Mighty Missouri

Today we drove from Choteau to Great Falls. We actually could have driven here yesterday -- there was plenty of time. I think we will stay a couple nights, then head to Helena early on Friday, see what we can see, then back down to I-94 and maybe to Wyoming via Bozeman? We are staying at an RV park right in Great Falls. I have both cell service and WiFi, PLUS 50 amp service. Uptown in this cow town! Actually, I like Great Falls. It's kind of a genteel place with some beautiful old trees lining the wide streets, big old houses. It even has a Starbucks!

We went to the Charlie Russell Museum today. Very interesting. He was extremely talented and worked in a wide variety of media. Also seemed to have quite the sense of humor. I enoyed looking at his watercolors in particular. Lots of detail.

Tried to visit St. Ann's Cathedral but the doors were locked and it was just a few minutes after the rectory-closing-time of 3 p.m. We then went out to Giant Springs, a very huge upwelling of underground water that comes from limestone mountains many miles away. It is part of the series of falls and rapids that greeted Lewis & Clark and forced them to portage over 18 miles. We may try to go and see the Great Falls tomorrow. I rented a car but at $49 a day, I don't want to keep it longer than one day if I can help it. This is getting to be a very expensive trip, although gas and diesel are about 20 cents a gallon cheaper here.

The Missouri is very wide and full right now. Seems they're having lots of rain in Montana this spring. Good, glad to hear it hasn't just been this past week while we've been here.

In Choteau Charlie discovered prairie dogs. He kept trying to catch one. They enjoyed that. Now he's taking a good little nap. He sleeps alot. Probably still warn out from playing with Maggie, Joe and Rox's Border Collie.

Driving in this part of Montana reminds me quite a lot of Pendleton, parts of the Columbia Basin and the Palouse. Rolling hills of grain, grain elevators in every town, Cenex stations. Small little towns with a tavern and a church and not much else. We DID see our first antelope today. I've never seen them in real life so that was kind of exciting.

Sadly the digital camera is still not working. I tried to get it fixed today and the camera store told me to call the 800 #. They told me they think it's somehow related to the lens and I need to call Service. Hope we can figure it out. It was working just fine until yesterday and I have no clue what might have changed that.

I am having all kinds of misgivings and second thoughts about all of this. But I will try to bluff my way through, and pray my way through. Thankfully I have friends I can call or write to who help me get back on track. Whatever that track is. I must go forward, at least for now. Maybe other options will appear down the road (literally and figuratively). I need to give it enough time. I think I need to be alone. It is hard trying to be a hostess and still do what I need to do. For short stints it might be fun to have friends along, but not for the long-haul. I have work to do -- even though I am not entirely sure what it is. Do I sound a bit mixed up? Good, because I am. But I will get through it. Meantime I am learning more about myself, more about my country and my fellow citizens. Also learning I am not as young and invincible as I used to be. Somehow I pulled a muscle in my calf (probably climbing that steep hill with Charlie this morning) and can barely walk on it. It is very painful. Maybe I'd better have another mango Margarita . . .
TravelinLady

The Plains, the Plains!

Sunday night we experienced a real hum-dinger of a Rocky Mountain thunderstorm. It was right over us, and hailed heavily for about 2 minutes followed by rain. I figured we were pretty safe since we had rubber tires between us and the ground so any electricity should have passed right through us. Joe said they had some electrical disruptions, though. They thought there may have been a strike very close to the house. Charlie pretty much slept through it.

Monday we went to the parade. Most of Polson and the surrounding countryside were either watching the parade or actually in it. All kinds of vehicles and salutes to the military. In fact, Montana’s governor and his dog were there, as was Miss Montana, and representatives from the U of Mont. Grizzlies football team and the state championship softball team which just happens to be from Polson. It was kind of heartwarming to see an old fashioned parade with no floats, really, and one marching band, not counting the Scottish bagpipers. I think a lot of Scots transplanted here in the late 1800s. I am currently reading Ivan Doig’s memoirs, This House of Sky. I’ve read a number of his books, but this is considered his best work and until now I haven’t read it. We were going to go to White Sulphur Springs, the area where much of his growing up years occurred, but I think we may go to Helena, instead. I wasn’t able to contact the RV park I have a membership/discount with so will just head SW instead of SE.

The drive from Polson to East Glacier was beautiful. The Flathead River was a wild green torrent and over its banks in some places. The mountains were beautiful. The road construction was awful -- a couple of stretches where we were driving on sand and gravel, the first without much warning. They don’t seem to give you much warning here in Montana. The curve signs don’t often suggest that you slow down, and with this big heavy rig it can take awhile to get it slowed down enough. I’ve had some things slide around a bit today.

We stopped in Big Fork for coffee and a brief tour of the town. I had been there before. It’s quite a cute little place with lots of touristy things, shops, galleries, etc. Pricey!

HOWEVER, from East Glacier on it’s pretty bland. Browning is downright ugly. On the advice of many, we did not stop there. The land is rolling and bare; you couldn’t find a tree if you needed one (poor Charlie!!). Much of the road was straight, although sometimes straight up and then straight down. Toward the end as we got closer to Choteau -- where we are staying tonight -- it was much more twisty. I don’t know what the heck it was following. There were no streams and it is mostly flat, slightly rolling. And still no trees. Anyway, I would not recommend that route: pretty boring and obnoxious and desolate. We should have gone on east a bit and hit the interstate.

Choteau is famous for . . . I have no idea. Dinosaur digs, maybe? Oh, no, wait, it’s the front porch of the Rocky Mountains. We did cross over the Continental Divide (Mariah’s Pass) before getting to Blackfoot Country. It’s kind of a cute little town. The city park has baseball and softball fields and a rodeo grounds. The beauty shop is only open on Thursdays, Everything is pretty laid back, but fairly neat. You can still buy a home in this part of Montana for $80,000, a 1/2-acre lot for $30,000. Go a ways west and you couldn’t find a lot for less than $150,000 or so. Of course, that might include a view of the lake and/or the mountains. Not much of a view of anything from Choteau.

So tomorrow we head for Great Falls. We will spend time at the Charlie Russell Museum. Don’t know how long we’ll stay -- depends on what kind of accommodations we can rustle up.

My digital camera doesn’t seem to be working -- I don’t know what I did to it. But there’s nothing to take pictures of here anyway. So the photos are still of Polson. This is a part of Montana I would recommend sleeping through, unless you’re the driver.

TravelinLady

In the Footsteps of Jesuits and Explorers

Sunday morning, St. Ignatius Mission
St. Ignatius, Montana -- Small, apparently close-knit community, fairly friendly. The music was not great but interesting; it featured Native tongue (Flathead/Spokane?), drums. The only song I knew was the Holy, Holy.

While we were gone, Joe and Rox took Maggie and Charlie on a walk. Charlie managed to find something smelly to roll in again (deer excrement perhaps?). He seems to like to get it on his neck and shoulders, just like we apply perfume or cologne. He is a bit odiforous this evening, though I tried to clean it off.

Drove Joe’s pickup down to St. Ignatius and back. Stopped for breakfast at Ninepipes (ham and eggs, hashbrowns and an English muffin, quite good) . Since I had almost fallen asleep during the homily and tried to pretend I was just being very pious and not sleepy, after we got back to the Mo (my new name for my motor home -- Mo’s Mo) I decided to take a nap. It was rainy and cold which contributed to my decision. That and the fact that Charlie was barking around 1 a.m. this morning, probably at a fox. Listening to the rain on the roof, cozy and nice, I ended up having a very long nap. This was one of those times I would like to have had someone to nap with -- besides a smelly golden retriever.

After my nap I looked at maps and guidebooks and tried to figure out where we are headed next. We may just stay in Montana and then head back via No. Wyoming and So. Idaho and skip So. Dakota for now. There really is so much to see in Montana. It is a big state and very beautiful. Steinbeck mentioned his “love affair” with Montana. I have seen parts of it but not not even close to 1/4 of it, I’m sure. I may save Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills for my trip to Minnesota in August.

I took a walk at sunset with Charlie and listened to all the birds. Meadowlarks were calling back and forth across the fields that are knee-high with wet grass, following the rain. I heard a pheasant rooster squawk a couple times and a flock of geese off in the distance. You can hear cars off on the highway probably half a mile away but otherwise it is so quiet. The wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Many of them I do not recognize, but the lupine is abundant as are the wild delphinums. We saw a Mountain bluebird earlier this morning -- they are quite a bright and showy blue. Yesterday we watched a den of coyote pups who were watching a deer; today four deer walked close to the yard, looking at the flowers Rox just planted but Maggie knew they were there. Charlie didn’t but managed to finally catch their scent. Maggie didn’t seem too threatening to them but I guess Charlie was an unknown quantity and seemed a bit dangerous so they bounded off over the grass. The dogs chased for awhile but not too far.

This evening I am using the generator to charge up the batteries. We have been “dry camping” with no hookups since Thursday. I hope we find some full hookups, with internet access, at our next stop. But the price is right and the view is superb.

Tomorrow I think we will make dinner for our host and hostess; I suggested a good old barbecue; hopefully it won’t be raining again. It is supposed to be nice in the afternoon. We may go to the parade tomorrow -- small town America! No Starbucks but a Memorial Day Parade. I love it.
Travelin’ Lady

Between the Mountains and the Deep Blue Lake

Friday, May 25

We arrived in Polson last night around 7:30 p.m. (mountain time). We are staying at my late husband’s brother and sister-in-law’s. Joe and Rox have three kids, Seth, Reed and Mahalia (aka Hallie), a border collie, Maggie, a cat Lily (aka Princess) and a bunny (no name provided). They built their home on a 110 acre site that looks north at Flathead Lake and east at the Mission Mountains. Incredibly beautiful.

The trip was long and interspersed with thunderstorms and downpours in Montana. We were glad to get here. I, at least, am ready for a couple days of relaxation.

I left Portland on Tuesday afternoon, the 22nd, around 1:30 or so. I had been scurrying around trying to get the house ready to put on the market. On Saturday and Sunday the “estate/moving” sale was going on so I was parked in an RV park in Fairview for three nights. On Sunday I moved the motor home to the St. Ignatius parking lot where we had the blessing/open house at 4:30. It was one of those days where I had more things to do than time to do them (there have been too many of those since I retired; what’s up with that?!?!). But I managed to get back to the mh right at 4:30. No time to really get the refreshments put together so it was a bit haphazard and I was rushing around trying to be a good hostess but also wanting time to visit with everyone. Enough good friends showed up that I had a “house” full. And it was pouring rain all day so we really couldn’t flow out into the outdoors. But it was a lovely gathering with lots of good prayers and thoughts and I feel thoroughly blessed. Some friends came by after the contemplative mass and I didn’t get out of the parking lot till after midnight (I had to move because of school the next day). I managed to get down my street and park in the driveway of my house. I spent Monday and part of Tuesday finishing up things around the house, planting a few flowers, seeding some grass, making arrangements for mail and other things. I finally was able to leave town around 1:30 or 2.

I stopped in Troutdale to top off the tank and also with the thought that I might be able to find a place to wash the motor home. Turns out I was the one who needed washing. I pulled into the truck section (I’ll never do that again) thinking that was the place to go if I wanted diesel. Well, since I don’t have the right licenses and permits I had to go into the office and get instructions on what to do. I went back out to the fueling station and realized I needed to back up a bit to get the nozzle in my rig. But there was a truck right behind me. I have discovered that helpless works with most men. I walked back and asked the driver if he could back up a bit because I needed to back up. I explained I had never done this before and apologized. He was kind of a cute strawberry blonde guy, no visible tattoos or facial hair or piercings -- in other words, he didn’t look like he fit in Portland -- but looked fairly safe otherwise. He backed up and then pulled into the fueling station next to me, which was open.

He explained to me (after I kept interrupting him with questions on what to do and how to do it) how to fill from both sides at the same time. This is a slick trick, unless you’re not driving an 18-wheeler and your 75 gallon tank only needs to be topped off. When I went to remove the nozzle I ended up with some serious splash-back, dousing myself liberally with diesel. I walked into the checkstand area dripping with diesel, slipping and sliding all the way from the diesel on the soles of my shoes. Someone made a comment about “who took a bath in diesel” and I kindly informed them it was only a shower, not a full bath.

My trucker friend advised me that I could sign up for a program that allowed me to get a free shower (with water, not diesel) every time I filled my tank and showed me where to sign up. I thanked him profusely for all his help, went into the ladies’s room (yes, they do have them at truckstops for all you ladies who might be wondering) to wash the diesel out of my eyes and off my face as best I could, walked right past the signup-for-showers machine, and out to my rig where I promptly took off the smelly, greasy jeans and shirt and shoes and put on clean ones, and left. I think I’ll let the truckers have their truckstops and just stick to regular gas stations that carry diesel.

I made it to Yakima without further mishap, arriving around 7. I parked in a paved area off the driveway and that’s when I learned just how heavy my motor home is. I put my handy little hydraulic jacks down and since the pad was sloping a bit, I put the left jack down farther. But it didn’t seem to help. So I went out to check and lo and behold the jack had drilled a 6-inch diameter hole in the driveway and down into the soil. I figured since I was right on the edge of the pavement, it was probably thin there. So I backed up and moved the rig over a couple feet and put the jacks down. Seemed fine. But later when I went out and walked into the home, I felt like I had walked into a vortex; it was very difficult to walk. That night I built up my pillows to try to keep my head at least on a level with my feet and body. The next day I found out why -- the jack and drilled another hole. This time not as deep but it was clear I wasn’t going to be able to level there.

So I expertly backed the rig up, threading my way between the basketball pole and the fence and backed up onto the driveway within a few inches of the garage. This time I found some pieces of 2x6 to spread the weight out some and used some leveling blocks and got it fairly level without adding new holes.

After finally getting the home leveled, I spent Wednesday there trying vainly to get the diesel and smell out of my clothes, straightening out the motor home and making room for Marian, my mother-in-law (John’s mom) who would be traveling with me on this first leg. Wednesday afternoon my brother Mike came by to help do a couple little projects on the motor home and decided I needed a better system for hauling my bike. It had been hanging over the passenger side of the rig and bouncing nervously every time I hit a bump. Between watching the bike and keeping an eye (and hand) on Charlie, it was difficult to watch the road, too. So Mike and I went out and found a much better system. But I was backed so close to the garage we couldn’t install it and I wasn’t about to move the home yet again. So he agreed to come back the next morning around 7 or so to help me put it together.

Thursday morning I awoke around 6:30 and Mike was already there. We tied that bicycle down so tight I may have a good excuse for never having to ride it. We left Yakima around 9 a.m. Thursday. Beautiful weather until we got to just west of Spokane where we stopped to fuel up again and eat lunch. (I did have to pump my own diesel but only got a little on my hands this time. Much better!) But when we left the restaurant it had clouded up and sprinkled off and on until we hit heavy rain just east of the Idaho/Montana border. It rained and thundered and lightening pretty much the rest of the way.

The Mission Mountains as viewed from Joe and Rox’s house.This morning, though, we woke up to deep blue skies. It socked in again around the mountains but cleared off by late afternoon. Charlie and I took a long walk (4 miles) with Rox and Maggie, and Charlie and Maggie went swimming in the irrigation canal. Then Rox and Joe and I went to a barbecue at the home of some of their friends. I met several nice couples, all of whom are fairly recent transplants to Polson. Apparently, like most small towns, the long-time residents aren’t too receptive to newcomers, so the folks from Pennsylvania, California, Washington, etc. have to make friends among themselves.

Well, it is now 11:36 mountain time so I will shut down the computer. I will save this to my flash drive and transfer it to the computer in the house that has internet service. Hope it transfers with the photos. I spent all day taking them, after all!!

TravelinLady

First Trip Pronounced Successful

I would say that four days in a row with sunshine on the Oregon coast is successful by anyone's measure. I arrived Sunday evening to sunshine and although Tuesday was a bit of a "soft" day (foggy and misty) in the morning, it cleared off beautifully and became another gorgeous day.

Tuesday afternoon Charlie and I took a good long walk to Sunset Bay State Park. Another beautiful beach. This little bay is almost entirely enclosed by rocks; there are just a few open spaces for the water to enter and egress. Altough it is a popular place for pinipeds (harbor seals, elephant seals, Stellar sea lions and Calif. sea lions) there were none to be seen or heard yesterday afternoon. Except for one guy asleep (I assume) on the beach and a couple people walking dogs, it was very quiet.

The walk over revealed wild rhododendrons and Iris, as well as Scotch Broom, lupine and other wildflowers. The irises are an orchid color, pinkish purple, about 6 to 10 inches tall. The rhodies were all pinks, some light; some deeper. I think it would be hard to find a more beautiful time to be here, especially since the weather has been so cooperative and enticing.

Today my daughter picked me up and we drove up to Florence where she had a job interview with Oregon State Parks. She works there now but it's seasonal; this would be year round. While she was interviewing I wandered around the "old town" part of Florence which has lots of cute little shops. I found a few things I couldn't live without. Including an ice cream cone!

Charlie has enjoyed his romps on the beach. But he doesn't enjoy me washing him off afterwards. And he doesn't enjoy me leaving him here. He plants his big feet on the dash and peers out the window of the motor home as I am leaving. It is clear to me he doesn't approve.

I also got several phone calls today. Unfortunately, it is extended coverage here (but at least I get coverage) so I hate to talk long. But one of the calls was from the Senator's wife to check on me and to let me know that the House member Portland progressives wanted to challenge the Senator today announced he will not run. That is nice. I think he would have been too liberal for most Oregonians anyway, but I know people who might have had a hard time choosing between the two. The later it gets, the harder it will be for a challenger to raise the money and get the support needed to run. But I think most people (at least everyone I've talked to) think he is doing a good job and aren't that inclinced to change anyway. Seniority is an important thing in Congress and we are finally starting to get some with both our House and Senate members. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.

Tomorrow I will pack up and head back north to Portland for some obligations I have there. I have finally figured out just about everything with this motor home except the television/vcr/dvd system. So I am watching dvds on my computer and getting my news from the radio and the internet. How in the world did we live before the internet. Thank you, Al Gore! :-) In truth I never watch much tv anyway so it's no big loss. Strangely, I have two tvs in this RV, and a 10-cd player, better than I had in my house. I think I can lighten my footprint on the earth overall. I use substantially less water, and create less garbage. I think the only negative is the diesel use and if I can park more than I drive and use biodiesel when I can find it, that will mitigate that somewhat.

So today I know what it feels like to retire. You get up a little late, putter around the kitchen, take the dog for a walk, putter around on the computer, take the dog for a walk, go shopping, take the dog for a walk. Fix dinner, feed the dog and take him for another walk. Have a gin and tonic and listen to music, watch a video and go to bed. Ahhhhh! This is the part I like.

Hope things go smootly on the trip home tomorrow.

Travelin'Lady

The Morning After

So, do I respect myself? Yes, I've had my ups and downs the past couple weeks but today things are definitely up. Today this is looking like a good decision.

Charlie woke me early this a.m. so I got dressed and we went for a little walk, and ended up on the beach just after sunrise. It was gorgeous this morning. No one else on the beach, our fresh footprints were the first on virgin sand. Interesting thought: every time the tide comes in, the soil is left virgin; untouched. I made oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar and cream (non-fat, French vanilla -- thank you Trader Joe's). Charlie had his kibble with a tiny bit of bacon flavoring from last night's dinner of bacon and blueberry pancakes.

I went up to the office and they told me I had to move, so I moved one spot over. They sent a maintenance man to help me set up. He helped me figure out the leveling jacks (sort of, I adjusted them twice later today). I hooked everything up and realized the reason I couldn't get water last night was because I was using the wrong hookup. The reason I couldn't get electric was because you have to flip a switch at the post and then make some adjustments inside. I still couldn't get the electrical outlets to work. Then I figured it must be GFI so I finally found a GFI unit in the bathroom and pushed the button. Now at least THAT outlet works so I'm charging my computer, phone, camera in the bathroom. I also got a code for their internet access.

Charlie and I took another walk on the beach and he kept trying to drink the saltwater. Blech! He had a wonderful romp and got all wet and sandy. Then we came back and I rinsed him off. He promptly found a spot under the picnic table and dug himself a nice sandy hole and burrowed in.

My daughter Kristin came to visit this afternoon and we went into Charleston for lunch. I had excellent fish and chips. We stopped at Chuck's seafood and I bought some fresh scallops and canned tuna (Kristin says it's the best anywhere). So I have a couple of meals ready to fix. While I as gone Charlie seems to have been just fine. There was no evidence of panic or temper tantrum or accidents or malicious mischief. That's a relief. I will go have dinner with Kristin and Ryan tomorrow night.

I have lots of stuff that needs to be sorted and stowed here in my new home. And I keep remembering things I should have brought or pulled out before the sale. But it's all replaceable so not that big a deal. Except I'm not sure my grandmother's abalone shell is replaceable. I remember that from when I was a child and it is a keepsake that reminds me of her so I hope I can get that back next Friday before the sale starts.

But it finally feels like retirement with a sunny day and beautiful scenery and time to take a nap if I choose. It does feel a bit lonely; even with Charlie for company.

Travelin'Lady

Arrived

Sort of. Tonight I arrived at my first destination -- just a few days on the So. Ore. coast. Kind of a trial run. So if this is a trial, I am guilty and serving my sentence. The RV park office was closed when I got here (they didn't tell me they closed at 6 -- I arrived about 6:30). I actually left Portland on time -- at noon. But because of a problem with my sideview mirror on the driver's side -- it was loose and swiveled so I could see absolutely NOTHING on the driver's side and since I tried to stay in the righthand lane it was perilous (at best) to change lanes. But I managed to get it tightened after about the third stop. But that was after I pulled in to top off the diesel and realized it woudl be extremely difficult to get out of the gas station. I finally managed it with help from the attendants and several back-ups. (Good thing I'm not towing a car!).

Anyway, I think I am still running on battery reserves because I don't seem to have direct current or alternataing current or whatever it is you shoudl have when you plug in. So my computer is not charging and I'm probably depleting my battery. I'm thinking this might have been a mistake. I think I'm too unmechanical to do this. I have a generator -- I just have no clue how to work it. And I couldn't get my sewer hookup done, but since my holding tanks are both pretty much empty, that's not a big deal. AND I couldn't get the water connection set up. So for a "dry run" this is pretty dry.

BUT it was a beautiful day and driving down through the Willamette valley was intoxicating. The Irises were in bloom along the way, and several large fields of something white -- small flowers, almost looked like huge fields of white clover. I'm not sure what that was. And large fields of grasses or grains waving in the wind. And it was windy, especially the closer I got to the coast.

Charlie got a brief run on Bastendorf Beach and we'll spend more time there tomorrow after I've had a chance to check in and get my hookups done. I am currently listening to good music, drinking some wine after a late dinner of bacon and blueberry pancakes. My larder isn't well stocked yet. So, first destination under my belt, in spite of some setbacks. Now I just need to spend some time learning the ins and outs of setting things up -- especially the electrical system. I should have brought an electrician and/or mechanic along. By the end of the summer, I'll be setting up like a pro!!

More later when I know I have electrical power and internet connection.

Travelin' Lady

The Good Ship is Docked and Waiting

Oh my goodness, my driveway is full to overflowing with a big white and green home on wheels! It is angled in, almost touching the house (I think I had about 3-4 inches to spare) and still hangs over the edge of the driveway about 6 inches or so. So I am now starting to load up things I can’t possibly live on the road without. My books, a few clothes, cds and dvds and vhs tapes. I’ll start adding dishes and things later this week. I'll need help figuring out what computer stuff (printer/scanner) I can take and how to connect it with my new notebook.

The sellers were not completely sure they should let me take it because the check sent by my credit union to their bank had not arrived. Why their bank would not accept an electronic transfer is beyond me. But I had a copy of the check which I gave them, and I stated that the bank would keep the title until they received the check, so I couldn’t imagine what I could possibly do to the rig in the meantime. They finally got the okay from their bank to let me take it.

And my chauffeur, Gordon, was good company. We spent most of the two hours on the drive down to Monroe talking about theology and spirituality and philosophy. He recommended a couple of books, Journey into the Night, regarding St. John of the Cross and Theresa of Avila, by Gerald May, and Sun and Moon Over Assisi.

So, how was it driving that huge rig? Actually, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I didn’t much like changing lanes on the freeway because even with really good mirrors it feels like there is a little blind spot. And I haven’t learned to judge distances with those mirrors yet, so I wasn’t really sure when I had enough room to scoot over a lane. Thankfully no one honked at me, no one flipped me off (or if they did I was too busy focusing on my driving to see it), I managed to avoid getting in an accident or scraping anything or hitting any curbs or sliding into any ditches. Really, it was pretty intuitive once you got going. This won’t be so bad on roads and highways; it’s maneuvering it in tight spaces that will be tricky. Like driving down my street and squeezing between two parked pickups. I had to stop and actually physically look out the side windows to make sure I had room on both sides to get through without scraping something. The key, I think, will be just taking my time and ignoring anyone who is impatient with me. All God’s children could learn to slow down a bit anyway.

My son, Karl, is planning to come over today to get his things and help move some of the heavy things I will store at their place, mostly my grandmother’s piano and the grandfather clock John had made for me. I will also store his grandfather’s large old trunk which contains all the things of John’s I wanted to save. I still need to sort through all the little mementoes and things I’ve gotten over the years from friends, my kids, John. This is very, very hard. But it a sense it will also be very cleansing.

My brother from Yakima, Mike, and his wife, Shan, are coming down for a few days next week to help with repairs around the house, etc. Lots of little things -- deferred maintenance -- that haven’t been done since John died. I’ve tried, but I will admit I’m just not as handy at those things as he was.

There is a UHaul place within walking distance and I talked to them yesterday about doing a hitch connection so I can tow the Rav4. It will probably be about $1,200 to have them do it. The fact that I can leave the car there and walk home is a big advantage, though. So, one more expense!! The really lucky thing was that the RV was almost full of diesel so I don’t have to fuel it for awhile, I hope.

We will do a blessing (and sending off) on Sunday, the 20th. I would like to christen my new home if I can think of an appropriate name. I’ll have to check my photos from Ireland and see if St. Brendan’s boat had a name. Or I could always Google it. I do believe he went out exploring (some believe he made it to the New World) and managed to return, if I recall my Irish legends and history correctly.

The work goes on, but soon these efforts will pay off in time to just be without deadlines, without “must dos.”

Travelin Lady

As Time Goes By

Hello friends and fellow travelers

Well, the best laid plans and Murphy’s law got together and resulted in a four-hour trip to pick up an RV that was mostly a waste of time. EXCEPT Charlie found something lovely (to him, nasty to me) to roll in while we were visiting the folks who are still holding onto my new home for me. I’m not sure if it was their bank or my credit union or a combination but the loan paperwork hadn’t been completed yet. I had tried to call my loan officer before I headed south but she wasn’t available and didn’t call me back. I finally decided to just head out around 10 a.m. So after numerous phone exchanges among me, my credit union, the sellers, their bank -- including one call to my loan officer suggesting she “drop” the name of my good friend who just happens to be an Ex. VP of that bank!! - it was clear the paperwork wasn’t going to be finished on Monday. I did manage to find a Driver and Motor Vehicles Office in Albany to pick up some forms for the sellers to fill out. At least SOMETHING got accomplished.

Actually, it was a beautiful, sunny day and a great day for a drive in the country -- assuming you didn’t have a few hundred other things to be doing and less than two weeks to get them done in. We did a walk around outside the rig and Bob showed me all the mechanical things that I hope to God I don’t ever have to remember! However, I did take notes.

So now my next ETA is Friday. Since my brother isn’t available to travel with me and then drive my car back while I drive the RV, I had to ask a friend. Well, my friend couldn’t do it but he suggested his friend, who couldn’t do it, but he suggested his friend, who is doing it. So I’ll be driving down to Monroe with a total stranger. Well, I guess I’ve done weirder things . . . This guy is a hospital chaplain so I’m assuming he will be safe to travel with.

Meanwhile, I’ve been going through all my worldly possessions, pillaging and burning. Well, alright, shredding. I took almost 200 pounds of paper in Tuesday for shredding. Also managed to get my listing done with my realtor today, and got Charlie to the groomers so they could remove the odious smells resulting from his fun roll on Monday. Most of the files have been gone through and this evening I got started on . . . pictures/photos. Boxes and albums of family photos going back several generations, for both my family and John’s. What do I do with all those??? I guess maybe I’ll just pass them along to my kids! :-)

I also made reservations for an RV park on the So. Oregon Coast so I will go spend a few days with my daughter in Coos Bay -- take all those pictures to her! :-) While I’m gone the sales crew will be going through my house discovering all kinds of wonderful treasures I wasn’t aware I owned, and then I’ll sell them all and have enough money to fill my 75-gallon diesel tank, I hope.

I managed to squeeze out enough time this afternoon for a pedicure. I needed one badly. Oh, and yesterday I managed to squeeze out a couple of hours for lunch and conversation. And last night I went to a play with a friend. But, other than that, I’m working really hard. Honest!!

Remember that hurt I talked about a few blogs ago? That pain and sadness I prayed about at the retreat? Well, God --showing me once again that nothing is impossible for Him and that He can and often does answer prayers in the most amazing and unexpected ways -- brought me face to face with all the resolution and healing I needed. I feel incredibly blessed and gifted by this most generous God. And very, very unworthy of such special consideration, but thankful, none-the-less. Now I just pray that God brings healing and peace to the friend who hurt me, and that he understands that he is totally and completely forgiven by me. I had forgiven him already, but I hadn’t been able to let go of my pain. Now that I have been able to let that go, I feel even freer than I felt Saturday after my last day of work! Woohoo!!

My new daughter-in-law, Dee, lost her father on Sunday; he was finally able to let go of this world’s pull and slip away into the comfort and peace of God’s arms. Tomorrow I will attend his funeral and baked cookies tonight to take for the reception. I know this will place a lot of stress on Karl and Dee and hope their new marriage can withstand the tension.

I hope the next time I post I will have a riotous story about learning to drive my new RV and avoiding serious accidents while delivering it to my Portland address. It won’t quite fit in my driveway but maybe I can kind of angle it in without wiping out my front porch or the new perennial flower bed I planted last fall. More to come . . . obviously!!

TravelinLady
PS -- Charlie doesn't get to come with me this time -- to many nasty things to roll in and I don't want to have to get him bathed again. Sorry Charlie!

Free at Last

NOTE: This was written on Saturday, 4/28 but just entered into my blog journal on Weds., 5/2.
Free at last, free at last
Thank God almighty I’m free at last!
With all due respect to Martin Luther King, Jr., that is a declaration that has been going through my mind today. Yesterday was my last day of work. Let’s see, since I started working in my teens (not counting babysitting), it’s been a few years. Many different jobs; some more interesting and challenging than others. And this may not be a “final” retirement -- that depends on finances, how much I enjoy it, if I get bored, etc. -- but for awhile, anyway, I will have only myself for a boss.
My co-workers took me to lunch, gave me some very nice parting gifts and held an open house for people I’ve worked with to come say goodbye. I made some little business cards with my blog-site and contact information in case anyone wants to see what I’m up to. It was hard saying goodbye and knowing that, even if I see them from time to time, and I hope I do, that part of my life with the regular, ongoing contact with good friends is done.
But the true freedom won’t start until I sell most of my things and, most especially, the house. I know it’s not the best market, but it’s the best time of year, I think. I am praying it sells quickly. Anyone have a statue of St. Joseph? Or at least please offer up a couple prayers for me???
I am scheduled to go pickup my RV on Monday. I hope the loan was taken care of -- I was too busy on Friday to check. This afternoon I pass the torch of the John Hovenkotter Memorial Scholarship fundraiser -- CommunityFest -- on to friends. The guys will take it this year and then next year the ladies (and I) will try to match what they raise. At this point, since it’s over $30,000, I’m happy with whatever we raise and just want it to be a fun event in memory of John.
It has been suggested that, before I hit the road, I should have a little blessing ceremony. I’m thinking I might try to do that my last Sunday in town. Maybe have a little reception/RV-warming and blessing. One last time to get together with friends for a bit. I may have to park at the parish parking lot for that since my “moving” sale will be going on that day at the house. So that would be convenient for after Mass.
At my lunch yesterday friends were giving me suggestions on what to use as my guide: see all the Presidential Libraries, or visit colleges, or state fairs (the Iowa state fair was highly recommended). Good suggestions but I think I’ll be less organized and just follow whims. Be a free spirit. I may drop in on as many Jesuit parishes as I can find, but it will be pretty relaxed. I don’t want any more agenda than just following my curiosity.
Well, time to get cracking since I only have two weeks to get my act together and go through all my material goods, decide what to keep and where to keep it, and what to let go. More goodbyes for sure.

TravelinLady