Chapter 10: The Woodpecker (Joanie's Story)
As Ellis was telling his story, we continued to travel along the Walter Bean Trail with the Grand River to our left through the trees and suburban houses to our right. When he finished, we moved along in companionable silence for a while, and then a tiny, wrinkled woman with very thick, white hair who carried her pack with an almost miraculous sense of ease, said, "My name is Joanie and my story isn't very long, though my life feels so. Way back in the beginning of things - well, it's not so important. I have travelled a great deal in my life, and accomplished many things. But I am here today for something that happened not so very long ago - only two years - which is not long at my age - so I'll tell you only my more recent story - although maybe later on, I'll tell you more about my life in the past." Everyone nodded so Joanie continued. "Two years ago I discovered that one can feed chickadees on the north side of the hill in Hillside Park. If you come