A bittersweet day… leaving Quartzsite.

Sorted the last of my rocks and buried those I will leave behind to work on next year. Selected a few specimens to carry along.  While doing that I noticed a ground squirrel approaching.  Too funny… it could smell the bread I was baking…while finishing up in camp… I had set up the Sun Oven to bake some Irish Soda Bread. 

Odd thing that… instead of buying bread while I was in town, I decided to bake my own.  I just tossed out a loaf I bought which had gone bad! Hate that.  So, I just decided right then and there not to BUY any more bread.

Hum, doesn’t look like food but it sure smells good!

I know, I’ll push it home and let the kids help me
figure out what it is!

No? O.K.so I’ll just get up here and get
some of it… whatever it is!

This I know… it’s hot and slippery!

Working hard here…need a drink!! 
(She is sipping the moisture that is dripping out off the gas lid.)

OK, human!  Let’s talk.  I got a family to feed!!

Oh oh, here comes one mad ninja momma squirrel so I decided I’d better feed that squirrel before she climbs into the 300 degree F oven and I have roasted squirrel for dinner too.

Then I finished spit-polishing SwankieWheels so not to embarrass any relatives when I show up at their gated community in Vegas.  But I just like to do that… start off the trip with my vehicle looking good.  Gonna buy some touchup paint for all those rock chips, and some buffing stuff for the Arizona pin-stripping.

Suddenly, I hear all kinds of critter sounds… and look up to see a gathering happening.  Wow… Rabbit, Quail, and Squirrel… all together at the same time and place.

Finishing up on the last wheel… I noticed the squirrel was still around trying to get into the oven.  It was a female and I could see she had been feeding babies.  No wonder she is grabbing all the food in sight.  But then I spotted a rabbit near her and next in comes a covey of Quail. I tip-toed around the van and got my camera… I can’t believe all these creatures came at the same time… to bid me adieu. I guess???  What a fitting farewell.  I’ve camped at this spot maybe seven weeks off and on and knew all these creatures were here but this was the first and only time I’ve seen them all at the same time. Very special.

Quartzsite, I’ll be back!  (What’s wrong with those people who say there is nothing to do here and go off in a huff???)  Bittersweet?  Because I’m excited to be back on the road again.

In the glass half full or half empty??

My last month in Quartzsite (March) until October or November.  Today I said goodbye to the three closest friends I met here.  Feeling sad.  Lots of thoughts going through my mind.

L-R:  Liz Klein, my new friend, and Laurie and her mom Aleta.  We had a farewell lunch at Silly Al’s.  Liz worked as a Foreman in the Silversmith shop for Laurie who is the Silversmith Shop Supervisor.

Laurie and her Mom heading out, not to return to Quartzsite until November 2012.  I’ll sure miss those two.  They are keepers.

I’ve learned a lot here since arriving in October 2011.  Mostly about rocks, but also about people.  I have learned to trust my instincts more and be tighter with my money.  I have a tendency to do too much for others… because that is my nature and it makes me feel good.  It feels better for me to give than to receive.  Receiving only makes me feel like a “user” or icky some other way????  Don’t really think I can explain it any better than that… or understand it better, it’s just the way things are… the way I am. 

The lesson I learned is that people are in one of two categories, they are positive and see the glass as half full, or negative and see the glass as half empty.  The ones who see if half full have hope about their lives and future, those who see it half empty are feeling pretty hopeless.  That is an even sadder realization than the sadness I feel today, saying goodbye to good friends.

Someone I knew had their “living” cargo trailer stolen recently and all the contents.  It is giving me nightmares.  So this morning I hitched up the trailer and plan to tow it where ever I go.  That will at least give me peace of mind.  I think loosing mine might cause me to loose my mind.  I just can’t let that happen.  A high density BLM  camping area doesn’t give one a sense of security.  Next year I will be camped with friends for the entire season and we can give each other security.  I, no doubt, will have to “escape” to the wilderness every couple of weeks for a few days, just to find myself again.  I tend to “loose” myself when I am with lots of other people.  I tend to stop thinking and taking care of myself, in order to give to or take care of others.  Bad thinking, me thinks.  We were raised to think that was “selfish” but it really isn’t, it’s just self-preservation.

So, if that is a hard lesson well-learned this year… it’s a good thing. But still, I feel sad about it all.  Now, I’ll go play with rocks some more, maybe I can find myself inside one of them? I’ll return later (soon since the wind is too strong to do anything else outside) to add photos to this and write another blog entry on my recent experiences… a donkey and covered wagon I saw going through town, flowers blooming in the desert, etc. Fun, fun, fun.

Howard West, on the Quicksilver Key Book Tour. “Every adventure has to start somewhere; this one begins at my tiny ranch called Pilgrim, 50 miles from the small village called Tonopah, NV.  My traveling companions are a little red covered wagon pulled by one large blue/white donkey name Blue Pegasus, who reminds me she did not fire on to this Dog and Donkey Show to stand still and Ezekiel the Australian Shepard half of the show.”  More about him in the next blog.

Are they kidding, there is nothing to do in Quartzsite????  They must not be looking very hard.  Can’t say they must be blind as a blind man comes to the Rock Club and grinds and polishes his own rocks. Get out there people and live.  What’s stopping you???

Thinking about HoosierLand.

I was born in Florida but moved to Indianapolis when I was just a few months old.  Grew up there, Grade Schools, High School, Colleges.  So many people from my past and I’m missing them.  Lots coming up this year in Indianapolis and many people want me to return for special events.  That’s Danny I’m sitting on.  I’ve recently been in touch with his daughter Dana… he and his three brothers are all still in Indianapolis.  His mom and my mom were best friends.  I’ve seen photos… they have grown to be real hulks.  Sure miss Dolly and Harry.

Yes, I’ve always been a tomboy.

I also have three strapping nephews in the Indianapolis area, two in building construction trades and one a manager at a Manards store.  We all had a great time visiting last fall.  Paul and I took an all day motorcycle ride to visit one of his other brothers, Rob. 

Rob and I had such a great time visiting that I had to return to visit more with him and his family.  It rained and he had to pull my van and the trailer out when it was time to leave, with this big farm tractor. 

Then I got to visit with Kris and his hulking tall teen son and Kris’ wife and daughter too.  Daughter was fascinated with my artistic talents and so I spent time with her teaching her a little about how to sketch.  I hadn’t spent any time with these fine men since they were mere boys.  It was neat to me how the family values are passed on down the line.  They didn’t want me to leave.  Even one of the dogs who never made up to me, seemed to be sad when I drove off.

One of the boys(?) and his wife are renewing there marital vows in September and want me to return to Indianapolis for that even.  If I ever ran into trouble in a dark alley, I’d want these boys standing beside me.  It’s nice to have them so concerned about me that they are following my adventures.
Then there is the high school gang… Arsenal Technical High School, class of 1962 (never said I was young).  We are having our 50 Reunion in June 2012.  

Third white gown is me.

Our class was over 570 students… 1/4 of whom are sadly deceased now.  I have been working on locationg all class members for the past five years.  It would be great to see everyone still living, especially all the handsome lettermen from the football and basketball teams (one was my first real crush). 

In my travels, I’ve been able to meet a number of them and we have had great visits.

And I have either corresponded or become Facebook friends with even more of my classmates.

		Classmates I’ve been in touch with. VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Indianapolis is going to be a popping busy place this year.  The SuperBowl is being held there next month,  Feb.5, 2012.  Major improvements have been make to our High School campus which will house the visiting team for practice.  The whole town has had a major facelift this last couple years in preparation.  A new facility has been built on our 76-acre campus… that will be exciting to see.  Just checked the events for SuperBowl 56… and Indy must be popping this week, even more so than for an Indy 500.  It will be a grand year for Indy. 
http://www.indianapolissuperbowl.com/_assets/051810-Grassroots-Grant-Release-WEB.pdf
http://www.indianapolissuperbowl.com/_assets/011212%20CNELC%20Preview%20Media%20Advisory.pdf
In August, there will be a reunion for all classes from the 1960s and also the year 1970… in celebration of the 100th year of the school.  I’m very excited about that event… as more is planned than for our 50th Class reunion in June.  Our class was the 49th class to graduate from the school.  Many of my relatives graduated in earlier classes.
So September will be the starting of the 50th class of the school… and many many big activities are planned on and off campus. 

http://www.athsalumniassociation.org/docs/pdf/TS%20Fall%202011%20Web.pdf
I could go on and on… and it is still up in the air if I will get to attend these events.  There are so many friends and relatives there who have been following my adventures and escapades these past few years who are begging me to come “Back Home Again in Indiana.”  Just saying (and thinking).
( I say I hate Indiana until I write about it… then I get all choked up.  Time to visit?)