MAY 9TH 2010 DAY SEVEN

Well as the first week of our journey comes to an end, I am happy to let you know that I am well rested. Today was mothers day and I worked my way back to the freeway, which by the way, wasn't far at all, after the previous nights debacle. My friend and brother Bart Bullington and his beautiful wife, Jen, and their two glorious daughters, picked me up and drove me to Barstow to see his mother and family. I was so excited to see his mom because she has been a second mom to me for years. She is from Panama, a place that is very near and dear to my heart. She was married to Bart Bullington Sr. until his tragic and untimely death in the 1970's. Barts dad was a warrior who was part of the United States Special Operations Command in Vietnam ,and later became one of the founding members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, which is the Army's free fall parachute team. They own every world record that has to do with team free fall parachuting, an elite unit with an unbelievable history to say the least. Barts dad was killed when the teams aircraft malfunctioned and crashed with a group of team members preparing to jump. I have known of this for the majority of my adult life but it never meant so much to me as it did yesterday. As I sat at Barts mothers house with Bart and Jens two beautiful daughters on my lap, I was looking at the photo albums of Barts dad and his fellow paratroopers. I couldn't help but notice his mother staring at me, as though no one had ever looked at these albums before. Her family was steadily carrying on in conversation and normal interaction that a family will on a special day such as this. I noticed that Barts mom, who I have known for years, never took her eyes off of what I was doing, as if she was still standing guard over her husbands memories and his legacy. His mom lives right outside the gates of Ft. Irwin in Barstow California, still staying as close to the memory of her husband and father of her children as she possibly can. She never remarried and is what I consider, one of the most devoted and strongest women that I have ever known. Of anyone has ever held those albums, pictures and articles, I consider myself to be one of the most qualified to do so, but still not deserving. I was so amazed to see her across the room, staring at me as I did, ignoring everything else going on and watching over me with the love and concern that only a woman who has experienced that type of love and loss could. I was honored and proud to see that she is everything I knew she was and that true love never dies. I am proud to know Bart and his family and even prouder to be able to be afforded the opportunity that few are allowed, to better know this husband, father, warrior and hero, gracias Abuela. I hope this hasn't overshadowed the rest of this day, which was just as inspirational. While in Barstow, I was greeted by my mother, sister and niece. They met us in Calico Ghost Town for a Mothers Day Bluegrass Festival. We walked the streets of the old mining town, listening to bands both young and old, singing and playing some remarkable music from our country's past and present. We shopped and ate and just spent time together, a day that I will never forget. Of course my mom being her usual mom self, brought fruits, nuts, and candy and ten tons of other food products to make sure I had enough to eat on my journey. Just like my mom, on a day meant to honor her, she turns it in a day of worry about one of her own. We took a lot of pictures and I hope to post them soon. Thanks mom, I love you more than words could ever say and it is your love that will give me the strength to make it. On my way back to my drop off point, I received a phone call from my great friends, John, Steve and Angela. They informed me that they were on their way to say goodbye one last time before I got to far away. We met up in Victorville and had a late dinner that continued into the wee hours of the night. Music and memories of Mackenzie is what the night consisted of. Two things that could have kept me there forever. We ended up getting hotel rooms and having breakfast this morning. Overall, a very emotional day, but one I would not trade for all the tea in China. Thank you for being a part of day seven, and yes, I gave Spot the day off.
*Mackenzie throughout her life, called our country's flag, "The grand Old Flag." She really thought that was what it was called. I never told her any different....why would I?