Chapter One: What????

Chapter 1-What??????

Okay-I want to start this blog at the beginning, almost a year ago, when my husband of 24 years told me he wasn't sure if he loved me anymore. Hey...it happens to the best of us. I had never had a broken heart before, maybe no life is complete without one.

I bought a used car last year-turns out it is my perfect car/home. I call it the Blue Whale, because it's roomy, I feel safe sleeping in it, and it's almost always moving these days. I recommend a car big enough to sleep in for every woman. The freedom of pulling into a campground, or a supermarket parking lot and being able to snuggle up without paying a lot of money, without setting up a tent, without lugging around a giant motor home is a great feeling. (The tinted windows help too!). Also, a little later, I discover that the Blue Whale can also be very romantic. Actually, romantic is not the right word. Let's say incredibly hot and steamy. More later. Sorry.

So...after the "not sure if I'm loved" revelation, I looked out at my Blue Whale from my laundry room window, (I'm pretty sure it looked back at me knowingly), and we started a new phase of life together. I made some screens using  magnetic tape, and am able to roll my windows down. I borrowed a small foam mattress from a friend (hope she doesn't want it back anytime soon...), and for extra comfort, an ugly but cheap lawn chair mattress to go on top. I lay my sleeping bag, (given to me by a young german/russian man who stayed with us last winter) reverently on top of this princess and the pea style setup. Beside my bed area, on the folded down seats, is arranged my gigantic red suitcase, my plastic bin with cutlery, bowls, bear spray, pepper spray, a loud whistle, and a swiss army knife. No, I'm not paranoid, really.

My Blue Whale was now becoming like a ship...everything had a place. Beloved books under the passenger front seat, cd's under the driver's. maps in the back seat pocket, flashlights and batteries in the other. In the days, months (years?) to come-I loved feeling slightly organized in a disorganized life. When I lay me down at night, in an unknown campsite, I hung my flashlight from the ceiling with a bungee cord, put the pepper spray within reach, as well as my homeopathic sleeping tablets. (After all, If I have to spray someone/something at a moments notice, I'd like to be able to get back to sleep afterwards.) I rolled my window down a max of 6 inches on the suitcase side of the room (yes, room!) so that a big, muscular, hairy arm couldn't reach me as it reached blindly in from the depths of the deep dark forest).  My flip flops were positioned perfectly, facing away from the car, to facilitate my middle of the night toilet trips. Note to self: Plan where these trips will be beforehand. Neighbouring RV's don't like puddles on their front steps

next up....It's all about the Coffee!!!