Green Acres Mobile Park

I pulled into Green Acres Mobile Park after all with an effort to bring no expectations, only hope that I could take a shower and do some laundry. The door to the office was locked but a sign over the doorbell said push hard. I had received instructions to leave a message both times I had called which I ignored. I was patient with the doorbell. Not long though and a woman's voice called hello from behind the mobile the office was attached to. She had to go through the back and come open the front door.

Mary, somewhere around over 80, this is her place. She bought it from a 70 year old guy some 40 years ago. "God puts us where we're supposed to be" she said while telling me this over dinner. While checking in she revealed she had worked in a sweat shop for General Electric "during the war" and was impressed that I knew something about such things. I told her I had just come from the General Patton Memorial Museum which is right on the way there from Palm Springs. We chatted for quite a while about quality, responsibility and education.

I pulled into my chosen slot, hooked up and went in search of a shower. Got called over to my neighbors instead. It's like that out here, by the way. Any reasonable plan has to allow for one or three unplanned conversations with neighbors, passers by and friends you have not met yet. Remember, most of the folks out here are old and know what is important in life. Seems the most important thing is time spent talking to other people. I'm learning.

I met Paul and Phil and their wifes. It is Phillip's 85th birthday today so everyone is going to the restaurant in town. Phil invited me and we rode in the back of the pickup truck so there would be room for the women. I could just as well have walked and got there about the same time, "town" is that big and that far away. Good hand made fresh food. I ordered a swiss bull with fries and a side salad with blue cheese and did not have to clarify swiss bull. That is always a good sign. And a root beer in a bottle. Mary had a card but there was no cake so I asked one of the proprietors if they had any birthday candles and they assured me they did so I asked for one candle and a snickers bar on a plate brought to the table. Town is that big and that far away so they know this guy and jump right in on the idea. Nice. Everybody sings and all not on a diet have a piece of "cake."

The shower was warm, not hot and in the ladies room. I guess the men's room is being remodeled.

"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction." -- Any Cowboy with any sense