WARNING: SOME BLOOD IS VISIBLE WITHIN THE PICS OF THIS POST

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

This past Tuesday, April 30, art teacher Kelly Bisogno saw me walking up Robious Road into Richmond. She took note of the website written on my sign, and looked me up upon arriving home. After finding me on this website, she sent me this e-mail:

“Just saw you walking down Robious Road near James River High, where I am a teacher. I live in the Midlothian area with my husband and two kids. Need a place to eat dinner or stay tonight? Want to visit out school tomorrow?”

I of course had plans scheduled for arriving to Richmond, however, I wanted to take her up on every offer she gave me.

On Friday, I did take her up on all of these offers: I spoke to hundreds of kids at James River High School (across seven periods), and I later joined Kelly, her husband Mike, and kids Elijah & Evelyn for the evening at their Midlothian home, meeting some fabulous friends of theirs in the process.

Great people!!

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Speaking to students at Richmond’s James River High School today, one asks me how fast I can run. I invited her to a “let’s find out.”

Having learned that I invited a girl to race me earlier in the day (I spoke to 7 class groups today), a young man who people said “looks like your son” invited me to race during period 6. He seemed pretty confident, so I got the feeling that he’d win even if I tried. He got a much stronger start than me, and in the end, I still think he would have beat me. Good for him!!
Of course, as you all know, I haven’t been racing my way across America, either

Mike & Kelly,
Evelyn & Elijah–
Thank You All!!

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Six-year-old Elijah wants to know where I’ve walked. So, on his map of the United States, I show him the parts of the country I’ve walked through.
Mike & Kelly Bisogno, his parents, have done an admirable job training their kindergarten son on elementary map skills.
Kelly Bisogno, an art teacher at James River High School, where I spoke to seven groups of students throughout the day, had actually just seen me on the side of the road Tuesday, as I was walking up a hill into the western fringe of Richmond. She contacted me later that afternoon, introducing herself and stating that she and her husband would be happy to provide me with dinner and host me for the evening– and that she would love to invite me to speak to her students this week. Had I not already had hopeful, optimistic, family-related plans Tuesday evening, I certainly would have taken her up on her kind offer as I was making my way into town. As Richmond plans have transformed during the week, however, the opportunity to spend an evening with the Bisognos opened up, and what a truly fantastic evening it was meeting this marvelous family in addition to their many fine friends.
Not only did I get to talk maps with six-year-old Elijah, two-year-old Evelyn & I also laughed it up playing some hide & seek!

BIG SHOUTS of GRATITUDE to my latest Richmond host, Dawn Layne, who warmly invited me in for a truly delicious and delightful May Day dinner with fabulous friends Erica & Talitha!!

Dawn & Erica are up to something WONDERFUL in the kitchen!!

Dawn, Talitha & Erica present a FANTASTIC meal!!!