07/15/11

Canadian border today.  And at the border?  Yea, I stop and yea, there’s mace on my dashboard because I’m not that person who actually THINKS about stuff like that.  It’s there because I may need it at any moment and every time I get out of the car, I put it in my bag…so…there it is.  Yes, officer, yes, I have pepper spray.  If I lie to you, you will point at it because I already saw you look at it.  Tsssssss.  Dumb.  Pull around to the covered area and report it to the officer inside with these colored slips of paper.  Ok.  I will……..or maybe I’ll just speed away!!!  WAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!  (sigh) no.  ok.  I’ll stop.

Standing at the funny lil’ human corral things where I’m the only one in line.  Two officers completely ignoring me for at least 3 minutes.  WTH??!!  Finally one of them looks up and exasperatedly says “yes??”  Oh, I don’t know!  Maybe I have something in my car that you want?  WHY ELSE WOULD I BE STANDING HERE???!!!  Gah!!!  I hand the nice lady the slips of paper and she asks me if I have pepper spray in the car.   Um.  Yes.  Sorry you can’t read because that’s what it says on that paper bit…but I guess that comes with this position, huh?  Rude and unable to read.  Then!  THEN!!!!!!!  Border patrol officer?  She asks me to go out to my car and get the item!!!!!!!!!  REALLY???!!  Why are you confiscating it from me if you trust me to go out to my car and HAND it to you??!!  WHAT???!!  What is wrong with you, you lazy biatch!!!  Ok.  I’ll go get it…

And I bring it in.  My mace?  It ain’t on safety.  Never.  Ever.  I know how to use it and not on myself, so…deal with that lady.

She gets all huffy when I hand it over to her, looks up at me while putting it on safety and says, “yea, we should probably put this here instead of where it was, huh??” all patronizing and stuff.  Well, babe, see I actually know how to use it and YOU just asked ME to bring it to you, so deal with putting it on “safe mode”.

Then…because it’s me and I just can’t take it look her in the eye and say, “I’m driving to Alaska alone.  You just took my only defense against anything that may happen along the way, can you guarantee that I will be safe the entire time?  I am a woman.  Alone.  In British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska.  Tell me to my face I will not need that.”

Ok, yes.  I get angry sometimes.  But it’s for good reason (usually) and yes, she is border patrol and could have very easily kicked me out…I had every right to confront her.  What does she tell me?  “oh, gosh, hon…you’re right.  Ok.  Have it back…pretend this doesn’t happen.  I’m sorry.  You do need this.  There are people who love you and are probably worried about you, so take it.  I’m sorry.”

Oh.  Wait.

No.

That’s not what she said……..

“You’ll be on roads that are populated all the time.  And a ton of truckers drive that route, just stick close to them.  You’ll be fine.  Don’t get yourself into any bad situations.  Don’t worry about it.”

REALLY???!!!!!!!!!!  Have you driven these roads before???!!!  NO!!  There aren’t a ton of people who drive them and NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will NOT stick close to the truckers.  NO!!!  AND!  Bad situations???!!!!!!!  They find ME!!!  I don’t go looking for them, lady!  I get accosted walking into a frickin’ family restaurant.  AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!  [punch]

(sigh)

Instead, I told her that she was responsible for my safety for the rest of the trip.  She has my name and address.  Check the news.  You, ma’am are the one to confront my loves and family face to face and tell them that YOU took my mace.

And yes.  I told her that.  I know, I know.  But I had to…………maybe the next woman driving alone will get her and she’ll remember.  I made it, but that other lady who stopped at the thrift store?  Yea, she made it.  Someone finally found her after 3 days of being trapped in the basement.  That happened on my way home.  It wasn’t me.  It was another woman who was alone.  She will never be ok.

Aw, man.  I just got heavy, huh?  Sorry.  SAFE!  This girl is safe.

I drove after that.  11 hours total and stopped at “Boston Pizza” for a small pizza, beer, and spinach salad.  Then?  Well, they have Wal-Mart  in British Columbia!  So I blocked my windows out and slept.  In the parking lot.  In the passenger seat.

PS--No one found the taser.  Ever.  HA!

07/14/11

Mornin’ sleepy heads!  OMG!!!  Jessica!!!!!!!  What are you still doing here??!!!  You were supposed to be at work 3 hours ago!!!  AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!  And yes, for some reason, Amber is a bad influence.  How did this happen??!!  (face plant)  Imma so sorry!!!  I will crush you goodbye as you rush off to work, then I will find a coffee shop to get some coffee and perhaps some food, because even though you cooked so much last night I only ate a wee bit of pasta.  DOH!

Today, I hung out in Jessica’s yard for a while and read.  It’s called relaxing…it’s rather weird really.  And then?

Well………..I took off.  To Alaska.  To the border.  There were too many obligations in Seattle?  Maybe?  Too many more people to see?  Maybe?  Too many responsibilities?  Maybe?  I needed to go.  I didn’t know how to make the decision (to stay another night or to go) so I just found myself walking to my car and starting it up and driving North.  It’s a strange feeling to leave so many people left untouched by the glitter, but I had to…

6:00 pm (ish):

Bellingham, WA.  Checking into a hotel because once I hit Canada and Alaska, well it’s all camping all the time, so I might as well enjoy one last night in a real bed with running water and hot coffee.

I’m outside having a whiskey drink when the neighbor lady pops out and tells me I shouldn’t be smoking on the balcony.  I’ll get in trouble.  The guy in the next room got mad at her last night for it.  Go downstairs, honey.  Over there.  I’ll come smoke with you just lemme get my drink and cigarettes.  This is all said with a bleary eyed slur.  Oh Bellingham, where did you find this lady?? 

Here we are downstairs (still outside) and her husband is up on the balcony.  He snuck up as she was complaining about him.  Youch.  How did I get in the middle of this?  Why are you telling me all of this???!!!  Lady tells her husband that I’m going to Alaska and that I’m alone.  Husband?  Well, he freaks out.  First all excited about it that I’m doing this, then when we get up to the balcony and notices that I tower over him and he can then take a good look at me…well…he gets mad at me.  “Alaska is the ONE place you do NOT want to GO!!  EVER!!!  You don’t understand, honey!!!!  You CAN’T go there!  Especially alone!!!!!  EVER!!!!  Please.  Please do not do this.”

Ok.  So, again.  Who are the only people who can say this to me?  Mom, dad, husband, best friend.  They all know me though and will only say “I don’t like it.  Please be safe and smart.”  You, Sir, have NO RIGHT to tell me what to do.  I have friends up there (which I already told you) and I’m pretty sure they won’t let anything happen to me.  Yep.  So back off.

Creepy dudes.  Cue.  How do you DO that??!!  So yea, 3 creepy guys come up to the balcony because the husband of drunk lady gave them the rest of their beer and rum because supposedly they can’t take it over the border…if you read up on it, you CAN take booze over the border…just a limited amount.  Well, these guys are almost out and were wondering if they had more to get rid of.  Why yes!  Yes, they do!  More rum…we’ll share it.  Blech.  No.  Husband decides it a good idea to tell three creepy dudes who I am, what I’m doing, and that I’m alone.  Awesome.  Great.  Thanks.  That’s just perfect. 

Sometimes life hands you a bad situation just ta’ test ya’ then turns around and says, “hey, alright lady, sorry…I was just trying to have a little fun there, so you can use this as your out, ok?”  That’s when a skater dude went by downstairs.  Drunk lady called out to him and asked him to come up.  What IS it with these drunk ladies hollerin’ at the young dudes…and them listening??!!  So, he comes up.  Looks around and beelines it straight for me.  Oh.  Yea.  Great.  Awesome.  What now??!!  I just wanna be in Alaska please.  Life, please stop throwing crap in ma’ way!  Skater dude walks up and says “hey”.  Hey back.  Introduces himself real quiet like, turns around listens to husband and other creepy dudes who are all staring and leering at me now then turns back and says “You got any beer left for me, babe?  I got real thirsty skatin’, so if you have anything that would be grand.”  I have whiskey.  You want one?  Yes?  “How has your night been?  Sorry I was gone for so long.  I got a little lost.  Did you get to eat?”

What are you doing dude??!!  Really?  Are we pretending we know each other?  I don’t get it.  Husband walks up and introduces himself to skater dude…skater dude introduces himself to husband then says “I hope my girlfriend hasn’t been given ye’all too much trouble!  She gets a little rowdy sometimes!!!”  Whoa.  Wha? 

And it works…somehow…there must be some sort of male thing that happens when I’m not looking…three creepy dudes disappear, husband goes back into his room in a huff.  I’m left alone with skater dude and drunk lady.  HA!  WOW!  And I’m torn because I don’t need no dude to scare away the creeps, but I’m also thankful for you.  So, thanks.  Oh look!  Now drunk lady is all up in your face trying to get you to sleep with her?  WHA??!!  She disappears for a moment and comes back out telling me that her husband is upset that I lied to him and told him that I was alone.  He respected me for doing this alone and here it is a whole fang-dangle lie!  He’s mad and sad.  I should go apologize.  Um…….no…….lady…….I ain’t going nowhere near your husband.  He gives my insides the hurting and want to punch and my brain buzzes with red anger around him for some reason, so I’m gonna trust all of that and stay far, far away from your husband, otherwise you may be without said husband in 5.2 seconds…Dexter style.

Drunk lady is tired.  Skater dude hangs for about another hour then heads out when the coast is clear.

Midnight:

Sleep.  Stop keeping me up so late.  Please.

Of course, drunk lady and husband look into my room in the morning (Imma up and already dressed) to see if skater dude is there…he’s not…maybe he went out to skate again?  Waaaaaahahahaha!

07/13/11

Today?  We’re gonna go see this Twin Peaks thang!  YES!!!!!!  This is in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington.  And yes.  They know how to do it up!!!  Most of the tourists here are my age and are only here to see the Twin Peaks sites…postcards??!!  Anyone??!!  Why doesn’t anyone have postcards??!!  AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!  Dammit!

Ronette’s Bridge, Mo’s Garage, the Motel, and the Double R Diner, where yes, Amber got one (excuse me) damn good cup of black coffee—and a slice of cherry pie.  Heaven.

5:00 pm:

Off to Greenwood to meet up with Jessica Thorp.  We were best friends in 4^th grade…that’s when I got to go to public school…for 1 year…then back to Catholic school afterwards.  You learn things and repeat them to your parents when you’re in public school.  Things that you had NO idea about…yikes!

Jessica gives the best crush hugs too, so when we meet up on the street (she heard me laughing in stereo—on the phone and down the street) I get an awesome crush.  Then it’s off to her backyard where we spend a few hours talking and drinking from her…keg…?  Yep.  She has a keg in her backyard.  And what’s funny is, Jessica and I?  Pretty sure that if we lived in the same city we would be inseparable.  There are only a few people that you come across in your lifetime that have this quality.  The one that makes you feel relaxed and happy and normal and glittery.  She’s one of them and I am so happy we met up again!

8:00 pm:

Out to the Baronoff!  That’s a local dive bar and its aweshum!  It’s like Rosie’s but seedier!  So we have a few drinks and who walks in??!!  Emily Hallman.  Yep.  This lady………we were BFFs from 1^st to 6^th grade and completely attached to each other.  She is still amazing and married with two kids!  So it’s me, Jessica, and Emily.  Friends from long, long ago and I am the common denominator.  They’ve never met before.  They should stay friends now, please!!!  Yes, please! 

We got to sit on a homemade bike that some dude was bringing around to sell…well, not actually sit on it ‘cause it was fancy, but he let us pose on it for our picture.  Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!! 

Somehow, Emily and I also offended Jessica’s friend (a dude).  Jessica said we didn’t offend him just um…was honest with him and he’s not used to ladies being so forthright and in his face.  Hmmmmm…maybe he learned his lesson?  Don’t touch us, don’t say weird things to us, you’ll get yours if you’re not careful.  That lesson?  Easy.  Just hang with us and you’ll understand how to treat women.  Unless of course you’re scurred of the strong ones then maybe you should just go away. 

1:00 am:

Off to another bar thing where, yes, Amber got a cranberry and sprite (??).  For some reason I still cannot find any gingerale!!!!!  WHA??!!!  C’mon now!!!!  We meet Phil and some other dude (I forgot his name).  Jessica is hungry so this other dude suggests we go to “his” restaurant and make some food!  First off, you are WAY to young to own your own restaurant and second…that sounds weird.  But we do it.  Jessica goes absolutely crazy in the industrial kitchen cookin’ up all sorts of pasta and sauces and stuff!!  Have you cooked or hung out in a restaurant after it’s all closed up?  No?  Well, you should try it, it’s awesome.  We cleaned up (kind of) and took off.  Phil didn’t want us walking home alone and he lived in the same vicinity as Jessica (which meant the opposite side of town come to find out).  I love it when someone is worried about me/us.  Especially a man.  It’s sweet and endearing and silly.  I probably have enough pent up anger to set fire to anyone trying to harm me or a friend of mine, but yes, if you feel that it is necessary to walk us home then I won’t stop you.  Thank you.  <3

3:00 am:

Home.  Sleep.  Sweet dreams Jessica.

07/12/11

Mornin’!  Morning in Forks, Washington.  Awesome.  And this morning I think I will sit outside with my coffee and talk with this 60 year old woman and her two daughters in their 40’s about Twilight.  Yep.  That’s what Imma gonna do!  For 2 hours!!  YES!  And wow, they know everything about it…it’s rather frightening, but VERY enjoyable!!! 

Now I have this map that the woman at the motel office gave me so I think I’ll try and follow it and find the places that are most important like the Swan house and the Cullen house and La Push!  Poor Forks, WA.  You have all of this to drain the general public on and you don’t seem to want to have anything to do with it!  Your wee lil’ town could be booming, but your resisting…and making fun of us…why?  Why do you do that??!!  GAH!  The Cullen house is VERY disappointing.  It’s supposed to be outside of town in the woods.  It’s supposed to be this huge concrete and glass modern architectural splendor and what do you give me?  A 1920’s “Victorian” bed and breakfast right in town??!!!  WHA??!!  This is a farmhouse.  (sigh)  VERY DISAPPOINTED!  [cue: Hercules]

Time unknown:

Well, after the sad tourist shop (there are only 2 in town) I decide to head out to La Push which is supposedly on a real Reservation.  Man, I hope so!

And yes, it is!!!  With an amazing beach and driftwood and big rocks and cliffs surrounding it!!!!  YAY!  Perfect.  Thank you La Push!  You just made this trip worth it!!  So Imma gonna sit on this beach and stare at the ocean and play in the sand and dream of jumping off of those cliffs.  OH!  Not in a weird way, just in an adrenaline rush of jumping off of a cliff way!!!  YES!!!!

Time unknown:

And now I’m in Kitsap County and stalking my old house that I used to live it.  See, it was on 5 acres in the middle of the woods and had this long, long driveway down to it.  At the bottom of the hill was a Gingerbread House.  That was ours.  I lived on the top floor, which was just one room and an amazing closet that went back under the eaves.  It was all carpeted in there and when my mum couldn’t find me in the morning she knew that I would be sleeping in the closet wrapped up in my Raggedy Ann & Andy sleeping bag.  I tried to see it, but after almost 30 years, well; things grow…and BLOCK MA’ VIEW!!!  I did notice that they have a garage now…I thought about walking down the driveway, but I was unsure who actually may live there and didn’t think it would be wise to walk all the way down there…Silence of the Lambs came into my mind.

Sitting in my car at the top of the driveway I make plans with Ernie Adcock to meet up and have drinks.  I haven’t seen him since 6^th grade…weird, huh?  Yea.  So we make a plan to meet…somewhere…I have to take the car ferry over!!!  YAY!!!!  Like a pro?  Did I do it like a pro?  Yes, Sir I did!  I even parked my car in the correct line, got out, went pee (in the bathrooms!!!), got back into my car and drove it onto the boat!  WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!  When you get onto the ferry you can then go to the top deck and stand there and feel the wind surround you and watch the bay.  Perfect.  I guess most people park and then do a “mall walk” on the top deck during the trip (which is about ½ hour)…yes, it did freak me out when the same people kept walking by me over and over again.  I did done figured it out though!  I didn’t see any amazing animals in the water but I did see a container ship…does that count?  Hmmmmmm…

7:00 pm (ish):

Uncle Jack’s Billiards & Lounge with Ernie!  He’s grown to my height which is good ‘cause he used to come to just below my shoulder.  We hang out and talk and laugh.  He saves me from some creepazoids and then I guess it’s karaoke night there so we get to listen to old hip hop being done by some 20 something year old boys.  Weird and surreal…yep.  At the end of the night while we are playing pool I meet “Rockin’ Ricky”…he seemed fine at first.  Just a local dude all drunk and needing to talk.  Fine until he told me that all he needed was a roof over his head, a bed, a drink, and a gun.  There was something else, but I didn’t write it down and it was so scary that I think I may have blocked it from my mind.  He did this weird lean in and stare into my eyes thing.  Yea.  Ok.  Hey!  Rockin’ Ricky!  You need to do karaoke!!!  GO!  Somehow, he believes me…and when he goes up to sing, Ernie and I leave.  QUICK like!

1:00 am:

Sleep now please.  Thank you.

07/11/11

Last day in Portland.  Rita has to work today (for real, like at another place not just at home) so I will wait for her to come home for lunch and then zooooooom!  Only when she comes back it takes her longer than 1 hour to have lunch and hang out with me for the last time…(sigh) and we have to say goodbye at some point.  And crush hug.  Don’t cry though.  Nope.  Save that for when you are driving, Amber!  That’ll be best! 

Coffee to go and then I’m on the road…reluctantly.  Feeling like I have left something behind in Oregon…I may have and they can keep it…it may be important for them to have it one day. 

1 hour later:

Washington State.  Ain’t been heah in oh, 27 years.  Whoa.  I lived here from 1^st-6^th grade then we moved to Germany.  Somehow, Washington State still feels like home…

And now the bears and I are off ta’ Forks, WA!  Where we will discover the truth about sparkly vampires and huge werewolves!  OK!  GO!

6:15 pm:

Driving along 101 very near Forks and about 50 feet in front of me a very large (gigantic) black animal races across the street.  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a bear because of how it was running and no, I have not heard of any pure black wolves in Washington State…perhaps it twas’ a werewolf?  Yes?  Perhaps.  We will never know for certain though…

Time unknown:

Checking into the Town Motel in Forks.  This motel has coo-coo-cr-azy gardens with gnomes and tons of birdfeeders, shoes, chairs, just tons of stuff!  And flowers too, but the stuff kind of overwhelms the actual garden.  The floors in the rooms were just cleaned so they’re a little damp.  Wet actually, but at least I know they randomly clean their carpets?  She told me about it before I actually paid, so it’s all good.

Off to the grocery store which is basically next door.  I would think that the townies would get used to the crazy people coming to visit their town, but I guess it’s a constant shock of who shows up…me being no exception?  Hmmmmmmmm…Yea.  Those are stares.  Well, I’ll just be nice to everyone and throw them off their game.  HA!!!  Made you laugh, dude stocking the beer!  You didn’t see that one coming huh?  YES!  Score!  Unicorned.

Oooooooooooooo!  What happens when a unicorn meets a sparkly vampire??!!  Oh. My. Goodness.  Is it a glitter explosion that implodes the world??!!  Uh oh!

07/10/11

Today?  Second most amazing day in Portland Oregon.  We are going to breakfast with Kalaisha and Hilary then we are going to the ENCHANTED FOREST!!!!!!  AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!  SO frickin’ essssssscited!  AND!  Imma wearing a dress…AGAIN!  This has become a habit with me, which…if you know me is very strange since my normal attire is jeans and t-shirt with boots.  Um.  That sentence is wrong huh?  The t-shirt does not have boots, although I may want a t-shirt with boots printed on it now.  Anyway!

1:30 pm:

Yes, so we have a great breakfast then drive…

3:30 pm:

…to visit Humpty Dumpty, Snow White, Alice, etc.  We also get to ride the log in the water ride and get soaked!  THEN?  Roller coaster…which I hate.  I absolutely despise roller coasters, but Hilary told me it was for the kids so it wouldn’t be too scary…um…yea…that’s the LAST time I listen and trust that lady!  No, it wasn’t for kids and yes, it was scary.  I still hate roller coasters thanks.  I’ll take the swings that go around in a circle really high up or the tea-cups anytime.  Tssssssss.  Gullible.  That’s me.  At least I got a salted pretzel out of it!  ;)  

Time unknown:

BIKE RIDE!!!  To a park!!  And we get to play on the swingsets, slide on the slide, and twirl on the twirly metal thing!!!  We swing SO much that we both have bruises on our sides…whoops!!!  It’s nice to know that I still have someone who will play on the playground with me even if we are both 36.  Yep.  AWESHUM.

Time unknown:

Realization that yesterday was mom’s birthday and she did NOT receive a phone call from her only daughter.  Worst daughter ever.  I will NEVER be able to make up for that one.  Mom knows that I love her with all of my heart, but some things just don’t go unforgotten.  Possibly forgiven but not forgotten. 

Mum, I love you.  Here is what I wrote for you that day:

*Oh!  Who’s the worst daughter and didn’t know the date yesterday and therefore didn’t call her mum on her birthday?!  Pretty sure it wasn’t me!!!  Oh.  Wait.  Yea.  It was.  Fail.  Don’t make mommy cry!!  Happy Birthday mama!!  Thank you for making me independent and strong and also teaching me to laugh loudly and often!  <3

*Also, to dress however I want and to do my hair however I please.  To love unconditionally.  To forgive.  To hug as much as humanly possible.  To talk to strangers and to send them sparkles.  To share all that you have.  And for teaching me that I can do whatever I want as long as it doesn’t hurt others.  Most of all for being the most amazing mom in the world.  Yea.  She’s mines!!!

*Also for letting me play with trucks and shoot guns and work with power tools!!

Time unknown:

On the patio drinking wine with Rita.  She’s my favorite…have I told you that?  Well, if not, then there ya’ go!  Favorite. 

07/09/11

Tasty & Sons for BREAKFAST!  You have to get there early (when they open) so you don’t have to wait for a table.  And they are not open yet, but there is a LINE!  Whoa!!!!  Why is there a line you ask?  Well, because the food is the most amazing stuff you will ever shove into your face!  Rita and I had three full breakfasts and an “appetizer”!  We shared all of it and then?  Well, Amber’s belly bloated up to pregnancy standards…oops! 

I think today was also the day that we stole a bunch of bamboo from Rita’s neighbor.  He cut it down and saved it for Rita, so technically it wasn’t “stealing” but…um…she’s gonna make a fence with it!  Wheeeeeee!!

7:00 pm:

Bike RIDE!!!!!  Down to

Mississippi St.

for the street fair!  YAY!  We’re stopping by Sidecar 11 (a bar) to see Margo.  Rita and I grab a seat outside right by the front door (it’s a high table—bar height—so we won’t get trampled by the thousands of people millin’ aboot on the sidewalk and street!  Inside to get drinks and Margo makes me the most ah-mazing whiskey ginger drink!!!  FRESH smooshed ginger, fresh smashed mint, whiskey, spritzer.  WOW!  Rita and I are hanging out, talking with Margo and her husband randomly off and on and Amber (being who she is) is CRAZY excited about being in the middle of SO many people.  She gets SO excited that she randomly reaches out as two hipsters walk by and offers a hug to them.  Ehem.  Well, they smirk and look at me as if I’ve gone bonkers then continue on.  I get a wee bit sad…no one denies Panda Pants a hug…do they?  Ooof.  An older woman who witnesses this starts to walk by, looks at me, I hold out my arms again, AND………..  HUG!!!!!!!  YES!!!!  Awesome!!!  Although she does pat me on the back while she hugs.  That’s weird.  I don’t like the back-pat/hug.  It feels impersonal and strange.  Of course, maybe she’s not used to hugging random strangers on the sidewalk…perhaps it was her first time?  She’ll get better at it! 

This one woman started a revolution of hugs from Amber to everyone (mostly) who walked by.  (hearts)  There must have been at least 30 Portlanders who got the Amber hug that day.  Wow.  Happy.  Fueled.  We talked to perhaps 15 random people too, just ‘cause we could.  One punk rock dude in his 30’s walked by, did a second look, got offered a hug, accepted with great zeal, then pulled back, looked at me again and said “you are absurdly gorgeous.”  Statement.  Tssssssssssss.  You are.  ALL of Portland Oregon is.  Real people who love to hug and talk and make connections with other humans.  This is one of the reasons why I almost didn’t leave Portland (West Coast).  How can you have an entire city that is drenched in such giving??!!  AHHHH!!! 

Rita and I spent the entire night out on Mississippi.  Hanging with random people and making friends with strangers.  Maybe Rita will see them again?  I hope so!!