Day 11: A new boondocking trend

This morning was warm and sunny, the first time since leaving NH I didn’t need a coat. It was 11/11 and I had left at 11:11 on 11/1 so it was feeling special as I began my 108-mile run to a Cracker Barrel on what will be the last warm day/night for a while. I was enjoying the ride until the steering wheel began fighting me. I tried to pretend nothing was wrong, asking Karma not to play games with me. On one 90-degree left turn on a downhill with no margin for error, my right shoulder’s rotator cuff could not ignore it  – my power steering had lost its power. I thought I could make it to the next town, just three or so miles away over the border into VA, but when I saw a rotary ahead, I decided to play it safe, pulled over and began calling repair facilities. Someone finally agreed to look at it gave me directions that had be doubling back seven miles to Fredrick MD. I made it about two miles and poor Pyewacket was stressing because I hadn’t allowed him in my clothes closet before we left, sending him to another of his hiding places. I stopped to correct that problem and beg his forgiveness, then got back in the driver’s seat and turned the key. The air brake beeper came on. It should not have. It wouldn’t go off. One minute. Three minutes. The needle would not move so I called back and he said he’d come get me for $800. I called AAA instead. 

Skipping details, someone figured out exactly where I was and I got towed to a service center that can handle anything that might be wrong with the bus. Tomorrow. But a quick inspection before they left turned up fluid dripping, a dead battery (from leaving the flashers on for 45 minutes … which really shouldn’t have killed it, I wouldn’t think), a probable air leak that will be hard to find, and one of four bolts missing from the drive shaft, which, I was told, was a disaster just waiting to happen. The owner was nice enough to plug me in so I could stay on the bus with Pye tonight. (So let me give them a plug: Mark Equipment Services Inc. in Frederick MD. Tell them the old lady with the purple hair and the white bus sent you.) 

After an absolutely magical witchy night last night, my muggle eyes saw today turn to crap. But when I began to count my blessings, more and more bubbled up. I was in daylight. I was not hurt. I didn’t drive Karma into anything. I had a charged cell phone with bars. AAA said they’d be there in 30 minutes to tow me. How quickly the magic hareturned. I could go to the bathroom! I could get a protein bar and refill my water bottle. The help I needed was on the way. (I’m sure you don’t mind I’m leaving out a lot of details so we can get to the two best parts.)

First is I think I’ve started a new boondocking trend! Forget Walmarts (most of which are not allowing overnight parking anymore), national forests, truck stops and welcome centers. Spend your days and nights at a service center. It’s the second time I’m doing it in less than a week. Once again I am in a safe yard on a busy street with lots of lighting … and here there’s also cameras. I was given electricity and allowed to say on the bus with Pye. Many hands will be here in the morning to tackle the problems. I found enough in fridge to make dinner and plenty of ibuprofen to help my shoulder. I washed the dishes while a pot of tea steeped. 

Now I am sitting here, sipping my first mug of Hecate’s Brew that I purchased at a pagan fair last month. It’s an organic tea made of spearmint, dandelion, cardamom, black tea, cronewort and “Old World Magic & Love” by Branwen’s Dreams. What more could a bad ass crone want? Chocolate, of course! I count among today’s blessings a container of fudge I had picked up along the way and had been saving for a special treat. As every witch knows, chocolate is pure magic. This one came with it’s own little spoon inside. It’s nearly orgasmic.

The me of a year ago, the me of five months ago, of a month ago would have handled all this differently. If you don’t believe me, ask Janet and Susan and Monica. I don’t feel like I’m being punished or hurt or mocked by the universe. I don’t feel threatened or afraid or angry. Somewhere I wrote (perhaps just in my journal) I had finally come to realize why I was not able to begin my life on the road until November 1. It wasn’t the inspection sticker … it was that the old me living my old life had to die on Samhain so the new me living my new life could be born. I just knew it then, but now I can feel it. Oh, yes, I still get stressed that my water lines might freeze before I get to warm weather, and anxious when I don’t know where I’ll sleep the next night, but at least I’m no longer trying to plan my life a week in advance. Something did change as the wheel turned, and it has filled me with with so much magic and joy, my eyes are actually tearing up.