Email 5

Welcome to the fifth of my IN THEIR PATH! emails. I am IN THEIR PATH now. I have walked 249 miles as of Friday 5/17

Date: 5/18/02

Weather: Rain on Monday I walked anyway. Then cloudy the rest of the week and it got very cold on Friday 5/17 about 40 degrees.

Where I walked this week: Mt. Vernon (Rt 586) to Ashland OH then in to Oberlin on Friday. I am still working on my exact route into Cleveland for all you Clevelanders who would like to walk with me.

The Safe house where I stayed: In Mt. Vernon I stayed with Rev. Larry Miller and his family. The Millers were so patient I called at least twice to let them know that I was running behind and would not arrive at their home for 3 more days. he just left me a message saying whenever you arrive we will be ready for you. Dont worry. I stayed with the Woods family then the Demarinis family. Jan Demarinis is a teacher 3rd grade teacher at Prospect school. Where I spoke on Friday.

What I learned about the Underground Railroad: I met with the African American historical group in Oberlin and really learned a lot. I am supposed to do some tours later this week.

The people I met: The town of Mt. Vernon really went all out on wed. may 8, 2002. I spoke with two groups of students at Mt. Vernon Middle school. I where a lot of kids and when Andy introduced me they hollered like they were at a rally. I walked with about 40 of the students to the public square. It rained that day so some of the kids rode the school buses but many of us walked. The mayor of Mt Vernon Proclaimed May 8th history day Andy and I were both recognized at the ceremony. After that there was a tour around Mt. Vernon of sites that were significant to the underground rail road and African American history. The tour was given by, a historian and professor at Kenyon College Dr. Howard L. Sacks. Dr. sacks and his wife Joyce Rose Sacks published a book called Way Up North in Dixie: A black Familys claim to the confederate anthem.

Who walked with me: Judy Schwabe a good friend of my daughter Martha Southgate was my driver, then another friend Bill Johnson from Cleveland also drove. One thing I really want you to know about my week. I have two stories for this week. The first happened on mothers day. I had a very painful toe. It hurt so bad that I couldnt put my shoe on and could hardly walk. I went to the Doctor but they didnt find anything. Judy Said to me well do you think you need new shoes?? I have not bought any and when I looked down at my shoes they didnt look run over or beat up. So since they insisted we went and tried on a pair of hush puppy tennis shoes. My feet sang out in relief. I had literally worn my shoes out from the inside. There was no support left in them. My sore toe was cured and the journey was on again. I walked 10 miles the next day.

Okay so its funny now but it wasnt at the time. I walking down a relatively busy highway towards Oberlin at around 9:00am. I had my grandsons Nik and Jeremy Southgate with me. A sheriffs patrol car swooped up on us. They boys actually tried to jump out of the way because they thought he might not stop in time. The Lorain county sheriff got out and asked my name and social security #. I am sorry to say that there has been may a time when I did not know it of the top of my head and this was one of them. I finally got it right and told it to him. Thank goodness for good living because when he ran the check on me I was clean. I guess this was gods way of really letting me know what the slaves were feeling. The sheriff Jim Clintz had gotten calls from concerned motorists about three little boys walking along the highway. Okay so let me paint a picture for those of you who have never met me. I stand a little less then 5 ft. tall. Nik my eldest grandson is about 2 inches shorter then me, it was very cold that morning I had on my red jacket with the hood up and my black baseball cap on. So anyone driving by just saw 3 kids walking. Apparently no one in the sheriffs department had gotten the notice about the walk and they had not seen me in the paper. I am happy to say that they did finally relent and let up go on our way into Oberlin.

What young people had to say: Andy Mcdough gave me a little gold angel pin to wear on my shoulder as I walk. Andy is the 13 year old from Mt. Vernon who won a history contest with his project on slavery.

Until next week same time different place but always.....IN THEIR PATH!!

Joan Southgate