Thanks so much for everything, Annie, Tom, and Morgan!!

Annie & Tom, with son Morgan.

Annie invites me out with her fellow teacher friends to fine dining…

Fun, fun, fun…

Judy, Annie’s 95-year-old, sharp-as-a-tack neighbor, keeps herself quite occupied. Judy walks daily, and this is a bin full of sticks and twigs that Judy picked up throughout her property.

Tom jokes with his wife about gender roles in the kitchen…

…and here’s the result ~

Annie shows me Richmond’s history, Richmond’s views…

Richmond, viewed from the east

Cozy Quarters at Tom & Annie’s

Hosts Jerry & Ann Swiatoviak point out what is and what was here on the James River. Early explorers wrote that the river is so full of canoes, you can step across the canoes from one side of the river to the other.

James River, May 2013

James River, May 2013

James River, May 2013– you’re more likely to find rowing teams here now.

Jerry & Ann Swiatoviak hosted me this weekend near James River High School, where Ann works in the library with my next host: Annie Reinke. They invited me to stay after seeing me speak to the students at James River High, and understanding that I need more time than anticipated for my foot to heal adequately.

Ann Swiatoviak prepares a delicious French Toast Recipe!

Breakfast with Jerry & Ann Swiatoviak

“My big day is only a week away and I’m looking to make sleeping arrangement as I head south. I plan to head to Portland first then head west to the pacific coast. Then follow the pacific coast all the way down before cutting over to Brazil. If any one has friends or family that would be interested in hosting for a night that would be awesome!” –April 24 –Richard Swanson

I-90 Bridge, Seattle

Shirt design

…

Update from “Team Richard” as he called us):
We want to express our most sincere gratitude on behalf of Richard’s family, friends, and Team Richard for all the condolences, love, and continued support that the world has given to Richard Swanson. We are sure he is smiling down at all the posts, kind words, and love being shared.
He was so thankful for the generosity of each person he met along the way. He not only shared his excitement in his daily posts, but he always made time to tell his team how much he loved meeting each person along the way and how you all touched his life. He was excited everyday about his continued growing support. If he could see his page now! We are so proud of him.
We wanted to share a couple of updates with all who love him. Richard is donating his organs. He would appreciate that his super x-ray vision and beautiful blue eyes will give new life to someone and give them super powers too.
Seattle: We would like to have people gather at Die Bierstube, 6106 Roosevelt Way NE, in Seattle this Sunday, May 19th (Richard’s birthday) from 1-4 p.m. to celebrate the life of Richard Swanson. We are hoping to pack the establishment with people who loved him and was inspired by him! Please join us to celebrate the start of Richard’s Journey to Brazil.
Team Richard, May 15, 2013

PS: For those who’ve commented on my safety as I continue my journey, be assured that I’m taking measures to remain as safe as possible on the road, as I’ve learned of the many potential threats across the miles… 

Nurse Ivery carefully removes the seven stitches from my foot.

In early 2010, Jean Marie & I met as I was walking through Lompoc, California. A nurse with over 50 years experience, Jean Marie has met a wide range of people, has countless wonderful stories to share, and her heart emanates love.
While Jean Marie visits Lompoc every year, she has been living in northern Virginia for many years. Though I haven’t walked as far as her home just yet, she came to meet me today, off my route.
After a wonderful, I-haven’t-seen-you-in-years hug, she shuttled me to her cozy home, where she proceeded to remove all seven stitches in my foot. She gave me instructions for caring for the slowly-healing laceration across the days ahead, and I’m planning now to spend yet another week in Richmond, with a tentative departure date of Saturday, May 25.
I really look forward to another visit from Jean Marie in the miles ahead, as she likes the idea of joining me for my crossing from Virginia into Washington, D.C.
Thanks for your service to the Universe, Jean Marie!!!

Thank You, Nurse Ivery!

Ms. Graciano, Awesome Art Teacher!

Richmond Community High School

One of Ms. Schultz’ students told her about my speaking to Ms. Graciano’s class, and Ms. Schultz asked if I also had time to speak to her class. I did, and it was fun!!

Ms. Schultz’ students!

Ms. Graciano teaches a great group of students!

I imagine you can think of at least one teacher who has had an enduring impact on you through the years, can’t you? Many of us, myself included, can think of several.

Elka Amorim, my current host, who teaches at the high school level, told me stories last night of the impoverished schools where she’s taught, in the Bronx, elsewhere in NYC, and currently in Richmond. She tells me of many exhausting 12-hour days at the school. She tells me of what it’s like trying to succeed with students whose parents have absolutely no involvement in promoting their kids’ education, and of loose-cannon teenagers who are anything but easy to teach. Over the miles, speaking to many schools, I myself have come to learn how challenging it can be to keep kids focused– and I don’t even have to deal with test-related stress.

From the many teachers I’ve met across the miles, I hear of how so many states and school districts have resigned education to a “teach-to-the-test” model, which sadly sweeps away opportunities of learning how to actually thrive in the world, instead emphasizing the filling in the correct box on some standardized test.
Overworked and underpaid teachers really dislike being demonized when students don’t always fill in the proper box on the test sheet– especially when many students come to class unprepared, unsupported, malnourished, abused, and more…

To every teacher who works hard to create a better, brighter today & tomorrow for America’s youth: YOU ARE MY HEROES. I give you far more credit than a ballplayer who makes a hundred times more than you. I give you far more credit than dirty politicians who pay themselves far more than you. I give you far more credit than those who enrich themselves by walking over others.

THANK YOU Rocío Sotomayor, Brooke Drury Shamhart, Travis Burnham, Kelly Alvis Bisogno, Jennifer Richard Blackwelder, Amanda Major, Julie Richard, Krista Schroth, Jenny O’Meara, Leigh Humphries, Ann Crawford, Rachel Parker, Jen Lucas, Winslow Carter, Coach Cheek and so many more for all of your wonderful efforts to create a better, brighter world for our children ~

Hard working Ms. O’Meara, who teaches in Warren County– poorest of all of North Carolina’s 100 counties– thinks day & night of real-world math problems to apply to her classes. She’s working tirelessly to effectively guide, assist and inspire her scores of students. 

Five stitches and a day later, the foot is in much better shape. Though the story is still unfolding, here’s how it begins: 
Last summer, a hit-and-run driver mowed down 24-year-old bicyclist Lanie Kruszewski at the very spot I suffered Sunday’s laceration. When I reached the spot on foot Sunday afternoon, I spent ten minutes paying homage at Lanie’s roadside memorial, where a “ghost bike” was left. As I left, I didn’t notice the sharp debris on the ground– a broken glass vase– and was sliced open by the glass sticking out. Sounds rather ironic at first, but…

In Memory of Lanie Kruszewski…

In Memory of Lanie Kruszewski…

In Memory of Lanie Kruszewski…

Though I pulled my foot from my sandal seconds after it happened, the 4cm laceration I suffered Sunday afternoon, on the first mile of the day’s route, cut deep. Over the course of the day, it grew painful. However, five stitches later, I’m on the track to recovery. I’ve only  used one of the prescription pain pills on Sunday, and none since.
I’ll be down for several days; stitches should be removed just over a week from now.

Though I pulled my foot from my sandal seconds after it happened…

The glass cut deep. Fortunately, however, it didn’t slice open more than 4cm of me.

Dr. Ewing sews me up at Retreat Doctors’ Hospital, in central Richmond, VA

MUCH prettier than it was just a few short hours ago…

Ultra-kind host Chris Byrd wheels me into the pharmacy to pick up antibiotic and pain relief prescriptions. I hadn’t seen the aisles of a store at this eye level in decades.

As mentioned, the circumstances of my wound at the goodwill roadside memorial of a roadside victim sounds rather ironic at first, but the event has sidetracked me onto an interesting detour that already has been bringing about unforeseen brightness. Across the miles, I’ve come to understand that every time some “setback” occurs, something magical always unwinds at some point down the road– something that wouldn’t have otherwise unfolded. I’m optimistic to learn of what will continue to unfold of this all… 
I love how “God” works

Lanie Kruszewski

In loving memory of Lanie Kruszewski, 1988-2012

Andrew Forsthoefel

The only time I’ve ever just unexpectedly happened to cross paths with another man who was walking across America was in Franklin, Louisiana. Andrew Forsthoefel, 23 years old,  was several months into his walk from Pennsylvania to the California Coast, and I was of course going the opposite direction. We took the day off to get to know each other, and each of us later blogged about it:

• George’s blog of meeting Andrew
• Andrew’s blog of meeting George
• George’s follow-up of meeting Andrew, one year later

Andrew was recording stories of the everyday people he met while walking, as he well knew that everyone has an interesting story to tell. After finishing his walk on the coast of California last year, Andrew has since been compiling all of his work into a fifty-minute masterpiece– which has been feature this week on NPR’s This American Life.

It took him a year of walking to compile in addition to many follow-up months of hard work to produce, and here is the link to the wonderful final product– (enjoy!)

• Walking Across America: Advice for a Young Man

Meeting Andrew Forsthoefel on the road, in Franklin, Louisiana