With Week 3 now in the books a few interesting and very revealing things happened. Just as life is an adventure this one is just part of the story of mine. Like all things that came before and all things that will come there are good and bad things to take from all events in life. In this weeks Blog I am going to talk about the amazing people who have come along and become part of my story. I will also be talking about some of the things I have seen and well the lessons I am starting to learn. I really wish I had learned some of these things earlier. I will say this in the last week I have covered the tail of florida, the state of Alabama and almost through Olde Miss for a total mileage of 673 miles. And here is what I got.
With the passage from leaving Pensacola and heading into Alabama I had a slight issue. Only being a few miles from the border I was at a red light and well I was bumped by a vehicle and knocked over. I got up words were exchanged and well a gun pulled. Not by me mind you but it was put right in my face. Now I have been in similar situations and well the best thing to do is stand your ground and let reality sink into the person. Hopefully the right decision will be made and it was....they left and I got the tag number and the police were notified imediatly. He was aprehended a few hours later and charged out the whazoo and sorry but people like that should of never had the opportunity to utilize the second ammendment. It is a last resort period and only in defense.
But here is the good. A very nice couple who happened to be home where the incident occured out front came to my Aide Tammy and Michael were calming polite and well just really decent folks. Tammy had a way that well just put me at ease and well they are now part of my circle of life and I am very happy about that.
A littl later down the road I sat at the Alabama border eating lunch feeling well rather accomplished. And along comes David and Linda the couple I met 250 miles before at the dead lakes in Florida. They were heading to their next fishing stop and decided to take 90 in hopes of seeing me.....wouldn't you know it they did. So we sat there and talked for a few more minuetes and had lunch. I still did not have a place to stay as of that point so I started making calls to campgrounds. One RV park said they dont take in tents but gave me the number of a guy who may let me camp at his house. So I called.
This is where I was introduced to very possibly one of the nicest most humble decent people I have ever had the privledge of Meeting. Gene and I talked for a bit and at the end he told me to get my tent set up on his property and that the cabin door was unlocked and for me to go in shower and relax till he got home. Mind you we did not know each other in the slightest. But I did as he said and when He got home we talked for a bit laughed he told me about himself I told him about myself then We went to the neighbors Amy for a home cooked meal. The three of us sat around and laughed and joked and truly enjoyed each others company as if we were old friends but this was better then that it was unfettered compasion and friendship.....again my circle of life increased. His life covered things like time as a pre med student and possibly as a college basketball star to talk of our kids and really it was so nice to learn about others and not talk about myself. I found a joy in that I had never noticed before.
I left and went into Mobile Alabama and met another amazing person Ellen a warm showers host. When I got there she took me to the Greek festival in Mobile and well a rather big deal. Again we enjoyed each others company and again it was nice to increase my circle of life. The next day we went to the Gulf shore project to help with bikes for underprivledged people and met a group of great people doing great things for others and well it was nice to be a part of that if only for a bit. Afterwards Ellen took me to the WORLD FAMOUS WENTZELLS OYSTER HOUSE. Let me just say there is a reason it is world famous it was totally awesome.
The next day i had to leave and Ellen while she wanted me to stay and yes in many of these places I would love to stay it is just not part of this journey to stay for any long period of time. I have a daughter to return to a goal to achieve and well more of a circle of life to grow. So yes I miss the dogs cats birds and my friend but I had to keep moving.
After leaving Ellens I called another RV park and I talked with a MR. Presley yes a relation to Elvis. He told me to come on by he was going to take me in for a night. I did just that and boy was I treated good. Everyone I have met from my HS friends to the people along the road have shown me just how good people truly are just how caring people really are. Well Mr Presley put me up in a RV, Fed me like a champ some real southern food and even had homemade ice cream for me......
The next morning he and I started talking over coffee and well a few hours later and after learning much about him. His passions his interests his family we parted ways finally but yet again i have a friend now well who like most I have met along the way i hope to see again. We had cars and boats and motors as a common bond and well I can talk about cars. Again another who would not let me pay for a thing....just another person willing to help out a stranger.
Thsi brings me to last night....a stay in a Bayou like a old school novel character. I sat on a pier with my nothing but the hiss of gators and the sound of frogs for the longest time just taking in the events of the last few weeks. You see October 18th was my original expiration date and well in many ways it was. That was the day the old me actually did die. And what you are all seeing unfold is a rebirth of sorts . Yes over the last 3 years I have struggled to hold onto old ways because well they are comfortable. While I know they were not right they were a part of me.....but I always knew there could be so much more to me all I had to do was not give up and to try....hell that is all any of us have to do.
I get hundreds of messages and emails and calls all saying how they have found this journey of mine inspirational and until recently I didn;t really understand just how big of a deal it was. I hear how people are trying new things going beyond their comfort zone all because a guy like me could not settle. Honestly i am blessed beyond measure just knowing I helped....so thank you for trying and thank you for sharing that with me....it is my fuel now and not the sum of my past.
Some of the other things that I have learned and I touched on this in last weeks blog but each moment is special each event in our lives sacred. Here are a few examples. When i hit my walls and needed inspiration my friend Tina would help me, When I needed a place to rest people showed up.....and I am talking strangers...When I just stopped to smell the air I noticed things I never did before.....and when a man put a gun in my face I met two lovely humans. You see that is what I am talking about when i talk about the circle of life. Ever moment leads to the next but can you appreciate the next if you dont enjoy the present. And as for the past well as much as I would love to I cant change it I cant wish a different outcome and why would I. Those events have led me to this perfect moment sitting in Mississippi typing a blog and talking about my adventure and my ever increasing circle of life......No matter what may come I have old ones as well as new people in my life and they are all great people.....blessed beyond measure all because i would not give up....
Oh one last thing a serious road lesson.....if you ever have to sit on the side of the road and eat lunch....feed the insects before you sit down. What I mean by that is off to the side put a cracker abot 2 or 3 feet from you and sprinkle some crumbs towards you. It will keep the ants and bugs off you while you eat. Flies and nats will still be there but the ants nope.....Happy trails and thank you all I am starting to get it....and I know that I am worth it.
