Friends.

Well here it is January 8th. This last year brought a lot of changes for me, well hell, really all of us I imagine...but, well this blog is all about me so...back to ME! If someone told me a year ago I would be here I would have thought them crazy but here I am. Thinking back if it wasn't for some very dear friends practically putting me and all my crap in the truck I may not have made it. How do you begin to thank friends like that? I wanted so bad to be near my family here, and even though I often said it, I don't think it really hit me how much "family" my friends had become. I miss you all horribly and will forever be in your debt for all your help and kindness to me. Several friends have told me that I was the "glue that kept them all together...If so, I'm glad I left then. Glue is sticky and messy! And once you're stuck your stuck! Who wants that! If I come back to visit and hear you haven't gotten together since I left, I WILL be mad! Hello....pick up a phone, make a date, have a margarita for me and laugh! Ok, you can even tell a couple idiot Liz stories if you must.
Speaking of old friends, I had lunch with an old friend I went to kindergarten with I haven't seen in 35 years. She looked just the same just a bit older and came bouncing in the restaurant and ran up and gave me a big hug! She and her husband own the local Ace Hardware store. After many years of hard work, they are finally building their dream home, 5 bedroom & 5 baths (helps to own the hardware store) and for crying out loud they even have a terraced theater room in it. Their garage is a separate 3 room building with a loft and bath with shower with pillars out front. I asked if I could rent it for a studio! In their defense there is no theater in that town. ;-) It was fun to reconnect and I now have a place to catch movies! LOL
Recently I had the honor to meet a single mom with a chubby 13 year old boy (Who looked like he was straight out of Spielburg central casting) who used to live in Orange and was running away from an abusive mate and had moved up here a couple of months ago. They had been staying in a women's shelter and she was looking at the apartment upstairs to rent which is how our paths crossed. I was on my way out the door when my friend Paul let her in to check out my apartment since the door upstairs was locked. I chatted a bit then went on my way and frankly forgot about her. A couple of weeks before Christmas she stopped by to say hello and said she and her son had hitchhiked (People still do that?) to Grants Pass (2hrs from here) to buy a used truck as her car had broken down and was too expensive for her to fix. It was actually a pretty great truck for only $450 and she was happy but said the the construction company she had been working for just laid her off. So she was job hunting. I told her I would spread the word and printed out the local paper ads for her but...not sure how to help. Frankly I was torn. I wanted to be nice but part of me selfishly & honestly thought, "oh crap", I don't want to know this!!! I have my own struggles. But I couldn't get her and her kid out of my head. In spite of her hardships she and her son had such great positive attitudes. I don't know in their situation how I would have been. As tight as money has been for me at times I have never been in that situation and know that I have family and friends that would help so really never would be. They, I later found out only had each other. I mentioned that when I got some extra money together maybe I could hire her to help me finish painting my apartment. She said that would be great and to let her know. I kept thinking about them through Christmas and while I was busy with work & my family, knew in that their Christmas wouldn't be so great. I was praying she had found work and she would be ok. The day before New Years she called and asked if I was ready to have her paint and I told her I just couldn't afford it yet. I had just paid my bills and credit cards and didn't have any money left. She then also asked if I knew any one that could use a $10 bus pass as she wanted to sell it for gas. I said no and we hung up. I then called her back and made plans the meet them for lunch New Years Day. I then went to the store and bought a couple of Visa and gas gift cards with one of the credit cards I had just paid off and proceeded to meet for lunch. Lunch was great and I really enjoyed their company. Josh, her son is a smart, funny, brilliant kid and I found myself feeling so bad he wasn't getting the education he should have. But then again maybe he is. He is cream and cream always rises. After dinner I gave them the gift cards and ran off. It wasn't much but I figured it would give them some groceries and gas. I left thinking it was my best New Years - probably their worst. Day before yesterday she called again and said they were going to Reno as she though she would have a better chance of finding work there. She wanted to stop and say goodbye. They came by around 8pm and were going to drive all night and had everything they owned in that truck. She thanked me again, we hugged, I gave her a couple of energy drinks for the road and off in the cold dark night they went. Off to my warm bed with my cat, in my warm flannel "Linda jammies" I went. She called last night to say they made it safely. I will pray for her. Her name is Andrea and her son's name is Josh. She is strong and good and has much faith. If you find it in your heart to pray for them... I know so many are in, or going to be in the same boat but them I don't know. Her I do. Frankly, that kind of poor scares me. The thought of having no one, scares me. To have to worry about taking care of yourself and your kid with no money would scare me to death. I am so blessed. I am so spoiled. My friends and family make me feel safe & rich. I know what that truly means. I want that for her. I have friends from all walks of life, rich, poor, simple, complicated, happy, single, married, young and old.
I am alone but because of all of you, never have felt lonely or alone. I love you all.
January 8, 2009

CHRISTMAS 2008

I don't know why but one of my favorite movies is "Love Actually". It seems to have a bit of everything Life has to offer tied up in a neat little bow with a happy ending and great music to boot. I woke up this Christmas morning to the above view with "Billy Mack's" "Christmas is all Around" playing in my head. This is what it looked like looking out from my gate as I was heading literally "Over the river and through the woods..." to get to Mom's for Christmas. I hope I never get used to the beauty of this place. After 35 years in Southern California I moved here October 31 and everyday has brought new adventures of some kind. I wanted to shake up my safe, boring, life and have an adventure and so far this move hasn't disappointed. Good grief, just going to the grocery store (20 miles through the woods on the coast) can be an event here!
The best thing for me has been being near my family. After being gone 35 years they have moved on without me but I sure have missed them. They seem to be happy I'm here now and it just feels so right. Nothing seems the same though and in the beginning that was disturbing. I don't know what I was thinking, somehow that time had stopped and I could just pick up where I left off? I've not seen anyone I used to know, they must have also all moved away as I did. So other than my family, it's like starting in a new place with kind of similar surroundings but different. I moved to Gasquet as I had spent some the happiest times I remembered in the summer up here but I'm finding winter to be quite different and not at all familiar. But at the same time stunningly beautiful.
My nieces and nephews all little toddlers when I left are now smart, funny, volatile, and interesting adults. It's fun reconnecting with them and learning how to be with them. Should I just be a friend and listen? But then I want so much to help and not have them make the same mistakes I did. One day at a time...We'll see.
Finally home....December 25, 2008