After returning to Quartzsite, I parked and settled into mobile home living at La Posa West (LTVA) Long -Term Visitor campground near neighbors I met the year before. As a result, I easily fell into the comfort of being with my clan of folks, who are also full-time rv’ s like me. During my travels I have connected and joined smaller clans consisting of two to five people. I found these groups often form because of common interests and the desire to belong to something greater than themselves. These groups and/or solo travelers live a laid-back stress-free lifestyle which is what drew me into this lifestyle. Furthermore, many of these folks are friendly, supportive, and helpful.
I need to mention, I have personally been on the receiving end of goodwill and kindness from many. I have also been encouraged and taught how-to resolve rv problems by clan(s) or solo travelers on various occasions. When my gray water leveler and sewage exit-joint was ripped from my chassis leaving gray water on a city road. I called a camp host couple, who I met three-weeks before from the side of the road to discuss my situation. It was the wife, who said, “Edith come to us we will figure it out.” Prior to my arrival, the host’s husband had connected with a travelling rv technician and made him aware of my roadside dilemma. Upon my arrival, the tech looked at the damage and determined what was needed to make repairs.
Although, the tech, his wife and I were strangers. Both were friendly and after a few minutes of talking the tech, his wife and I joked as if we were old friends. “Edith, we will be here to work on your rv in the morning around 9am,” the husband said. They arrived as stated with supplies to rebuild and install a new sewage joint as well as gray/black tank release handlers and charged me $50.00. However, I would have be charged $400 to $900.00 at a rv repair center for a similar repair. But the center’s employees would not have redesigned my levelers to prevent the occurrence of future problems.
Having no plans for Christmas other than working on the Family Crypt manual script gradually, the same project I worked on during Thanksgiving. Therefore, before resuming this project, I decided to dump my sewage tanks and refill my freshwater tank at the campground where my rv had been repaired. Upon entering Tumbleweed campground. I was greeted by the host. “Hi Edith, do you have any plans for today.” Nope. Other than paying you to use your dump and water stations, I replied.” Why don’t you stay and joint us for Christmas Dinner? You do not have to; I am just saying, if you want to; I will love to have you join us. Okay, I replied.
Once everything was in place. It was as if an unseen person walked to the edge of the road and said to walkers with backpacks, homeless people, and tent dwellers. “Go join them.” I observed people from all walks of life enter this campground from the street. Many were carrying everything they owned in backpacks, on bicycles, in tow carts, etc. We greeted and welcomed all newcomers. No one walked around with his/her noses held high like something stink. Everyone was at this dinner because he/she wanted to be which made this the best authentic Christmas Celebration I had ever experienced in my lifetime.
The smiles, jokes and laughter were contagious, and the food was plentiful which consisted of grilled pork, steak, and chicken. As well as a variety of casseroles (i.e. tuna, chicken, spanish rice, red beans and rice, broccoli, hamburger, veggie enchilada, taco, mixed veggies, macaroni and cheese, etc.) Also, there were a variety of desserts such as lemon cake, carrot cake, pound cake, chocolate cake, pineapple cake, no bake chocolate cookies. As well as coffee, tea, water, beer and sodas. No one present could ask for anything more. However, later that night while sitting around the barn fire with a few Tumbleweed Campground residents, it occurred to me, I did not take any pictures because I left my camera in my mobile home.
After January 2nd, I became a temporary resident of Tumbleweed RV Campground. It was during this time of dormancy and tranquility that I retrieved the manual script, “The Family Crypt” from its new storage place which was the bunkbed over the driving pit of my mobile home and worked feverishly to finish this novel by January and have it published in February 2020. As a result, the names of characters, their lifestyle, and activities in this story that I had pushed to the darkest chambers of my mind returned with the force of a flood. So, this dusty manual script entitled, “The Family Crypt” was published on February 19, 2020, seven-years after receiving the storyline prompt from my son, Keithalon (Joker) Jones. Rest in peace my son the novel is published.