A KISS FOR ROSIE

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WHAT I JUST DID.  I bought 2 paintbrushes in a hardware store--said thank you and goodbye---turned to go.  But then I stopped---some mysterious impulse turned me  around.  I looked into the lady's eyes,moved closer took her head in my hands---AND KISSED HER GENTLY ON THE LIPS.  She stood speechless for a moment, glanced left and right, saw there was no one else in the store--put her arms around me and kissed me again with some passion. Then we both smiled---knowing it was the right thing to do.  The Gods  had inspired us both to share a deeper moment of intimacy.

THIS IS A TRUE STORY AND IT HAS ROOTS-- SIX YEARS DEEP.  HAVE A LOOK:  http://mobilecodgers.blogspot.com/2011/04/delta-dawn-with-difference.html.  Please note the last two lines I wrote.

One of her buildings serves as storage space for her motel.

I watched her relate with townfolk--they seemed to hold her in reverance.  She was sweet and gentle to all.

I watched a few business transactions.  They call her Rosie--she called them by their first name.

Right there is where I kissed her. She gave me permission to share this story with you.

As I left she smiled and said playfully: "please come again."

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  "There is a time for every purpose under heaven." (Eccleastes) This was the time for this man to kiss this lady.  I felt it strongly and I did it--hoped for the best.  It was the kiss of KOKOPELLI for Indian maidens.  It was the kiss the lady gave to the grocery boy in the SUMMER OF 42.  It was the farewell kiss given to the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.  It wasn't Romantic. Perhaps it was a wake up kiss--like that of a prince who encounters a sleeping princess.  I wished to wake her up to a new dimention of life. I see sleeping princesses everywhere.  This lady has not had a kiss in 20 years.

 I think every one of us (male and female) can be a prince on occasion.

I see sleeping princesses wherever I go--in need of an awakening kiss from an (appropriate) prince at an (appropriate) time.
THE WORLD IS STARVED FOR INTIMACY--IN ALL ITS COLORFUL FORMS---SPEECH, ACTION, ART.  I MAKE IT MY BUSINESS TO BE PERSONAL WITH EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO MY LIFE.

DISCOVERING MY DAUGHTER

SHE'S 25 YEARS OLD AND I'M SEEING HER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HOW DO I FEEL? Here's how our first moments together went. (for the benefit of you, my readers, I almost always carry a camera with me) SO HOW DO I FEEL?

Absolutely wonderful.  I love her at first sight. She sits on my couch and smiles for the first time at her biological father. We've been chatting for weeks and are quite comfortable with each other.  She's hungry.  I tell her I can make pancakes in less than 3 minutes.  She doesn't believe me---looks at my clock and says "go".

She is amazed-- records my speedy kitchen shuffle on her cell phone.

DONE!!---in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. I think I've impressed her-- and I record the moment of triumph for you.

We spend the whole day together: A trip to Ft Bliss Museum--

Shopping at the PX.

Sunday, I took her to a Unitarian church. (We arrived early)

On another day she and her husband James took me to a hocky game.

My first!  Jeez--what a rush--what a clash of wills--saw a player knocked out cold--they hauled him off the ice and continued with a replacement..  

On another day, her mother Judith arrives--still lovely.  It's been 25 years--of course we have much to discuss.

Here she was then--a quintesential Mexican beauty.

Dont be judgy of me--You couldn't have resisted her either.  Of course I was swept away--like the cowboy in Marty Robbins song "EL PASO".

They all came to see me in my American Legion campsite.

Bringing photos showing me what I missed.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I BEGAN TO CRY--HALF REGRET AT WHAT I MISSED,  HALF JOY THAT I HAVE A SECOND CHANCE to participate in her life.

In a private moment I said to her mother: Can you forgive me? She said "of course!   You didn't know!  Let's move forward!"  HOW VERY KIND---I promised to be the best Johnny-come-lately father in the world.

GOING TO SEE MY DAUGHTER

YES, I HAVE A DAUGHTER---I'VE KNOWN IT FOR SOME MONTHS NOW.
BUT I'VE NOT SEEN HER IN THE FLESH.
SHE'S 500 MILES AWAY IN EL PASO, TX.
AND NOW I WILL GO SEE HER--AND TAKE YOU WITH ME.

I begin in Yuma, Az where I've been wintering.

This draatic sculpture atop Yuma's tallest hill.... 

overlooks the Paradise Casino and it's welcoming parking lot.

That's about 50 of us down there in our cozy rigs--camping free of charge--seeming indefinitely--in this most convenient spot, within walking distance of Old Town Yuma.

I leave--drive a hundred miles--pull off the interstate onto this side road at the eastern fringe of Gila Bend, Az and find this nice spot to camp.  How wonderful that the West has millions of these little nooks to camp free in.

Next morning I walk a hundred yards to see this historic stretch of road used by the BUTTERFIELD 

OVERLAND MAIL TRAIL.  Read the story here

Read the story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfield_Overland_Mail

Butterfield was declared a genius at organization.  Imagine all those stage stations, mules, personnel etc.  He got it done!

Moved on through Tucson to this odd place.  I've been here before but now I'm ready to spend the night with the THING. What will surprise you is the more than a hundred billboards that advertise this place.  The price of admission is only a dollar--it makes no economic sense.  Can anyone explain it to me?

I paid the dolar fee and made my way through these odd exhibits

of oddly shaped pieces of wood

and mildly interesting display cases.

Till you end up at the THING.  It's inside there.  

I won't show it to you---pay your dollar and have a look.

I charmingly requested and received permission to spend the night in their parking lot.

What is charm? Display of the free child ego state within you.

And this was my view.

Moving on next day---got sleepy---napped in the small town of Bowie, Az in a vacant lot.  

Then I walked the town.  These roosters and hens followed me a bit.

And this horse came over to ask for some grass and some love.  I gave both.

Spent a rainy night parked in the Lordsberg, NM welcome center then moved on to Deming, NM.

Remembering a post I made on this town: http://mobilecodgers.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-find-bottom-of-city.html I decided to return to its bottom and note any changes. Here's one of the two tent camps that I found.

Here's the other.  No one home.  I waited awhile.

And surprise! A lady came home--I surreptitiously watched her climb into her tent.  No sign of a guy.

The hole where a guy was escaping cold winds was filled in.

Moved on to Mesilla,NM.  Me and Billy the Kid spent the night here. (he was in the nearby jail)  I stayed  at Walmart with several other rigs. (they left early)

Then on to EL Paso.  See those houses?  They're in Mexico.

I settled in the parking lot of the American Legion--post 58.  (I had made arrangements in advance)

I share this convenient spot with  retired  equipment of a carnival show.

AND THEN!  AND THEN---MY DAUGHTER DROVE UP.  This shot marks the very first instant I ever laid eyes on her. I will pick up the story from here in a day or so.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  NOTE THAT IT TOOK ME 4 DAYS TO DRIVE 500 MILES.  That is the way I travel and I recommend it to you.  Marathon drives usually denote a beginner.  Rich fullness of being is rich fullness of experiences.