A trio of Maine Stories Preface Almost every summer of my 66 years, I have spent some time in Maine. My ancestor, James Millay, came from County Kilkenny, Ireland, to Maine in the mid-18th century and planted our family’s heritage Down East. My great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents, cousins and siblings have all spentContinue reading “Dirigo”
Author Archives: audreycadyscanlan
The B side
The post that I wrote the other day, (Rocks, and more Rocks) is absolutely true. But there’s a lot to a hike- even a 4 day hike- that goes on in the head. My self-talk is informed by my gender (woman hiking alone- a cultural curiosity- one guy actually asked me if it was “okContinue reading “The B side”
Rocks. And more rocks.
On Friday morning at the crack of dawn, my husband dropped me off at the bridge at Swatara Gap (PA), the northernmost point (at that point) in my PA trek on the Appalachian Trail. I’ve hiked most of the AT in CT (save 6 miles) with my daughter Emma (a.k.a. “Fern”) and going southbound, I’veContinue reading “Rocks. And more rocks.”
not so fast…
About ten days ago, gearing up for my final “post surgical appointment” six months out, I developed a little bit of tenderness in my foot. Then I developed a bit of swelling. Then a lot of swelling. Hmmm. I’d been doing so well- back to walking in the morning at least three or four miles-Continue reading “not so fast…”
A Fellowship of Frailty
It would be great if I could promise that this is the final word on my recovery from surgery in November in these pages (it’s tiresome, isn’t it?) but since I’ve been told that the “full recovery” for my surgery of foot reconstruction can take up to a year, that’s not a promise that IContinue reading “A Fellowship of Frailty”
lessons in infirmity
Do you want to read a self-indulgent essay on how being consigned to three – four months in an orthopedic boot has changed my life? (PS, I’m only at the beginning of Week Three.) Do you really care about: (I care, but you shouldn’t.) Are you sick of my (I’m sick of it, and youContinue reading “lessons in infirmity”
sidelined
One week ago today, I had a procedure called an “adductoplasty.” In the world of podiatry, this procedure corrects a genetic deformity of the foot by re-positioning the bones of the first three metatarsals by “releasing” ligaments and inserting internal giant titanium staples around the bones in the mid-foot area to keep them from wandering.Continue reading “sidelined”
identity games
Vacation 2024. This year, like most years, I traveled on vacation with my husband to Maine to visit with family. Glenn and I saw children and grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins and a few old family friends. We went to take the seaside cure of inky waters and cerulean skies, to draw in theContinue reading “identity games”
Come away for a while
(Mark 6: 31a) I am lucky to have provision for an annual retreat in my letter of employment. For a few years now, I have used that time to go to the woods on backpacking excursions for nature is a good teacher and a quick-working antidote to the screens, conference rooms and phone calls thatContinue reading “Come away for a while”
a little bit feral
It’s that time of year. The kids next door to us went back to school today. Their photo on Facebook showed neatly pressed khakis, matching blue polo shirts and scrunchies, new lunch boxes, sneakers and backpacks. As they were headed out, full of promise and excitement for the new school year, I was still inContinue reading “a little bit feral”
Our selves, our souls and bodies 