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Tell storiesIt’s been almost three months since I last posted anything I wrote. Oh yeah, there’s that Christmas message with the Christmas tree I designed on my iPhone, but I think that was just some attempt at convincing myself I was somehow still connected. A lot has happened in my life during the past three months so let’s do a quickie update. We’ll make it a pictorial so at least there’ll be pics to look at. But first, some words.  Then the photos!

In December, soon after my last written post, the news that my cousin’s skeletal remains were found out in the desert; he’d been dead a very long time and his identity was made through DNA samples. (I still don’t know if the police know anything relevant to his death.) Having grown up in a city a long ways away from any of my mom’s or dad’s family, this cousin is really the only extended family member I remember from my childhood. Our families didn’t visit often; both my mom and her sister had several babies very close together in age and traveling was a challenge.  My cousin, Bob, was exactly three months older than me and born February 28th which was the day before that year’s leap year. Even though I hadn’t seen him in several years, I always thought of him as a connection to my family, especially since my mom (his aunt) has deleted me from the family. Now that he’s gone, some part of me feels a loss that I can’t even explain. It’s not like we were close or anything. What the hell.

Along with that weird piece of information, another thing that happened in December was a phone call from an old friend that I hadn’t seen in probably 20 years. When I saw the call coming in, I ignored it because I don’t normally answer if I don’t know who it is or know anyone from the area the call is coming in from. In this case, it was Central California and I don’t know anyone who lives in that area. At least, I didn’t until after he left me a message – and that would be after the second call because he didn’t leave one the first time. Re-connecting with him was a very nice thing. We did so much together way back in the 70s and it’s sometimes nice to know that we survived those crazy times. Seems like our paths have been similar over the years, even though we haven’t really been connected in more than 30 years. It was great to talk to him and it’ll be even nicer to see him when I make my way back north this spring.

In January, I made my way to Quartzsite, Arizona, where I once again attended the Rubber Tramp Rendevous, a very loosely coordinated get-together of vandwellers, Alex & RonnieRVers, tent-campers and others interested in life on the road. It’s a gathering of people who read the blog of Bob Wells, a long-time vandweller who has some good information for beginners, but not a lot of new information for those of us who’ve been traveling for awhile.  I attended last year, too, even though I wasn’t a newcomer, because I thought maybe this group of people could be that like-minded community I’ve been looking for. This year, I was very sick for the first nine days, which left only 5 more days to connect with people and spend time in conversation around the campfires and community meals. Being sick, combined with the large number of loose dogs running around peeing and pooping on everything everywhere (including my brand new solar panel that I saved months and months for), the loud generators that sometimes went late into the night, and the lack of any new information that was relevant to me, I felt like RTR this year was a bust for me. However, and it’s a huge however, among other things, I met Alex with Ronnie the Ferret, and learned to make wire wrap jewelry from Cheri. So of course, my “bust” was not really a bust at all.  The desert sunsets are usually spectacular and again this year, they certainly were.

another sunset

Over the past few months, I’ve met up with old friends and made some new ones – Lynn from our high school days; Kyra from Facebook, Michelle from Vista, Betty from Facebook. Unfortunately, I didn’t always take pics so some of these people will remain faceless to you, my dear readers. I promise to try to document these meet-ups better, starting right now.  I learned to start a campfire using barbeque potato chips (works quite well, actually, and smells delicious!). Another big highlight of February was the Yuma Geocaching Mega Event.  Hundreds of people meeting up just to have fun with their GPSers. It was a hoot and way too much fun!

In February,  I decided to continue the writing hiatus and give myself some more time to get my head together. Or at least, that’s what I told myself. I’m not sure it’s together yet but I know it’s time to jump back on the blogging bandwagon.

Enjoy the photos!

desert camp
One of my camps in Quartzsite, Arizona.
Another desert sunset
Another desert sunset
Met up with Lynn, a friend from high school - we hadn't seen each other in about 45 years! Looks like we haven't really grown up either...
Looks like Lynn and I haven’t made much progress in the last 45 years…
A copper wire-wrapped bead - Cheri is an excellent teacher
A copper wire-wrapped bead – Cheri is an excellent teacher
Found some bacon avocados! Mmmm. So smooth and buttery.
Found some bacon avocados at the Yuma Farmers Market! Mmmm. So smooth and buttery.
Here's where I met up with Michelle - she was driving back to Vista after visiting her husband at Fort Huachuca here in Arizona
Here’s where I met up with Michelle – she was driving back to Vista after visiting her husband at Fort Huachuca here in Arizona. If you’ve never been to a Cracker Barrel, find one and order the chicken and dumplings. Very yummy!
Campfire with bbq chips
Fire starters: barbeque potato chips!
Yuma Mega Geocaching Event - a highlight of February!
Yuma Mega Geocaching Event – a highlight of February! The events started Friday night with a flash mob and ended Monday morning in Los Algodones, Mexico.
Chris and Cherie of Technomadia - a delight to meet these people whose blog I've followed for a long time.
Chris and Cherie of Technomadia – a delight to meet these people whose blog I’ve followed for a long time. If you want to know anything about technology on the road, these two are the best resource out there.

See you on the road somewhere!

Let’s End This Accidental Hiatus
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16 thoughts on “Let’s End This Accidental Hiatus

  • March 2, 2015 at 4:18 pm
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    I’m sorry to hear about your cousin. That is really intense!

    It’s been several years since I’ve been to a Cracker Barrel, but I do remember enjoying their chicken and dumplings very much.

    Thanks so much for writing and sharing your life.

    PS Was the ferret at the RTR. I missed it!

    • March 2, 2015 at 4:40 pm
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      Yes, Ronnie was at RTR. She was living right next to me! I wish I hadn’t been so sick – I would have loved to have visited with her more. Oh well. Such is life!

      There are no Cracker Barrels in California, where I lived for most of my life. I’m not sure if they’re in the PNW or not but it was a fun place to go here in Yuma.

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Blaize!

  • March 2, 2015 at 5:06 pm
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    Did I ever meet Cousin Bob? Wow, what a story!

    The sunsets are spectacular. 🙂

    I love you very much!

    • March 3, 2015 at 8:13 am
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      Hey, favorite son of mine! If you ever met Cousin Bob, it would have been when you were pretty young. Bob (or Bobbie, as I knew him) pretty much kept to himself and ditched family affairs, whether party or funeral, as a general rule. He was a hoot when we were kids 😀

      Thanks for stopping by! Love you, too!!

      — your favorite mom

  • March 2, 2015 at 6:19 pm
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    Wow, pictures are beautiful. Sorry to hear of your cousin. Seems like life is just to short.
    You have been my good friend for a long time and value our friendship. You were a good listener when I needed to talk to someone. We shared many good time with guide dogs, it’s about those “parking lot” tours!
    Life is to short for not living as we wish and I value our friendship. Looking forward to doing some camping up north this summer, want to join us?
    Oh, and how about all the house sitting you did for us, we never had to worry about home, when we were gone. AND taking care of O Gee, Sierra and Holly. (By the way O
    Gee in now a house cat and traveling some with us, he likes the motor home.
    Wow, I’m being a little wordy here. Anyway, hope to see you in Oregon this summer and thanks for being such a good friend.
    Linda

    • March 3, 2015 at 8:22 am
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      Hi Linda!

      We had some wild and crazy times, that’s for sure. I’d wager a guess and say we’ve been friends over 30 years, and boy, have we been through some weird events. Of course, the camping and parking lot tours will always be a fun highlight, won’t they?

      If I get back up north this summer, I’d love to go camping with you guys! There’s so much of it to do and so little time. I’m getting good at roasting marshmallows, too… of course, for me that means setting them on fire, raising them like a torch until the fire goes out, and then crunching away 😀

      I’m really glad OG is an inside boy now. Gracie’s death is still a tragic thing for me to consider and I’m very happy to hear that OG won’t suffer the same way.

      Thanks for the comments, Linda. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

  • March 2, 2015 at 7:16 pm
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    Nine to hear from you again!
    RTR is interesting! 🙂

    • March 3, 2015 at 8:17 am
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      Hi Lesa!

      Yup, RTR is one strange duck. Of course, we’re all odd ducks, aren’t we? It’s just a matter of choosing which strange ducks we want to add into our already odd duck lives 😀

      Thanks for coming by!

  • March 2, 2015 at 7:47 pm
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    Oh goodness Lois, I’m so sorry to read about your cousin
    Especially since he was a family tie you won’t have anymore. That is distressing, even though you weren’t close, it’s still a tragic way to go. So sad.
    ~~~
    I hope you continue to have many adventures, because you are an inspiration to me!
    Love Ya

    • March 3, 2015 at 8:15 am
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      Hi Debbie! The weird thing for me is like it is for all of us when someone dies: as long as a person is still alive, you can have a face-to-face conversation. After that, it becomes a different kind of connection. Just weird that he died the way he did. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment! 😀

  • March 5, 2015 at 8:12 am
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    What a delight to find and read your blog, Lois. You write well. I’m looking forward to reading more about your life and travels.

    • March 5, 2015 at 3:20 pm
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      Hi Bill! Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by and reading… and leaving a comment! Hope you enjoy 😀

    • March 5, 2015 at 3:21 pm
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      Ah yes, the Dome of Silence. Is that anything like the lampshade my dog used to wear when I was trying to keep her from chewing on some part of her? hahaha… thanks for the welcome back! Now if I can just stay here…

  • March 10, 2015 at 8:11 pm
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    No shit, skeleton in the desert? Wow, Lois, can it get even better? I watch Bones TV series and that is a show about bones that are found in all kinds of places. Of course, it is a detective show and they always figure out who the victim is.

    However, to have this happen in real life, that is kind of cool and really sad at the same time. Sorry about your cousin but holy shit about this happening in your life.

    You know, I have always been extremely excited about everything you experience and the path you take.

    We all have our own path to take and our own adventures to be on but I have always felt like somehow I live a double life -my own and yours. I follow your adventures on facebook and through your blog and just hold my breath when I read about things that happen or situations you encounter.

    Way to go, my friend, keep living….

    • March 12, 2015 at 11:18 am
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      I know, huh, Dace! I am intrigued by my cousin’s method of leaving Planet Earth, as well. I love CSI, partly because it’s filmed in Las Vegas, and that’s where he died. Makes me want to call them up and ask them to get right on it!

      I appreciate you! Thank you for following along… one never quite knows what’s around the next corner but I aim to find out. For sure, I’ll be letting everyone know what, if anything, is found out about my cousin Bob. Crazy.

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