I’m sure many of you are familiar with Jim Carrey’s version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Iconic.
My brother believed that Amelia, my oldest, resembled Cindy Lu Who from the original Dr Seuss version. So much so that, 9 years ago, he created this:
Poor Cindy Lu Who. Look at her face. She has woken up on Christmas morning to realize that Christmas has been stolen.
Now in the Jim Carrey version it is at this time when sweet, bereft, Cindy begins to sing:
Where are you, Christmas?
Why can’t I find you?
Why have you gone away?
Now Faith Hill was the one who made the song truly famous with her version, and it plays on repeat on every radio station from November to January.
So what does this have to do with our thru hike? Good question, I’d love to tell you.
As I hike, usually alone in the middle of the pack, my mind does all kinds of unusual things. I make up little chants that match my steps. They are nonsensical. “Peanut butter, matchsticks”. That was one the other day. I inventory body parts and evaluate how they’re feeling. Feet? A bit sore and tired, but no blisters. Lungs? Unaccustomed to the elevation and exploding. Brain? Obviously broken. Stomach? Ready for more Sour Patch Kids. Duh.
Sometimes I sing songs to myself. “Ain’t no mountain high enough” is a popular one. As is the iconic song by The Proclaimers “I would walk 500 miles.”
The other day I was trekking along thinking about the elusive “trail legs” that all the the hikers talk about. These mystical appendages that mutate from weak and mortal to ones akin to the sculpted gams of Hercules. Trail legs. (I have also heard hikers say that getting your trail legs just means that everything is just as hard as it has always been, but you just care a lot less. I, however, like the idea of having legs that would have had Michaelangelo begging to use as a muse for his next marble masterpiece).
Trail legs. How I long for them. How I impatiently wait for them. How I beg and plead to the heavens for them. How I hate that they remain just beyond reach.
Which leads me to the song I sang for roughly 4 hours the other day. Cindy Lu Who’s heart wrenching “Where are you, Christmas?” a la Weird Al Yankovic…
Where are you trail legs?
Why can’t I find you?
Why have you never come?
I hope I find them.
Pretty sure they’re gonna look like this… obviously…
I smiled with your song choices. We also sing on the trail–once when going through a seemingly endless stretch of woods looking for the lake we began singing Taylor Swift’s song with the lyrics “Are we outta the woods/outta the woods/outta the woods” on repeat.
Keep going! Your trail legs will come. 🙂
Love seeing the humor! I will make up a song today and send it on the wind to you!! For some reason, it seems to start with “Where are you Kara, are you hiking your own hike?”
Just kind of rolls from there!!!! ❤️❤️
I love it! Let me know when it’s done because I’m still waiting for the legs…so far they are the same (just hairy-er)
Amelia loves Taylor Swift! Mine song choices age me…
If it helps, I’ve heard that if there is love in your heart and your mind, you will feel like trail legs all the time. ❤️❤️❤️
(But what do I know, I’ve never had trail legs…)
You’re doing great MACK family, keep it up!!
Whatever it takes !! Haha thinking of you all often !! Glad to see you’re safe 😉
Hi MACK family!
Cara, love your posts, thanks for sharing your thoughts. After reading your blog today, I want to add Trail legs to Sara S’s prayer: We will keep praying for safety, perfect hiking weather, and boundless energy!!
Think of you all every day, what a wonderful journey. Can’t wait to hear how you are able to celebrate Easter on the trail!