It’s been a little over a week since we’ve left Montana. All of Wyoming was already cold and I had some people I wanted to visit in Denver. The kids didn’t like the long drives. In Denver, I went to our friend Alex and her son Ali. They had lots of toys and fed us some good food. We parked near her over night and visited a little longer the following day. We also had a visit with Amy whom we met 3 years ago in North Dakota. Driving around Denver is super anxiety enducing to me, so once we got on the High way we just got out of town and stayed in the Home Depot lot in Castle Rock.
The next day was laundry day and some playground/hiking time. Then we drove a little bit.
Colorado is Mountainous. It doesn’t take much brain to know that the cold front is looming here, here too. Tonight is supposed to get down to 26*F. which I knew was going to happen…. Keeping eyes on the weather forecast.
So, yesterday at a playground, a nice bus guy had a drill and bit to maybe get my propane system fixed up. I SHOULD do that right now….. while I still have light. *** I did it! I undid the old propane hose, taped the new ones on the spots where they run into the bus, teflon taped the connection pieces and then had to clean the pilot light on the heater buddy, but the stove works and the heater works! YAY!!
Anyway, back to yesterday, because it was a beautiful day. Besides the help I got with the hole, I also met some fantastic people. A guy who moved to Pueblo from Michigan gave me a super long board, a lady with a cute one eyed dog, and a Mama and her 7 year old daughter from Great Falls Montana, stranded at the Walmart trying to get back to their broken down van at the shop. Obviously, we gave them a ride. It made it a late night for the kids, but it’s worth it. They had already waited for their ride for hours and they never showed up. It was clear into the middle of town, so not like a walk, especially in a town you’re unfamiliar with.
So, I’d thought that maybe we’d just go through Nebraska and Oklahoma and go east, but in Denver the kids and I discussed the logistics. Staying south bound means we may be in albuquerque for Halloween where we know some people that we could hang out with and have a little celebration. From there we may go east through Santa Rosa, although I would love to go through Truth or Consequences and see some awesome people.
So here we sit in Trinidad, last Colorado stop. I pulled into Walmart here thinking of maybe waiting out the wind a little. A colorful van seemed familiar though and I parked close by, not like so close that we look like the same party or I just hop on their rest spot, but close enough so I could scroll my friends list and see whose van this was. I was chatting with Skunkie, sad that it wasn’t her and her son, Atreyu, when I saw Berlin walk around the van! Yay! Berlin is a wonderful lady from (you guessed it) Berlin, Germany, traveling the US with Jake (from Statefarm.) I met them a few years ago and we cross paths every so often. We hardly ever speak German, it seems she’s been here a long time. I gave her my left over potato soup and she said she’d be back to bother me later.
I’m currently very stoked for the double propane set up. It’s been a long time coming! Today was a busy day with lots of playground time and little projects being pulled together here and there. Atreyu is very upset about missing internet, but he does hug me and tell me he loves me, which is special because he is very sparing with his affection. I’ve had to tell him that I require a hug and an “I love you” at least at some point during the day. It often doesn’t arrive until late at night, so it’s extra special that I’ve already received two of each today. Maybe it’s because we’ve been pushed back together into our little home and working with each other in our chaos.
It’s gotten dark now and I need to close up the curtains to keep our lives a little private, though I doubt the kids are aware or anybody actually cares what we’re doing at this time of night. The kids ate boiled eggs for dinner with sides of raw carrots (they picked tonight. I pick sensible stuff like potato soup.) Atreyu wants hot chocolate and so that’s getting made. It may be cold tonight, but I feel super optimistic.
At any rate, I hope you have many reasons to smile!! Stay grateful! I hope you feel a bit of the giddy I have in my belly about the last few days!
Loving you
Matilda the Bugus 