldn’t resist even more strays. We swam in her pool while she made us a pound of spaghetti each. She told us there was nothing for us to do to help her, she exclaimed “just let me be your mom tonight!” We gladly accepted. Sharon, I truly hope that you received the job offer, because no one deserves a job serving under the lord’s house more than you.

Jane Caputi, our professor extraordinaire, found us a place to stay in New Smryna Beach, FL. So for days we were dreaming about sleeping indoors and hot showers when we reached New Smyrna. 27 miles later, we finally had the privilege of meeting this eccentric, beautiful woman. At Holly’s house, though she claims not to be the nurturing type, we were pampered. We had wine and great food and Kate and I were blessed enough to enjoy massages at the hands of her husband, the massage therapist. We hit jackpot. Holly and her husband Tom, were so kind to us, thank you. And to her friends/our dinner dates, thank you for agreeing to be our entertainment, mission accomplished. When we departed from Holly in the morning, we wished we could stay another day, if not forever with her.

The more north we travel, the more farther apartthe towns start to space. So, when we stopped into the only gas station we had seen for miles, we decided we had to find a place to stay right away. As fate would have it, we only had to walk right across the street and knock on the front door of the big pristine yet intimidating house. As usual, we sent sweet and innocent-looking Kate. After what seemed like forever to my worrisome mind, she finally came back out and said that they agreed. Gil and Melody were so honest and genuine. They took us in and we were able to really discuss our cause with them and they expressed an interest in the things that we were walking for, which always motivates us. They added us to their website. Their organization, the Earth Child Foundation, helps children all over the world, and will shortly be continuing its work in Belize.

Walking over the bridge into St. Augustine we entered into a war protest.  We stopped to join in for a moment and had the opportunity to share our mission with the protesters, just as they had the opportunity to shar their mission with us.  It was one of those moments when you realize that despite the pessimistic news, there are people out there working for what they believe in.  It is an incredible thing when two groups of people working so hard for a cause come together.  Everyone can’t do everything, so when we all work towards one or two things that are important to us, and support others working towards what’s most important to them we can change the world.

You know how you just meet the most amazing people in the most unusual ways? Well, that seems to be our pattern. At a pub outside of St. Augustine, we met Aurora and Trevor. The most generous and fun people. They took us under their wing for a day, making sure that we took time to enjoy ourselves. We then got to hang out with the coolest kid named JP, who showed us a thing or to about backyard football.  We had an absolute blast with them. We could not believe our good fortune that we found when we met them. I don’t know if we said it enough or loud enough, but thank you so much for your generosity and young, fun, spirits.

Before we left for this trip, EVERYONE advised us to be careful and after each home we leave, they  advise us to be less trust and “not to talk to strangers.” It’s crazy but that’s all we have been meeting, a whole lot of strangers.

Two gracious and loving strangers took us into their quaint and lovely little bed and breakfast last night. We were walking in blazing heat, me trailing a hundred feet behind when a man, Jack, stopped and took pity on us. He invited us to a town hall meeting, which we gladly accepted to get out of the rain. We not only got out of the rain but nestled ourselves in the most comfortable king size bed ever imaginable. It was so big that I couldn’t even hit Kate when I slept in my usual boomerang style position. We loved those two gracious strangers, Libby and Mike, so much that we decided to stay another day with them. They exhibit what I have always envisionedsouthern hospitality to mean. Beautiful, kind people. It’s like the whole town came out to welcome us. If ever you are looking for a small, gorgeous, Georgia town with phenomenal government teachers to move to, you should give Woodbine a careful consideration.

This short (but maybe pretty size-able to the reader) blog can never do this walk justice. We have met so many big-hearted, loving, generous good people. The people we have met and had the opportunity to speak with make the miles more than worth it. Before I left, a good friend told me I have too much faith in people, now I know that my faith was rightfully placed.

We cannot say thank you enough but I will try: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your actions have never and will never go unappreciated by the East Coast Walkers.

Walk on,

theWALKERS