I was checking on Bill McDannell's progress on his walk across the nation at WTETW (Walk to End the War) website. Here then is his encounter with an Illinois county sheriff from a excerpt in his yesterday's journal, Saturday, June 9, 2007:
A few miles west of Rushville a county sheriff pulled off onto the shoulder ahead of me and waited for me to cover the short distance between us. As I came alongside the car he rolled down his window.
"You need some help?"
"No sir, I'm just walking."
"Where are you headed?"
"Ultimately, Washington, D.C."
(I always love this part, where they pause for a second, looking straight into my eyes to try to figure out if I'm bullshitting them, then when they come to the conclusion that I'm not kidding, another second to try to come up with some sort of response.)
"Well, you've got a pretty long way to go."
"Nowhere near as far as I've already come."
"Mind if I ask why you're walking to Washington?"
"I'm trying to end the war." (I hand him one of my cards. He looks at the card.)
"You really think you can end the war, huh?"
"Well, I don't know - but I'll never find out unless I try."
"You know, the first thing you're gonna have to do is get rid of that idiot in the White House."
"Yes sir, that's a good part of the whole idea."
"Well, I certainly wish you luck."
"Thank you, sir." I shook his hand.
4 comments:
"get rid of that idiot in the White House" ... out of the mouth of a rural sheriff ... suddenly I'm filled with a spark of hope!
I was thinking of Bill McD while we hiked miles each day on our trip last week, admiring the sheer mental fortitude to keep up that pace for months & looking fwd to catching up on his progress. but alas, I think your WTETW link is dead. ~~ D.K.
Hi raed. WB! Hope you had a great trip.
Thanks for the heads up on the bad WTETW link (now fixed).
thanks for the update...love the exchange!!
He's luck the cop didn't start by saying "You're not from around here are ya...boy
Post a Comment