Book excerpt: What happens when you reexamine your priorities and make an effort to spend quality time with someone important in your life? In 1997, I embarked on my first overnight backpacking trip. My two brothers and my 69 year old Dad, Mr. Ed, set off on a ten day trip on the Appalachian Trail. I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. I was wrong. Mr. Ed and I would continue to take the annual hikes for another ten years. The hikes would provide me with some of the most challenging, beautiful, and rewarding experiences in my life. Meeting Mr. Ed: A Journey of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail was inspired by this experience. This is a travel journal documenting the challenge and beauty of the Appalachian Trail. More importantly, it tells the story of Mr. Ed; a Korean War veteran, a coach, and a father of five. Through reflection and stories shared along the trail, I recount the life of a man who was driven to serve his country, his family, and his community. Without the need for fanfare or even credit, Mr. Ed set out to make the world a better place, often one person at a time. Visit us on the web at www.meetingmred.com.