I remember sitting at lunch with my brother as the first thoughts of doubt began to creep in. He and his friend heckled the idea of trekking with me across the Mohave desert and presented the absurdities of my trip. For goodness sake I was serious!! I then learned of two girls killed in Oregon while hiking along the trail, then another. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all and the guidebook and paper trail of notes remain on a shelf to this day.
$9.99 on amazon |
It's easy to place myself in her shoes as she shares her experiences. The candor of her writing is admirable and sometimes startling as the story unfolds. Wild is a memoir of one woman's amazing journey not only along the PCT, but through her life at the time and the needed journey to redemption. I have laughed, I have cried and I have cringed as she used the 'F' word yet again in her writing. She shares intimate details of her broken life and her journey along the trail. It's exactly what I wanted to do years ago,but didn't.
It's easy to ponder the path my life would have taken if I too had decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail those many years ago. I would have healed much faster. I would have overcome the pain sooner.... And I never would have ended up pregnant staring divorce in the face prolonging the inevitable painful decision. (The scariest thing I've yet to experience.) Cheryl and I have many remarkable similarities within our stories but many differences abound. One being that of the decision we both made that ultimately helped me overcome the sadness I did feel without ever hiking the trail. The opportunity that instantly gave me purpose and the reason to get out of bed. The journey that would lead me well beyond 2500 miles and give me purpose for more than the expected 18 years.
Go an get Wild. It is indeed "a literary and human triumph" that may just inspire you to do things you never imagined you could.
Have you read it? I want to know your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! I will add it to my list of books to read.
ReplyDeleteI am almost finished with "Angle of Response" by Wallace Stegner. A definite life changing book for me. I'm now ready for another quality read.