Housing hype and other personal matters

.....thank you GOD for the vision you have entrusted to me. jdc

In September of 2001 an elegant old lady entered my life. At one time she was the best of the best but she had been neglected and become unappealing to just about everybody. Then I happened along, saw the beauty still there and she became a new lover. All 8' X 32' of her.  A 1982 Holiday Rambler Imperial Motor Home. Her engine ran rough. The generator didn't work. She was dirty, both in and out. Only one of the A/C units worked. With no brakes to speak of. The salesman thought I was nuts. In fact he tried hard to get me to look at other units but I had found my love and nothing would change my mind. My soon to be ex-wife rolled her eyes, crossed her arms over her chest and just stared, anger writen all over her countenence. What the hell did I care? In a few weeks she would be an ex wife with no position in my life anymore.

The engine was tuned up. Oil got changed. Brakes were repaired. The generator (though difficult) worked at last. All the water tanks held up with no leaks. It even had central heating.

I polished and scrubbed from one end to the other, from wheels to roof, and side to side. Obviously, she was not new in the sense of being Brand New. However she shone, and ran, and kept me cool or warm as weather dictated. I named her "LeBarge."

We traveled some. Farthest we got was North Carolina. She would start and idle proudly waiting to get on the road. She ran better than might be expected of a slightly tired coach. Then we would stop, set up camp and stay in one spot for weeks at a time.

My traveling companions were one large gray cat named Caht. And Ally, a german shepherd who adopted me at a shelter in central Florida. After several months Ally left us to live with a family who had a male shepherd. If she remained as happy as she was when introduced to her new friend she has had a good life.

When I returned to Jacksonville and the park I considered home base LeBarge got a favored spot and was set up to stay for how ever long. I had no idea how long that might be. At the last, I moved out and on to an apartment home. LeBarge stayed for another year, a/c and water hooked up. Used mainly as a storage room.

Having sat so long when it came time to move her I needed a wrecker to do the job. Once again she required a mechanic to bring her back to life. I got lucky. A family came along and bought her for the exact amount paid in the first place. Not a bad deal after Three years of use.

LeBarge is a fond memory. I think of Ally every once in a while and Caht has passed. More than anything else in my life his passing left a huge hole in my heart. He's out in the back yard, buried under a cactus plant - seems sort of appropriate for his demeanor.

Today is Veterans Day, 2009. Hug a Vet. Say Thank You. Mourn your loses if you have any. Celebrate your freedom, of which there is no doubt. Be proud of our country and grateful to those who keep us free. jdc