My creative life as a vagabond: December 2020

Hi All,

I was in Apache Junction, AZ last time I wrote.

I left there on November 17, and headed toward Tucson. First, I stayed at a desert ranch with a very nice woman named Laura and her three dogs and three horses. The area was experiencing a 90 degree heatwave during the three days I stayed. Phew! I kept checking the sun's location because I knew it would cool down considerably once it slipped behind the mountains.

Then I stayed at someone's place in Saguaro National Park area, in Tucson. It was kind of a strange place, and I was unfortunately feeling quite unwell there. The people were nice enough though. The woman who owns the place had spots on the property for several RVs and her own, which she travels in quite frequently.

My arrival there was nothing short of exasperating, but kind of funny now I guess. As I was trying to find her place via Google GPS, I was led down this dirt road that grew more and more narrow, and then became so washed out it was impassible. I turned off the RV, and stepped out with my phone in hand to call her. In so doing, I stepped right into some species of low-to-the-ground cactus plant that had grown onto the road. Many spherical sections of it stuck to my foot. I was wearing flip flops. After a few swear words, I attempted to pull one off. I pulled it off, but it stuck to my hand. Now I was down a left foot and a right hand and didn't know where I was. Not a happy camper. I used my left hand to call the woman. I told her the situation (cactus, lost). She wanted to know where I was. I described my surroundings, and how I think I ended up there. Eventually she drove out and we found each other. My hubcap had also rolled off during this excursion. Thankfully I heard it and pulled over to get it and put it inside the RV.😟

I followed her to her back to her property, She got some pliers and pulled all of the cacti pieces out of my foot. I was close to tears and ever so grateful for her help with that. It's probably a regular occurrence around here, but it was my first.

I ended up staying there for five days. It was two days longer than planned, because the slide out on the RV got stuck in the OUT position so I couldn't drive away. Of course it was the weekend, so I had to wait it out until Monday for someone to come look at it. Someone did, and we got it back in, but a nut inside the front arm needs to be replaced for it to operate properly. I still haven't invested the money for that and have just been living without opening the room up.

It was a difficult time for me there. I was experiencing a physical health issue, and then depression and anxiety began. The problem with the slide out just added to the pile of things happening with Aretha. I left there and stayed at an RV park in Benson (south east of Tucson) for Thanksgiving week. It was a quiet place with nothing nearby and little going on. The mental troubles were continuing and increasing. A nice family I met in the laundry room invited me to share in their Thanksgiving meal at their picnic table. That was honestly the highlight of my week.

I got out of there earlier than planned because it felt too depressing for me. I was planning to meet up with my friend Keith Williams in Quartzsite in another week, which I was really looking forward to. I drove north the 5 or 6 hours it took me to get to a park near our meeting place to wait out the time.

We met in Quartzsite and it was a really emotional moment when I saw my old friend from home. We spent the following week hanging out on public lands there. We went to Lake Havasu and saw the London Bridge that was transported there stone by stone in 1968. That was cool.

I was really glad to spend time with Keith, but I also knew I had to look at what was happening inside of me with this continuing lost, lonely, depressed, and anxious state that had been, and continued to, follow me for weeks.

The vast stark beauty and interesting landscape over here certainly holds a haunting kind of mystery. I am often awestruck by it. The simplicity of the sunrise and the incredible colors in the sunsets over the ancient monolithic rocks (monuments) are stunning and powerful to see.

Although I'm sure I don't know the extent of it yet, I believe I've come over here to learn something much bigger than myself.

I've written another song, and continue to work on designs for the drink coasters. (Note: They are no longer found at Stowe Kitchen, Bath, and Linens, but are now for sale at Stowe Beverage in Stowe, VT) A long term writing project will also be revealed here sometime this year.

I'm going to end this post for today. I'll return again soon.

Sending much love to my people who have loved and supported me through these difficult times.

Happy holidays everyone!

Stay safe.