How Strangers Become Friends For Life (#242)

Early morning found me up on the roof of my RV.  Hose in hand, I was clearing off the Spanish Moss and twigs before spraying down the rest of my home on wheels.

A little brown lizard scurried out from under the antenna ahead of the nozzle spray.  It disappeared into the air conditioner cover; not to appear again.  I guess I’ll have a guest going north with me.  My month long stay in Georgia is ending.  I’ll miss my friends here: people and animals.

Among the animals at Big Wheel RV is my favorite Jasmine, an English Bulldog who once protected me from a wild and ferocious UPS truck.  I was riding my bike on the entrance road when a UPS delivery truck turned off the highway and came up behind me.  Jasmine planted her big barrel chest right in front of that truck, barking up a storm.  She wouldn’t move until she saw I was safely off to the side.  What a dog!

 

Jasmine, a big sweetheart, even with a protruding lower jaw (she’s actually smiling here)

 

Sammy, the cat used to swat his paw at me from a table in the clubhouse when I’d go in there mornings.  Thinking he was just playing with me, I’d just swat back.  That would go on for a while.  He’d meow loudly, we’d spar, then I’d leave.   What fun!  Turns out he was trying to get my attention so I’d feed him.   After that realization, no more sparring.  I’d  get his kitty food canister and fill his food dish.   I missed what I thought was a game.  Sometimes being ignorant of someone’s wishes can be fun.

 

Sammy Cat, my sparring partner

 

There’s a handful of free range chickens here that go on bug patrol daily.  There’s Camilla, Henry John, Tootsie, and Fred.  I didn’t name the younger ones.  They all stick together like a little herd, er, flock.  Sometimes settling down near me under a palm for a late morning siesta.

 

Men chicks and Chick chicks – Siesta Time!

 

I’ve met and enjoyed friendships with so many friendly and big-hearted folks staying here at Big Wheel from all over the continent: Nova Scotia, West Virginia, California, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, Ontario, Montana and Minnesota.  One way or another they found their way to this little haven in St Marys woods and spend their winters.

We’d have Sunday potluck dinners, play card games and tell stories.  One couple, Ruth and Jim, invited me along on a day trip to visit Jekyll Island.  While there we had lunch at Crane Cottage in celebration of their 51st wedding anniversary.  The waitress brought  complimentary glasses of champagne saying Anyone who stays married that long deserves free champagne!  

After just a month here, it’s wild and crazy to become so attached to a place and its people…and animals.  They took me into their hearts and treated me like a long-lost friend.  I will miss them all and know they’ll be with me in spirit when I go.

 

Love,

Annie

 

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