GETTING BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS

First:  We are overwhelmed by the many blog comments, FaceBook comments, and individual emails we have received from friends and from otherwise silent readers.  Your communications – from the simplest line of condolence to the eloquent remembrance of your own special pets – have brought tears to our eyes and comfort to our hearts.  It obvious that many of you share or have shared special bonds with your feline/canine companions. Thank you, friends.  We are gradually adjusting to our new circumstances - less crying and more thoughts about the joyous times that Luna brought to us.

Yesterday dawned cloudy, gray and bleak, just like my mood.  We continued rearranging our space and lives around the new reality.  The last step was to vacuum thoroughly – even the tiniest bit of kitty litter scattered on the rug was enough to set tears welling into my eyes.  Yet another round of crying followed this task, as I felt I was erasing all signs of Luna from our lives.  Just as I recovered my composure…

A car pulled up in our driveway, and two strangers got out.  I went to the door, and Phil and Rose brought their bright light into our home.  Phil has followed our blog (mostly silently) for several months, and reminded me that we had exchanged email previously about the full-timing life.  Canadians, they are wintering in Bandera, Texas, not far from here.  They couldn’t have come at a better time!

After a brief conversation about Luna – who they knew from this blog – and a few fresh tears from me, they diverted us back to thoughts of the larger world with those topics of interest to all RVers: travel stories, problems with our rigs, comments on various travel “styles”, and food.  Mellow and engaging, we were soon smiling and laughing with these new friends, who appeared at just the right moment.  Thanks SO MUCH, Phil and Rose.  Phil, today’s photos are especially for you, from dinner at the nearby Po Po Restaurant.  :)

Odel’s Fried Half Chicken Diner	Laurie’s Fried Catfish Dinner
Odel’s Fried Chicken 30 minutes later.	Laurie’s Fried Catfish 30 minutes later.

They headed out after a couple hours (I think – time flew by) and we had a bit of time before our next visitor, our good friend Jeff (Tucson, Crater Lake, Ft. Davis).  He and Margaret are in Kerrville, 20 miles or so west of here, and he stopped by on this way home after some dental work in San Antonio.  He and Margaret are “cat people”, who have suffered the loss of their own feline companion recently, and who knew Luna.  Again, our spirits were lifted by friendship.  Thanks, Jeff.

Many full timers have expressed to us one of the big surprises of our chosen lifestyle: we have more, and often closer, friends as full timers than we did in our prior, stationary lives.  They are spread widely, but always ready to help.  We know them through blogs, newsletters, and email – and yesterday, they appeared when they were most needed, and most appreciated.  Thanks, many thanks, to all of you who have expressed your friendship and care.