At three o’clock this afternoon, I had a very heavy heart. Happy Hour in Quartzsite was about to begin, and I was missing it! I was really missing my pals, George and Suzie, Barb and John. I was even missing Hank and Piper, the dusty canine members of the group, who would rotate from lap to lap while the humans told stories and shared RV tips, best routes, and location information. Oh, and of course we shared recipes, as George was usually beginning to get supper ready.
My friends are all from Canada, as so many of the Quartzsite winter visitors are. John is originally from Nova Scotia—maybe that why I enjoyed conversation with him so much. (I suspect I must have lived at least one previous life up there.) He’s also retired military, and like Billy Hartmann, could be at times angry, crudely hilarious, loyally protective, and absolutely, the best friend you’d ever want to have. Barb is a retired English teacher, who morphed her career from teaching in schools to teaching in prison, to working on the parole board. She is an avid reader, and has a memory for routes that puts my Garmin GPS to shame.
George and Suzie have been living the RV full-time lifestyle for many years. Suzie, was the quietest member of the group, also an avid reader, but she barely got a word in edgewise, with the rest of us loudmouths blabbing away. I regret not getting to know her better when I had the chance. I hope I get another at some point. And George, my Q-Hill hiking partner—what can I say about George? He has a great sense of humor, is an interesting character, and is and curious about the world around him. He pulled Blogger-Fest together, and he seemed to know everyone. He reads many blogs and posts on his own blog, Our Awesome Travels, everyday! He journals about where they are and what is interesting there that day. Usually, he covers the day’s activities, the weather, and what’s for dinner. George ran a small restaurant for 10 years, and has some great recipes, which he also posts.
Here in Joshua Tree—the Cottonwood Campground, I went outside my rig this evening to check out the neighbors. The park has become pretty full this afternoon, and I sleep better if I have a sense of what is going on around me in the night.
There were SO many stars out tonight, in totally clear skies, and the moon hadn’t yet risen. I walked over and sat on my picnic table. Then, I stretched out it—just knocked out by all the stars. I could see the Milky Way! I was watching satellites moving across the sky. I could barely find my old friend Orion, for all the other stars up there!
The new neighbors are going to be fine—I expect even the noisy bunch in the group camping area will pipe down at 10 PM. I’m going to turn in now. I’m still on Mountain Standard Time; it’s past my bedtime for sure. Nighty-night to my dear friends, all over this country.