There are good people everywhere

August 6, 2013 2114

            The rain was coming down so hard that my clothes were dripping wet within minutes.  My shoes sloshed around.  It was dark except when the lightening lit up the sky like noon.  The Princess Puppy, glad to be cooled off, ran around in the rain like it was a dog playground. 

            The Goat Man, Crystal, Dave, and I played in the rain until almost two in the morning.  It was cooler, freer and rejuvenating.  The smell of pumpkins surrounded the bathrooms with flushing toilets and we could hear four wheeler engines revving in the distance, but no one was around.

            I am not an outside kind of gal, but The Goat Man likes his shenanigans.  He leaves no room for anything but fun and laughter.  I missed that cocky grin today.  The stress is getting to him.

            However, like small kids playing in sprinklers dressed in only their underwear we splashed in mud puddles, laughed, and played.  Dave dressed in a yellow parka like Paddington the bear with a flashlight strapped to his hat like a coal miner.  I was dressed in completely all white.  Doesn’t everyone where nothing but white out in the middle of the woods to play in the mud and rain?

            Tonight, The Goat Man stands outside my window with a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other.  He sings to the radio and in a pretty good mood…finally.  We may be sleeping in our truck tonight, but today was productive.  I am writing every day and I feel complete.  I am getting my focus back.

            We are both getting our perspectives back.  I remember patients coming into the chemo room talking about how they now know who they can count on and who they can’t.  Today both The Goat Man and I realized that we are being taken care of by perfect strangers, but those we thought would be there for us are nowhere to be found.  A couple that is also homeless is feeding us.  It is a sad perspective we now hold.

            In desperation this morning, The Goat Man called seven companies in the area that might need an equipment operator.  He got six ‘no’s but the seventh company K.E. Development of Pasco 14341 Peace Blvd in Spring Hill asked him to come talk to them.  So, we fought the camping family for the shower and went over with the last of our gas.

            The Goat Man talked to a man named Keith and it sounded promising.  We went to Dunkin Donuts for the free Wi Fi so that I could do my schoolwork.  I am working on my PhD online.  School has been quite a challenge! 

            I almost laugh when I think about the reality that I am seeking my PhD and living in a tent.  But it all comes down to dreams and choices.  I am choosing to dream.  I am choosing to follow my dreams no matter what the world throws at me.  I am choosing to be happy every day and to be myself every day.

            I do not recommend the drastic jump off this cliff I made without a net, but once long ago I was given a little green superhero.  I still carry the toy with me everyday as inspiration not just because I carry everything I own with me everyday.  I know the wind will carry me and I know if I have enough faith I will be realized.

            We put our derringer and the Princess Puppy on Craig’s list.  It is not fair to the puppy to make her live in a truck with two adults.  We have to leave the campground in the morning and then there is no place for her to run and be a puppy.

            The phone rang as we were leaving and The Goat Man took the call.  Apparently, Keith was unable to use The Goat Man, so he gave our number to fifteen places that may be hiring.  Mr. Miller was one of those looking for a worker and he called.

            I was watching The Goat Man talking on the phone outside the window thinking it was only a matter of minutes before he told me the Princess Puppy was gone.

            “Hey darling.  I like your smile.  You should smile more often.”  I turned to see a man in his sixties holding a tray with a coffee and a donut.

            “Thank you.” I smiled.  Then I continued picking up my computer.

            “Do you wanna sit here with me and keep me company while I eat?”  Puzzled and focused I paused.

            “No.” my voice was weak when I spoke.  Then, I walked out into the Florida day.

It is a good day.  I am still attracting men.  I wonder if the gentleman is aware that he has become the creepy old man or does he just feel younger and spryer than he truly is?

            We drove down the road toward our humble abode with sour faces.  The Goat Man was focused on the negative and forgetting about the positive when the truck began to sputter.

            “We are running out of gas again right now.”

            “I know.”  The sky opened and it began to rain.

            “Let’s just calmly look through the truck for money.  Just stay level headed.”  The Goat Man was very somber.  The truck was pulled into a left turn lane that if followed lead into a gas station.  The gas was the most expensive in town, but we could not be picky.

            I believe that everything happens for a reason.  If the Goat Man’s phone had not broke we would have been driving Brian from the Rope House today and would have never been to see Keith and we would not have ran out of gas right then at that moment.

            Jeff was coming home from work himself when he helped The Goat Man tow our truck into the gas station.  Then, he offered him a job and expects to start him on Thursday.

            With only $7.44 in the bank account (I have no idea where than money came from) I pushed the credit option and pumped $100 in gas today.  It takes a long time to pump that much gas and so little time to drive it out of the truck.

            The entire time I was waiting to feel the hand of God on my shoulder pushing me of the cape of my green superhero and sending me plunging into the fire.  I could see little pigmy red devils dancing around me on the roaster, with an apple in my mouth, chanting.

            An apple sounds good.  Have you ever noticed that as soon as there is no refrigerator (no kitchen) all food looks really good?  I have had enough of pickle bologna!  I may never eat the treat I found essential again.

            We started re-arranging our wet things in the back of the truck when Crystal and Dave invited us to dinner.  We had another hot meal today.  We had good company tonight as well. 

            There are good people everywhere.

            It is getting harder to write with humor because I am finding less humor each day.  I am simply tired.  I still cannot find the time to get my homework done.  I am still running out of time.  I know my soul is settled because I find myself singing under my breath all day long.  I am looking forward to the simple things.  I love the shower.  I love listening to the radio in the truck while I write.  I look forward to seeing the evening sky.

            I am watching from the outside as always, The Goat Man experience this feeling of loss for the first time and I watch his true character come out.  I do not doubt him, but I think he doubts himself.  When his face grows tight and the stress pulls his smirk straight I want to touch his face and tell him it is okay.  When his forehead starts to grow lines and his eyes start to look old I want to hold him close and promise to take care of everything.  But, I can only watch him and sing:

“That’s the only way I know. Don’t stop till everything is done. Straight ahead and never turn around. Don’t back up and don’t back down.  Full throttle, wide open. Get tired and you don’t show it. Dig a little deeper when you think you can’t dig no more.  That’s the only way I know.” –Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church