100 Shades of Grey

Humans are driven by our inherent need to belong. Contrary to popular belief, it is not bacon. 

Although, I could probably dangle bacon and get anyone to garden with me...even those that view gardening is for weenies might track bacon to do it.

There are very few true hermits. Most everyone longs to be next to people or included. In fact, studies have shown that babies fail to thrive without human touch and nurturing. I was a baby once. Ok. I just graduated into adolescence yesterday, but hey, we all come from the same start.

Some join clubs. Some play basketball. Some join gangs. Some go in the military. Some need to be next to family. Of course, amongst "families", there is The Mafia.

Some just need to find that place that makes them happy.

There is all that.

There is also finding where YOU belong, where I belong.

The Harry Potter house is slowly feeling like my home and I feel someday I will belong here. However, I will always have one foot rooted in Wyoming.

"Bloom where you are planted," is something I was told long ago by a wise man...not one that delivered incense to Baby Jesus, but someone who always gave me words I heard but didn't understand until I was older, if you can comprehend that.

I miss Wyoming. I knew that would happen and I expected it. I miss it in a way, however, that isn't drawing me back to live there, just a heartfelt tug of the familiar. I don't miss the wind, although a gentle breeze here makes me smile and think of the wild west. And when I hear the Meadowlarks, I feel good and I know things are going to be alright because they followed me here. Well, not really, but it is my story, not yours. Let me tell it.

It's hard to believe I've been telling my stories over the Internet since 2009. That's a lot of dog years. It's also funny to believe a cop would actually meet several bloggers, or even think about it. We are usually the type to sneak and hide behind the monitor, afraid of our identity, afraid that our Freedom of Speech really isn't free.

I jumped out of that shell a few years ago and took a leap of faith. I met some of the bloggers I had followed or had followed me for years and while they were passing through...or I was passing through...we met face to face. I do have to say every one of them has been a true, genuine person, free of psychotic meltdowns, whom I have had great fun and long lasting friendships with. Not one of them, thus far (disclaimer added here) has been a wack job that I would run from like the Zombie Apocalypse.

Two of my greats...Bill and Juanita of Allenspark Lodge came to visit me at the Harry Potter House just recently...like yesterday. Yeah...like they traveled MILES...for me.

Can you believe it's true? Since the first time I met them...and now I believe it's been over 3 years ago...they felt like family and welcomed me to their home where I also met the great GunDiva.

I can't tell you how exciting it was to see someone familiar, other than the local post office master and the gas station clerk. I mean the kind of familiar you hang your heart on. When I first went to their lodge in Colorado, it felt like I had known them for years. It still feels like that.

They drove 26 hours in a deadly snow storm and arrived here exhausted, yet full of smiles. Although it was imitating Seattle here... rain, snow, ice storms, rain, rain, sleet, rain-a hundred shades of grey and I'm talking about the sky...we did get out and do some little exploring. It wasn't near what I would have liked to have shown them.

Sometime when they come again, we will see more. That wasn't the point of the trip. I know they drove here to check on me to make sure I was OK. That meant more to me than I can ever express to them. Not only was their visit superfantabulous, but Juanita cooked her wonderful food and Bill fixed things around the house. They didn't know, but I was close to tears at times. Giving, generous people.

If you haven't stayed at their lodge...you are slow....not as in late for the party-slow, but dumb-slow. It's like a spa mini-vacation at home.

The Colorado pair also got me hooked on...drum roll... The Walking Dead...dammit.

Can you believe two mountain people like that show? Well, if they did, I should at least try it, right? The first episode was OK and I rather enjoyed it. Dang, it if I didn't like it enough to watch another and now I am watching the last series to catch up to the current one.

Pretty soon it had taken over me like a phenomenon.

One more thing to be addicted to...at least I can record it and watch it when I have time.

When I introduced them to a Duck Dynasty marathon...the gesture was well received in thought.

Nothing like living the reality of the Zombie Apocalypse. It was like they were possums in the house...being quiet as to deter the walkers from finding out their location. Next thing you know, they will be falling asleep at some stranger's house or something...