Day 74: Revenge of the Midges

The days on the mountain are still oppressively hot. Getting to class consists of wandering from one shadow to the next until I’ve made it to my destination. As a result, I was not looking forward to my daily walk in the least.

To try and save myself from the heat I chose a well shaded cross country trail. Armed with a bottle of sun screen and ice water, I set off for a 5.62 mile (9 km) walk. Of course it was just my luck that this trail should lead through an area infested with midges. With no bug spray, bare legs, and a short sleeve shirt, I now knew the pain of the hobbits when they had traveled through the Midgewater Marshes. Midges are particularly nasty little creatures with an affinity for biting. By the time I had emerged from the woods at the end of my walk, I was covered in little red welts from the dratted bugs.

I was hot, miserable, stinging from bites, up to my knees in dirt, and thoroughly disconcerted by the noise of bullfrogs from somewhere off in the forest. Finally I emerged from the trail and made my way back on campus to go soak in Epson salt. I will never complain about gnats again after Day 74, they are rather tame in comparison to midges. The hobbits must have been thoroughly miserable walking through the Midgewater Marshes with little more to protect them than a cloak. At the beginning of their journey, and before any serious attacks, the midges must have been quite the unpleasant experience for the hobbits. I wonder if they ever thought back on them later on when faced with much graver situations.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 72: Remembering Tragedy

Day 72 marked the 12^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Though I did not lose anyone to the attacks, it still affected me and my community heavily. The town in which I grew up resides 50 miles from Washington DC, and many of our citizens worked in and around the Pentagon. There were many people in my town that lost someone they knew or knew of to those attacks. A family friend had been transferred out of the Pentagon two months before the attack and the occupant of his old office died in the attacks. It could just have easily been him. My mother was abroad in Cairo during the attacks and for over a week my father was concerned that we might never see my mother again. So as I went through Day 72, this attack weighed heavily on my mind as I’m sure it did many other citizens of my country.

I often wonder if the hobbits of the Shire long remembered the War of the Ring, or if it faded into the background like so much tended to do within that culture. I am sure the peoples of Gondor and Rohan certainly remembered the wars, but their lands bore the scars of conflict more acutely than the Shire did. However, the purging of the Shire and the aftermath of the war remain in books to come and I shouldn’t be jumping to far ahead.

From the mountain with sorrow,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 71: The Welcome Back to College Gift

It’s that time of the new term. The time when everyone has mingled together in the cesspool of germs known as the dormitory and contracted the start of term cold. This cold will continue to make its rounds on campus until no room has been left unaffected by its misery. Of course, I should be one of the lucky few to get it fairly early on. Last term I managed to hold out until I was the last one on my hall to have yet suffered its ills. However, this term I must be one of the first to experience it.

So for the past day I have trudged around campus hacking, sniffling, and attempting to continue life as normal. On top of feeling sick, the new term decided to throw an oppressing heat wave on my mountain. The sweltering humidity clings heavily to everything and leaves you sticky after walking from one class to another.

Most of my day was spent hiding away indoors and my walk was moved back to an hour before sunset in hopes that it would cool off. I was very disappointed when I stepped out to find that the temperature had barely dropped and the humidity had increased. By the time my brief 3.18 mile (5.1 km) was done, I was disgustingly sticky with sweat, thoroughly tired, and my cough was getting worse. One cold shower later I was feeling absolutely miserable and took some medicine before crawling into my bed in hopes of forgetting all about my day. It amazes me how quick I am to give up on the journey when the heat moves in. I can slog for hours through rain, and have done so numerous times, but when the heat and humidity comes I am more than ready to quit. The hobbits keep going through all sorts of weather conditions and situations, the least I can do is put up with some heat.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 69: Mountain Hiking

The weekend was in full swing and with about 400 pages of reading due by the end of next week; I was in sore need of a break. So after my morning work shift and several hours of study, I put away my books and pulled out my boots. I decided to take one of my favourite trails down the west side of the mountain. This trail is very difficult in places and stretches for about seven miles. There are no spectacular views along the way and the trail peters out at the bottom of the mountain near a slightly pathetic creek. However, I have always enjoyed this trail because it is by far the most secluded trail I have found yet. After about the first mile (once you get passed all of the switchbacks), there are few to no people to encounter and you are left all by your lonesome to enjoy the gift of nature. Sometimes instead of hiking I like to stand still on the trail and contemplate my surroundings. At the bottom of the trail there is a nice clearing with an old log that makes an excellent seat for an impromptu meal. Overall my hike stretched for 7.31 miles (11.8 km) bringing my cumulative mileage for the trip thus far up to 348.48 miles (560.82 km).

The hobbits journey over the Lone-lands continues. Large portions of land stretch out before them and Rivendell is still 100 miles (160.9 km) away. They are just beginning to climb out of the valley they have been travelling in. When they finally make camp for the night, their camp is high enough for Merry to get a glimpse of the Loudwater (Bruinen) River far off in the distance. A few miles in front of them Merry can also see the bridge of the Hoarwell River leading into the Trollshaws. Part of me wonders if the hobbits and Strider ever despaired about the amount of ground there was left to cover. They have managed the majority of the journey but now a good distance still stretches before them and a great evil is at their heels.

The Road Goes Ever On and On
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 67: The Importance of Sustenance

On Day 67 I learned exactly how important food is. After getting up at the crack of dawn to get my 4.34 miles in (6.98 km) out on the cross country trails, I curled up in my desk chair to read the 200+ pages due over the next two days.

By the time I had finished my homework I realized I had studied through both breakfast and lunch, and had 15 minutes to shower and get to class. Long story short, by the time classes had ended and I was dressed and ready for the first day of softball practice I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch the day before.

At practice I began to realize what a mistake skipping meals was as my heavy limbs and light head almost refused to function. I had very little strength and as such my performance suffered greatly, on the first day of practice no less. By the time the night was out, my laps run, and the equipment hauled back to the shed, I was just glad I had managed to stay conscious through the entire practice. When I finally got back to my dorm I immediately raided the vending machine and gorged myself on chips, fruit snacks, and candy. The sugar high and cramps that followed were not appreciated, but at least I finally had something in my belly again.

The hobbits, as they began their journey, were also faced with a much smaller diet than they were used to; though their diet change was one of necessity and not of carelessness. Before they reached Weathertop, the hobbits had started to come into their own managing the day-to-day walking on a significantly less food: “Already they were getting used to much walking on short commons – shorter at any rate than what in the Shire they would have thought barely enough to keep them on their legs.” (A Knife in the Dark, The Fellowship of the Rings)

Being a self-identified hobbit, food is important to me, as it is to the hobbits of the Shire. And now I have learned my lesson, it is never good to go entire days without eating. The hobbits and I both learned a good deal about surviving on little food, but the parallel ends there since my discovery was one of absentmindedness instead of necessity.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
 ~ Daisy Buttons

Day 65: Late Nights and Long Books

School life continues, classes have to be attended, homework finished, reading completed or ignored, and a social life to hide from. Three days into classes and I’m already behind on the reading. Over the course of the next week I have over 1000 pages of reading to complete and sleep to ignore.

Day 65 also brought with it my first tutoring shift at work. Every Wednesday evening I sit in the commons of the History Department for four hours, ready to offer assistance to anyone who comes in. My first shift was long, with no one showing up and a mound of reading to slog through. I ended up staying until long after my hours ended and the security guard kicked me out so he could lock up. I have a rather sinking feeling that this is going to become a routine. Maybe I will bake the security guard some brownies in an attempt to get on his good side since I will likely be kicked out by him at least twice a week.

The long shift allowed me to get through a good chunk of my most immediate reading. Armed with a large pot of tea, my favourite pencil, several bookmarks, and an empty notebook for recording observations, I cloistered myself away and read. By the time I was kicked out, my head was full of new information and more than willing to sleep. There was still a 500 page book to get through, but that would have to come at a later time.

The hobbits, at this point of their journey, are still slogging through the valleys of the Lone-lands. In front of them the land begins to rise allowing them to see a group of hills ahead. Their journey would be an upward one for a good ways. It must have felt daunting seeing the land spread out before them. They had already come a long distance, and now the distance and hills which stretched before them might have seemed discouraging. Still, they trudged on.

Even with the long day and massive amount of studying to accomplish, I still managed a good 5.29 mile (8.5 km) walk. Just as the hobbits must trudge on through difficult terrain and dire situations, so must I continue my journey despite a busy schedule. Continuing this journey and learning more about what the hobbits faced is the least I can do, after all the perils they went through to get as far as they did. I just hope that my journey will never be half as dire as what the hobbits have already had to face.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 63: The Newest Minion

With the start of the new week, my work study also begins. Last term I had the peculiar misfortune to be placed on the carpet team. For that job I spent 15 hours a week cleaning carpets, upholstery, and other spills across campus. The actual team was great and we quickly became somewhat of an oddball family. But the work was less than stellar and I never want to be called in again to clean blood off of the carpets in the boy’s dorms. This term, as mentioned in a previous post, I have the wonderful opportunity of being placed in the History Department for my work. Now I get to spend 15 hours a week working for my professors and tutoring students in my chosen field.

Day 63 brought with it the first day of work and much to learn. One of the first things I learned was that my job title was not “Work Study Student” but rather “History Minion.” Apparently the history professors have been calling their workers “minions” for quite some time. As of now, I am the newest history minion. It is a title I will bear with amusement and pride.

Hiking was a rather sordid affair. I didn’t have enough time to fully enjoy myself out on the trails and ended my walk shortly after only 3.98 miles (6.4 km), bringing my total for the weekend up to 16.87 miles (27.14 km). It was an unpleasant walk, too hot and humid for my liking. By the time I made it back to my dorm, I was hot, sweaty, tired, and not looking forward to the small mountain of reading I had already accumulated.

The hobbits at this point are still continuing their journey through the hills and valleys of the Lone-lands. The journey for them is much more difficult as immediate danger threatens their every step and Rivendell seems so far away. The burden of the ring and his wound weighs heavily and Frodo and his friends look on, unable to aid him.

Today there are few parallels to draw between my life and the journey of the hobbits. I am locked away in a cushy institution with challenging classes, three meals a day, good friends, a bed to sleep in, and more knowledge at my fingertips than I know what to do with. Even when my walks are unpleasant, they do not bring with it the peril the hobbits were facing nor that race against time and an unseen enemy. My life right now has very little in common with the lives of the hobbits as they struggle on to Rivendell. However, it is in this discrepancy that I have come to appreciate my life more. I realize that there is much I take for granted, not unlike the hobbits before they left their Shire. I hope to learn to treasure the many things I have been granted in life and realize the beauty of my own Shire as I continue this journey.

The Road Goes Ever On and On
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 60: 300 Miles

It is Day 60 and I am quite happy to find that the 300 mile (482.8 km) mark has been passed! Though I technically reached that goal on Day 59, it was not until after my morning walk on Day 60 that I realized how far I have come.

Classes are now in full swing and my work will start up soon. I have been very blessed to take part in the work study program at my college and this year finds me working in the History Department (which is also my major). Though I am sure the next year will bring all sorts of craziness, stress, laughter, tears, camaraderie, silliness, and overall hard work, I will be sure to make the best of this extraordinary opportunity.

With the advent of classes, work, and college sports my schedule is quickly growing. So many books have to be read, papers written, projects taken care of, documentaries to watch, and events to attend; and that’s not even factoring in the social demands of college! Suffice it to say, I have lost time for walking as I have to carefully budget it towards other things (such as sleeping). Today I went out to the cross country trails winding their way around my mountain, but with the time constraints I was only able to walk 4.84 miles (7.8 km). Still, the walk brought my cumulative mileage up to 307.74 (495.3 km).

I wonder how the hobbits were feeling at this mile mark. All I have been able to glean from the text is that they were on their fourth day out from Weathertop and still continue in the valley past the Weather Hills. Frodo would have been plagued by his wound, and the others would have been struggling under the extra weight they had taken on to allow Bill to bear Frodo. Maybe the journey stretched out before them and all thoughts were on Rivendell. Maybe the hobbits minds were occupied with more immediate concerns, like the Black Riders trying to stop the ring from passing into Rivendell. Maybe their minds were occupied by the thoughts of making it to the next meal, the next camp. There are many possibilities to extrapolate upon from the little text that exists on this part of the journey.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 59: First Day of Classes

Day 59 marks the first day of classes. After an extra day to get settled in, the challenge of an academic life begins. For the most part I am looking forward to my class load and hope to maintain my GPA from last year, though that will require substantial work.

After my classes were done and all mandatory meetings were attended, I had time to go for a walk. Of course all of those mandatory meetings had pushed my schedule back and I didn’t hit the trails until around sunset. But I had come prepared for the dark with a reflector jacket, headlamp, and walking stick. I only walked 6.07 miles (9.76 km) since I didn’t want to stray onto unfamiliar or dangerous trails in the night. By the time I returned to my dorm the temperature had dropped significantly and I could see my breath on the air. For close to half an hour I stood barefoot in the cold grass outside feeling the wind toy with my hair and watching the twinkling light of civilization far below in the valley.

Even though the hobbits did not often have the time to stop and contemplate their surroundings, or pause to take in the view; I sometimes wonder if they found the new lands they were in remarkable. Everything from the Old Forest, to Chetwood, to the Weather Hills was vastly different from the pastoral rolling hills of the Shire. So much was new to the hobbits on their journey, and though it was fraught with peril the road they walked took them to new and marvelous lands. Tolkien takes the opportunity in several places before Weathertop to note sunrises and the topography of the land the hobbits and Aragorn were traveling through. While this description can be seen as tedious by some, it is worth noting for me. Tolkien took the time to envision and describe the world he had created, showing a deep appreciation for nature and its role in the lives and journey of the Fellowship throughout the entire novel. So I also want to come to the conclusion that the hobbits, a race Tolkien considered himself to be in all by size, also held a deep appreciation for the nature they were surrounded with (sans the Midgewater Marshes).

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 57: College Bound

After a day with my family in the city outside my college, it was time to return to college. My family drove me up the mountain where my college resides and helped me unpack the car. Tearful goodbyes were said and wisdom was given, before my family departed for home once more and I was left to my own devices.

Immediately I unpacked and went for a walk out on the mountain trails to break in the new hiking boots I had purchased specifically for these mountain trails. It was nice to be back on my Mountain trails and to see old friends in brooks and trees. My leisurely walk took me about 6.81 miles (10.9 km). After my daily trek was done I finished moving into my room and decorating, before I sat down to read some more Tolkien.

While it is sad to see my family go, it is nice to be back in college. It’s nice to see friends again and get back to studying. However, I’m still not quite sure if I am ready for the adventure of college. I am certainly more prepared now than I was last year when I embarked on this four years journey. Still, there is so much to learn and so many things to do and put up.

One thing is certain, I had quite forgotten how loud college can be. Within minutes of moving in to my room, the music of my friends across the hall began blaring. Word cannot describe how much I loathe heavy metal. And then there is the constant demand to socialize and get out of your dorm room to participate in society at large. Sometimes I succeed at this, usually I fail miserably. However, failure is just another step in the journey.

I wonder if this is similar to how the hobbits felt when leaving their home for adventures unknown. I know much of my experience differs from the hobbits since I do not go forward into mortal peril, uncertain whether or not I will lay eyes on my home again. After all, my family is but a phone call away and I am allowed to make the trek back home periodically. But still, there is a similarity in leaving my home for the unknown, just as the hobbits did early on in their adventure.

So for now, I am happy to be back but am also scared at the prospect of continuing the journey. Home is behind and the world is ahead, all that is now left to me is how I walk this road and conquer this adventure.

Home is behind and the world ahead,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 55: Cousins, Church, and Cornhole

The journey back to college continues and the day with my cousins was underway. Morning dawned at a respectable time for once. Breakfast was a sordid affair of donuts and coffee as my family grabbed whatever we could on our way out the door for church.

Church was loud and filled with passion, “hallelujahs,” and an abundance of “amens!” Between the shouts of “preach it, brother!” from the congregation a sermon on friendship and the importance of those we surround ourselves with was yelled to the rafters. After church we enjoyed a home cooked meal complete with potato salad and homemade venison jerky.

One thing that always proves interesting about my cousins is the fact that they are a very traditional southern family. Everyone goes to church (preferably Southern Baptist), watches football and Nascar all day, lives in the back country, hunts and taxidermies, cans their own food, built their own house, and speaks with a drawl. I really love them!

Cornhole is another tradition of Southern America. The game consists of two slanted boards with a hole in them, eight bean bags, and two teams of two. The object of the game is to get the most bags on the board and in the hole. We played for three hours straight while swapping stories and discussing the general goings on of extended family and home life. The games almost always ended badly for the loser and hilariously for the winner. By the time we were reached our last game, all competitiveness and any vestiges of seriousness had fled leaving us all in a shaking fit of laughter as bag after bag completely missed the board to hit our teammates on the other side.

I often wonder if this life is not that far removed from the life of the hobbits back in the Shire. Family and friends get together, drink, eat, swap stories, gossip, argue about genealogy, and participate in local traditions. Of course I always imagined the life of a hobbit to be a little bit more refined than the lives of my southern relatives (and mine when I have the privilege and joy of living with them). One of the reasons I have longed to count myself among these marvelous creatures for most of my life is the feeling of familiarity and family that seems to surround their culture. Of course with any family comes gossip and prejudice (Sackville-Baggins anyone?). This is certainly seen in my family, and I am certainly guilty of it. Slight exaggerations here, a little bit of a skewed perspective there, and a dash of playing the victim always make for a good story. And of course there is always that one relative that everyone complains about and hides from (Lobelia Sackville-Baggins being a good example). But I’m sure the hobbits would have some experience there. It’s too bad I will never get the opportunity to see how close some of my family life reflects the culture and lifestyle of Tolkien’s hobbits.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 54: A Fond Farewell

Day 54 has brought with it both joy and sorrow. This day was the day I departed from home again to make the trek back to the world of academia. It had come time to return to college. So a fond farewell was given to my beloved Commonwealth of Virginia.

The day, as it all too often does, dawned earlier than I would have liked. But so many things needed to be done and I had left too much to the last minute. My car had to be packed, all of my bags double checked to ensure I hadn’t forgotten anything, my chores had to be finished, my goodbyes said, and my route planned. Inevitably my family and I got out the door later than we would have liked and managed to forget several things in the process.

The road back to college was long, the drive totaling about 10 hours. However, it was filled with beauty. The road I often take leads me back into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. Driving through them is always such a pleasure. They are beautiful to behold and live up to their name with the hint of blue surrounding them. Sunsets in the mountains are magical and, due to our late start, my family got to witness one. The mellowing colours of amber daylight mix with the vibrant hues of orange, red, and magenta as the sunset contrasts against the blue haze of the mountains.

At an ungodly hour of the night my family arrived at our cousins’ house. We had planned to stay the night and the following day with them, heading on the next evening. My cousins were waiting up and we talked late into the night about anything and everything. The youngest son of my father’s cousin (so my first cousin twice removed) had recently had a daughter and everyone was quite eager to see her in person. My second cousin once removed was quite the adorable baby. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a calmer baby, she didn’t fuss much and her cries were much quieter than the piercing screams of infants I had the unfortunate duty to watch over during an obligatory volunteer stint at a nursery. Throughout the years I have come to realize that family and friends mean everything to me, another reason why I call myself a hobbit.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 52: Of Rain and Songs

The day started out promising. All of my textbooks had finally arrived, the crisp air promised the arrival of autumn, and I enjoyed a long discussion about Middle Earth races with friends. I was in high spirits when I donned my cloak and picked up my walking stick to continue the next part of this journey. Of course, about two miles into the walk that all changed. I was halfway down one of the hiking trails on a nearby mountain when it started raining terribly hard. With an uphill climb ahead of me and the trail quickly becoming slick and treacherous, I decided I would take shelter and wait out the rain. Half an hour later the rain had yet to let up, my cloak was soaked through, and the trail was getting even more dangerous. Finally I decided to try and make it back up the mountain before the trail got too treacherous to climb.

As I was working my way up I managed to slip on a mud and moss covered rock. I went down hard, but managed to stay on the trail, avoiding the 20 foot fall off of a nearby ledge. Nothing was hurt but now I was both wet and muddy. My backpack was soaked through and my dinner was crushed and marinating in soil. Completely miserable, I did the only thing left that I could do: I started singing.

Many of the characters in Tolkien’s masterpiece often sing, Bilbo and Gandalf being two examples of such. Sam has several instances of spontaneous song recorded in The Lord of the Rings, one in particular occurring when he encounters the some stone trolls atop a hill that Bilbo had once escaped from. Many of these songs may not be the stuff of legends and may not live on past many generations, but they do have a way to boost the spirits when in a tight spot. Song and prose hold a very important place in Tolkien’s world, with many of the stories of old being told through verse and rhyme.

For me the use of singing wasn’t so much to record an event or tell a story. For me singing was a device to lift my spirit and help me through a hike that was quickly proving disastrous. I sang many things across the many genres I like (anywhere from soundtracks, the King’s Singers, traditional folk, 1950s rock ‘n roll, Queen, Tolkien inspired pieces, etc). Towards the end of my uphill hike I was running out of memorized songs and resorted to making up a story about a bird, a squirrel, and the acorn that got away. It was utterly ridiculous, completely silly, and sung badly. But by the time I had reached my car, I was laughing in spite of my muddy and miserable state. Songs full of good cheer can carry one far, and that is a lesson I won’t soon forget.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 50: Country Roads

On my second day back from recovery I decided it was time to head back to the mountains. With my backpack loaded with the appropriate gear, my worn trail map sitting in the passenger seat, and an eclectic playlist ranging from opera to bag pipes, I hit one of my favourite routes back up to the mountains.

The drive lasts about 45 minutes and takes me through many scenic back roads that I have come to know by heart after many years of traversing them. However, these roads are the typical rural roads that one would expect in Virginia. They wind their way back through mountains, orchards, farms, rolling hills, scenic villages, and old plantations and homesteads. The road is barely wide enough for two cars and you can say goodbye to the center line as soon as you turn off of the highway.

There is one road in particular that holds some the best views and oldest homes. It's always a treat when I have an excuse to drive down the winding road. However, this is one of those roads where God help you if you get stuck in front of a local. With its twisting path, preference for blind curves, and commercial traffic heading to and from a firewood business, navigating it is quite the challenge. Add that to locals who know what they’re doing and aren’t satisfied unless they’re going at least 5 miles over the speed limit and you have a recipe for disaster. I always pity the new people who stumbled upon the road looking for a scenic drive or a back way into town and end up terrified of the speed demon local behind them. It was with pleasant surprised that I found myself alone on the road and took the advantage to enjoy the rest of my drive up to the trails.

For the hobbits, they have it a rough time of it. At this point they are fleeing Weathertop and the Black Riders with an injured Frodo. They still have roughly a fortnight before they are in Rivendell and Aragorn is pushing them harder now that they must contend with an injury from a Morgul blade and deadly riders on their tail. There is much distance to cover and little time with which to do so. Since the hobbits will be fleeing the Black Riders for another 200 miles (321.7 km) and not much is mentioned about them during that time, I probably won’t have as much to contribute on their journey for a while.

My hike went well; it was a beautiful summer day with a cool breeze in the air and a clear sky above. The mountain trail led me on a 11.12 miles (17.9 km) trek. When I was done I drove back down the mountain and walked the Main Street of a quaint town to bring my mileage up to 11.94 miles (19.2 km). The day ended in a local tavern with a good helping of Shepherd’s pie, a traditional Celtic band playing in a corner, and a discussion with the bartender about Tolkien (you’d be surprised where you run into fans).

The Road Goes Ever On and On
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 49: On the Road Again

Day 49 finally sees me on the road again. My dentist has cleared me for exercise and I immediately took to the trails after my post-op appointment. The past 10 days have been torture on me. Lounging around the house was only pleasant the first two days, after that I desperately wanted to continue my journey.

To celebrate my return to the journey, I decided to take a long walk of about 9.27 miles (14.9 km). Though I was sore after the walk and my mouth still wasn’t fully recovered from being cut open, it felt very good to be back on the road again. After my walk I spent the rest of the evening curled up in my favourite armchair with a teapot full of my homegrown Lavender Tea, a plate of oatmeal scones, listening to George Winston in the background, and reading my battered copy of Lord of the Rings. It was a very good night.

I know there is much ground to make up from my time off, ten days is a lot, and I still have quite the ways to go. But for right now I don’t particularly want to dwell on and worry about the future. For now I think I am content to sit in my chair and enjoy an evening of reading after a long walk and an even longer recovery.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons

Day 40: Farewell to Wisdom

On Day 40 I said farewell to my wisdom… teeth that is. Unfortunately per doctor’s – er Dentist’s – orders I will be out for several days. I’m hoping to be able to continue again in a few days. After all, it isn’t exactly in the spirit of my journey that Frodo could continue with a Morgul blade in his shoulder and I am laid low by a few teeth being pulled. But, I do have another life outside of my journey that would be very displeased with me should I ignore my dentist’s instructions and make my recovery even harder. Oh well, at least there is a Lord of the Rings marathon in my near future.

Until our next meeting,
~Daisy Buttons

Day 38: Keeping Up

As my journey continues, I find myself seeking companionship more often. This desire has led me to bring my sister along with me for some of my walks. It is very nice to have someone else to share the journey with, but it is also can be a trial in more ways than one. One of these trials comes in the rather unfortunate height difference between my sister and I. Continuing with my self-identification as a hobbit; I stand at barely five feet tall. My sister towers nearly a foot over me. For every step she takes, I take two. As such I often find myself jogging to catch up. It can make certain trails and walks quite the challenge for me if my sister doesn’t slow down.

One thing that I have often wondered is how the hobbits dealt with the height difference. Maybe Aragorn slowed his pace for them? Maybe they had to hurry to keep up? So far Tolkien hasn’t really touched on this trial the hobbits and Aragorn must have encountered. The movie adaptions directed by Peter Jackson most often show the fellowship walking at the same pace, sometimes one or more members would have to catch up with the others or some would have to slow down. But even the movies do not make it quite clear how the height difference was managed.

Keep in mind that the height range of a hobbit is between 2-4 feet (0.61–1.22 m) with an average height falling around 3 feet and 6 inches (1.07 m). Aragorn would have been at least several feet taller than the hobbits and could easily outdistance them on what the reader has already learned were long legs (Strider is an apt nickname, even if it was meant to be pejorative by the townspeople of Bree). I wonder if it was struggle for the hobbits to learn to keep up with a man, if Aragorn constantly had to slow for his companions, or if it took a while for Aragorn and the hobbits to find a happy medium in their pace.

Still, most of these musing arise from my own desire to think the hobbits had to struggle with keeping up as I often find myself struggling with my sister. As I continue on my own journey I will continue contemplating this and see if I can find any answers within the text.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons