I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been told by people close to me that I am making a spectacle of myself.

I can’t help it. I’m a talker. I love to tell stories, to trade anecdotes, to argue, to debate, to spar with words. I love to paint pictures in your mind.

I also talk with my hands. Wildly gesturing. I tend to stand while others are seated so as not to incur any injuries. If I have to remain seated, I wrap my hands around a drink or I sit on them. I’m not even kidding. They just love to jump about of their own accord.

My husband is Not A Talker. Ironically, this is one of the subjects we discuss most– the fact that He Is Not A Talker and how it’s not such a big deal, since You Talk Enough For The Both Of Us. Whenever we go into a social situation, I am reminded to Try Not To Bore Everyone Or Embarrass Us With Your Incessant Blather.

I usually start off well. I stay quiet. I answer questions in a way I consider succinct and soft-spoken. But at some point the floodgates break open and those traitors, my hands, they are running about and illustrating points and they goad me on, leading me like a conductor’s baton.

On the way home, I’ll get a You Talked Too Much Again. Sigh.

I think any writer is a talker. They understand cadence and flow and nuance because they have heard themselves talk so damn much. And at some point they have to stem the flow… redirecting it onto the page.

Writers have to write because they have something to say and a need to be heard. Anything else is censorship… and since writers are also READERS censorship is the ultimate enemy.

As for wild geese and ducks… well, let’s just say he wasn’t there when I pulled the car to the side of the heavily traveled highway just off a college campus road and followed this family around. And that’s a good thing, since he probably would’ve been offended by all the people laying on their horns as they whizzed by, shouting “Honk! Honk!”

I am not easily embarrassed. This comes from growing up with a mother who was beyond embarrassing. I developed a fairly thick skin.

To what extent am I bound to not embarrass the people around me?

To what extent am I bound to be the way that I am?

*** Local Peeps: On this particular stretch of road– 273 near Lowe’s– there is a Papa Goose who has an arrow sticking through him. The arrow “currently is not interfering with the goose’s ability to fly, feed or care for its young, according to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Inc.” so reporting the goose is not necessary, he is being monitored. In a few weeks the goslings will be old enough to survive with a single parent and at that point the rescue will attempt treatment. ***


Interesting Canada Goose Facts (to me, anyway)
–Canada Geese mate for life.
–They return to their old stomping grounds to nest. Which in turn were the nesting areas of their parents.
–Goslings stay with both parents for a whole year.
–If a goose falls out of the V formation while migrating (say, if it is shot, maybe with a FREAKING ARROW), then two other geese will stay behind with it, bringing food until it recovers or dies.

I’m all about a wild goose chase. Makes me feel good about myself.

Aaaaargh I have so much to do today.

Very quickly wanted to share this cute hip-hop video of kids talking up their love of fresh grown!

Cass listening to the water at White Clay Creek State Park

All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one characteristic we must possess if we are to face the future as finishers.

Henry David Thoreau

I like to set goals. The kids like to hike.

We’ve discussed it and we are going to try and complete the Delaware State Parks Trail Challenge- 15 trails throughout the state:

Brandywine Creek State Park

• Hidden Pond 2.8 miles Easy to Moderate
• Indian Springs 1.8 miles Easy to Moderate with challenging sections
• Rocky Run Trail 2 miles Moderate with challenging sections

Cape Henlopen State Park

• Junction and Breakwater Trail 5 miles (one way) Easy
• Pinelands Trail 2 miles Easy
• Walking Dunes Trail 1.6 miles Easy

Fort Delaware State Park

• Prison Camp Trail 0.8 miles Easy

Fort DuPont State Park

• Fort DuPont Trail 1.1 miles Easy

Fox Point State Park

• Riverview Trail 2 miles Easy

Holts Landing State Park

• Seahawk Trail 1.5 miles Easy

Killens Pond State Park

• Pondside Trail 2.6 miles Easy to Moderate

Lums Pond State Park

• Swamp Forest Trail 7.1 miles Easy

Trap Pond State Park

• Loblolly Trail 4.6 miles Easy

White Clay Creek State Park 

• David English Trail 2.4 miles Moderate 
• Twin Valley Trail 3.9 miles Moderate

The ones that are moderate or have challenging sections all are close to home.

The only ones that have me a bit worried are the Lums Pond, which seems a bit long at 7.1 miles (but I hiked it as a kid with my brother, who had to be about Cassie’s age at the time) and the Cape Henlopen, which is 5 miles one way– how am I going to get back to my car?

My husband, by the way, thinks that I have lost my flipping mind. But I think that this is a good way to ensure the kids and I get unplugged and exercised this summer, excited about getting outdoors in new places, not to mention exploring all these lovely parks that I’m always meaning to revisit and can never find the time for.

There’s also some sort of prize you can win, but I’m guessing just the satisfaction of completing the challenge will be enough for the kids.

I’ve only ever hit the local trails with the kids. Any advice for daytrip hiking?