Today was wild!

Well, I suppose every adventure has to have a wild side to it. Today was surely that. It started out beautifully, but we soon hit a lot of wind in Wyoming. It was so windy that I-80 was closed to campers weighing less than 20,000 pounds. We are fortunate that we have an RV and it actually does weigh more than 20,000 pounds when loaded so we were OK. But the wind was wicked and I had to drive slower than I hoped. But Tranquility held her own and we did fine. The fiasco started when we arrived at our campsite.

Oh my, I’m not sure where they got the photographs that they posted on their website, but it certainly was not where we ended up. We pulled into a place that first of all was bug ridden. We couldn’t get out of the vehicles without being attacked. Trash and falling down roofs on mobile homes dotted the area. Many repairs were needed just about everywhere we looked. Secondly, trying to find the office was an ordeal because we had to go past many trailers until we found it. No one answered the doorbell so I called her on the phone. “Yes,” the lady said “I’ll be right there.” She came and showed us the place. “Where are the hook ups?” I asked her. “Well,” she said, “It might be a little bit of problem getting electricity. You see we have to call the electric company and it’s July 4 and I’m not sure there’s gonna be any body there to give you electricity.” “Where are the Sewer hook ups?” “Oh, we don’t really have any of those.” I looked at her and said, “So I don’t get a full 30/50 amp and Sewer hook up like I paid for online?” She shook her head and I said. “I don’t really think this meets my needs.” “OK,” she said “I’ll refund your money.

Well, that would’ve been well and good if that is all that happened but backing out I hit a post. I didn’t do any damage to the RV and DARYL was able to put the post back up but it still made me feel a little foolish. The roads were so rough going in and the potholes so deep that when we went to use the toilet in the RV, we discovered the bathroom shelf completely fell off the wall and crashed onto the sink. The most amazing thing is that the mirrors, the lightbulbs and none of the toiletries were broken, we now just have holes in the walls. DARYL and I managed to detach the electrical component and get the cabinet off the counter and now we have to put it somewhere until we are home! We definitely do not have the tools required to put it back up on this trip.

”So where to now?” DARYL asked. “Let me see if there’s a hotel anywhere nearby.” Sure enough we found a Fairfield Inn a mile and a half away. Due to our elite status because of our daughter’s employment by Marriott, we got an unbelievable rate. The rate was actually $15 cheaper than the RV park would’ve been and it includes a cooked free breakfast. So you might say the Saints are looking after us after all.

A clean bed, no bugs, and plumbing that works. How marvelous is that!

We had leftovers for dinner in our quiet room and are settling in for a good nights rest. We need it after all those shenanigans.

We were sad to hear that our dear friend John David Wissler passed away. He is a phenomenal artist and we have two of his lovely paintings. He did a painting for DARYL of the area where we stayed when we used to vacation at the beach together. We are going to really miss him. He was only 62 years old and died suddenly.

So as I reflect on the events of the day, I still feel blessed. I’m deeply loved and able to laugh when tough things come our way.

I have been planning to remodel the RV in my retirement and so now the bathroom will get an earlier remodel than I anticipated.

You know the saying, ‘when life gives you lemons, makes lemonade.’ I often say to DARYL, “well if we did that, we’d have a pool of lemonade by now.”

But my blessedness is that I have somebody with whom to make lemonade, go with me on the road unknown, and find joy all along the way!

So what is my blessing for you today on this July 4? It is that you will revel in the things that bring you happiness. I pray that you will not let the frustrations of politics weigh you down. Today I met exceptionally kind people, and that is my America. Together with gracious hearts and generous spirits, we will build a stronger country that welcomes all people and creates a just world for all.

I will close with the benediction song that Daryl wrote. May God be gracious unto us, and love us and bless and may God‘s face shine on us, amen. Luv you all, Bonnie Lee