I guess they reminded me of when I was their age.
I was out hiking one of my favorite sections of the Appalachian Trail near my house in the Berkshires today when I passed them as they were coming down, three scraggly kids—two men and a woman in their early twenties—who looked liked they’d been out in the woods for some while, which was probably why Millie took extra time sniffing them. Then a while later as I was coming down myself I saw them at the spot where I’d parked my Jeep. Millie was especially happy to be reunited with them.
Turns out they were thru hiking the AT from north to south, Maine to Georgia—no small objective. It’s awfully late in the season to be doing that but I didn’t want to say anything discouraging so I wished them luck. Then they stuck out their thumbs, trying to hitch a ride into Great Barrington.
Like most of you, I assume, I don’t pick up hitchhikers, though when I was their age I did a lot of it…Ann Arbor to St. Augustine a couple of times, Akron to San Francisco, Detroit to New York, Santa Fe to Michigan, and through the mountains of Colombia, which was insanely stupid and dangerous, but isn’t that the definition of fun when you are 21?
Anyway, I couldn’t just leave them stranded on the roadside so I told them if they didn’t mind a thirsty Golden Retriever slobbering all over them I’d give them a lift. They threw their packs in the back and gratefully piled in while I opened all the windows for maximum ventilation.
“Is there a McDonald’s in town?” one of the guys asked hopefully.
“I’ll drop you there,” I said.
“Great. We can charge our phones and get something to eat…”
“And use a real bathroom,” the girl added.
I had to laugh. A few weeks in the woods can build up a powerful desire for a Big Mac and a restroom.
They climbed out at our destination and I went inside with them to get Millie a pan of water while they ordered their burgers and fries. “Usually I’m a vegetarian,” the girl commented, “but I’m really hungry.”
When they weren’t looking I slipped the counter guy enough money to cover their bill, remembering how at their age when I was doing crazy youthful things I appreciated the kindness of strangers.
I said goodbye to them while they were trying to get their phones plugged in so they could call home and let their parents know they were okay. They thanked me profusely, which wasn’t at all necessary. I was plenty grateful myself in the doldrums of middle age—or at least it seems like that sometimes—to reconnect briefly with the inspired adventures of my own youth. And as Millie and I drove off I made sure to say a little prayer that God would see these three kids safely on their way.
Do you remember the crazy things you did when you were younger? I’d love to hear about them. Post below.
