Stories to tell and memories to treasure

Lake Ouachita, Arkansas. Thank you Lee for sharing this photo of our private swimming hole.

Any trip is much longer than the time spent door-to-door. Trips begin the day the idea pops into my head. It really is like a little spark. My imagination fuels the flames of a tiny inspiration, until, days, weeks, months – even years later, reservations are made, tickets are purchased, and bags are packed. 

Back home with Buddha. He seems to like the crystal cluster I brought him.

Then, each excursion is filled with the unexpected: meeting a fun stranger, being served an exceptionally good meal, or turning down a road to discover a nutmeg-colored crescent moon, floating above the treetops. 

On this trip, I'm trying something new – traveling with a stranger. Lee and I met for a few moments when he rented my house last year, and we've stayed in touch, commenting on facebook posts, dropping notes. We went from messaging to spending a week together in a car. We crossed state lines and stayed in a remote mountain cabin. And look! I'm here to tell the story. Lee did not turn out to be an axe-murderer; and I'm sure his family is equally as relieved to discover the same about me. 

Shooting a Mississippi traffic jam from the passenger seat

Lee likes to do all the driving. After watching his skill for a few miles, it doesn't seem like a bad idea to turn the wheel over to him. Riding in the passenger seat allows me to Google, Instagram, check my facebook, text, and take pictures til my hear's' content. Traveling with a stranger also provides the opportunity for storytelling. My captive audience had never heard any of my Swear-to-You True Tales.

Imagine my surprise, finding this on the internet, so many years later.

And so began the tale of Darryl and the calendar.

My Beloved Darryl owned White Rose Printing in York, PA. Every year, the company created a calendar to give customers. Each year, the calendar featured a different local artist. Now my sweet Darryl was a big ol' biker dude, a Marine, and Vietnam vet. He was also a great big softie who loved his 6 pound mutt and slept with that dog on his chest.

One day, traveling down the winding country roads, Darryl came across a puppy in the middle of the road. Just sitting there, on the double yellow line. It was a miracle this little thing had not been struck by a car.  Darryl pulled his bike over to the side of the road, got off, and scooped up that little pup. 

That year, the calendar artist, Daniel Vong, created an image depicting that story. Darryl was Mr. March.

True story. He's even wearing cowboy boots, just like Darryl.

So, of course I start googling away. Within moments I had located Daniel Vong and a website with his portfolio. Imagine how stunned I was to see the very image I had been talking about. Tears started sprouting from my eyes like a backyard sprinkler.

Thanks to Lee for listening to my stories and providing some all-American tales of is own: hurricanes, lost loves, convertibles and college-town parades. I returned Lee to his very stylish loft and began my own trip home.

And then I walked in the door. 

G had timed his visit to arrive at the house before me and left me a Welcome Home/Father's Day present. He's the best.

Special treats and a practical bonus.

I'm on the back porch now, feet propped up, reflecting on my trip and the parts I enjoyed most. Taking an impromptu dip in a warm, nearly uninhabited lake was a refreshing surprise. Meeting many interesting new people, even if only for a few moments is always a blessing. I brought home a few rocks and a new piece of pottery. Mostly, I brought home more memories to add to the book that is my spectacular life.