Harpers Ferry, WV

   A vacation, while fighting off the adventures of chemotherapy, is an adventure.  But I am doing well.  We are doing a week's worth of "Daughter-Palooza" by spending some time with Kate and her family in northwest Ohio, and then moving on to Richmond, Virginia, to visit Abby and her family.  Two daughters, two grandchildren, two sons-in-law, six different states.  Tonight we are in Harpers Ferry, WV enjoying the area and currently a motel.  Last night my wife slept with another man while I slept alone.  She and our grandson Jesse decided to have a camp-out in his tepee-like tent in his new "big-boy bedroom." While Connie said it was a good night, I know she was up at 5:00 this morning looking for Jesse's water bottle...and they did not go back to sleep because they started having conversations that just never seemed to stop.  From musical instruments to HGTV to basketball to whatever new topic came along, they had a lot of pre-dawn discussions about a lot of different topics. Meanwhile, in the guest bedroom, I slept well.  And I am not apologizing for it.
   Harpers Ferry is a great town.  With a population of only 300 people, Harpers Ferry is a Civil War era industrial burg and is located on a peninsula of land formed by the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.  It was here that John Brown attacked a military armory, hoping to encourage slaves to escape their masters and join in his abolitionist cause. It did not work because when he captured the armory, it was soon discovered that ammunition was nowhere to be found.  Weapons are not all that effective without ammunition.  His uprising was quickly quelled and within six weeks he was hanged for his actions.  All of the downtown area has been renovated to that time period and makes for a wonderful leisurely walk...and we walked a lot today.
   Besides all this history, there is a personal history here as well.  The Appalachian Trail runs through this little town and in fact is home to the national headquarters of the A.T.  Many years ago Connie and I led a group of high school students from Northern Michigan Christian High School on a spring break backpacking journey on the Appalachian Trail.  We started our hike near the Pennsylvania/Maryland state line and ended the trip here in Harpers Ferry.  Today, just like eighteen years ago, we stopped by the A.T. national headquarters offices.  As I looked at the displays and books, the memories of backpacking came flooding back.  I was again inspired to make a future visit...but without a vehicle, just our backpacks.  We walked maybe three to four miles today (without backpacks) and I admit that I am quite tired.  Hopefully one day soon I will be able to walk 20-25 miles again (with a backpack).  I was inspired toward that goal again just by being in this town that most people have never heard of.
   A vacation is an adventure.  But adventure can bring inspiration.  I hope to return again...and I haven't even left yet.