Out of El Paso, Into the Wind

This has nothing to do with my trip, but
T sent me this photo of my happy girls, all grown up!!

The bus ride from El Paso to Garberville was nothing like the first trip. There were less crazy people (ok, the guy who shouted to be let out in the middle of nowhere after spending two hours spouting the occasional "15, 35, backed by 5, set off minus 2, that's right!" might have been a little whacked). There were more delays (Bus driver "I have good news and bad news, what do you want first?" Bus riders in unison - The bad news. "The a/c is down and we can switch busses. The good news, this bus has wifi and you're all settled in and we can take this bus." After sitting for 30 minutes, it didn't take a second to, again in chorus, say/yell/scream This bus! Let's go!).

There was the bus driver who, if Mario the cop was a Greyhound bus driver, it would be him. "Welcome to the Dog!" There was the Australian girl who looked exactly like Helena and was as cool as her too. There was a guy who didn't listen to the 'We'll leave you behind if you aren't back on the bus when I said to be back on the bus.' pounding on the door as we drove off into the night...and the guy who lost his computer, only for all of us to search for it (under a serious but kindly threat of being searched, with the cops called in if necessary) finally finding the case in the bathroom and the computer behind the last seat, with a guilty looking guy floating around. There was being a couple of hours late, while my son and his friend Julia waited on the sidewalk, which is the bus station in Garberville, where luckily, the bar was still open and ready to wash away bus mouth out of me.

So here I am, in a cool morning, after a good day yesterday of seeing old friends and sticking our feet in the river to freeze cool off, and setting up my tent down the path, with a zillion stars for a nightlight. The beauty is still here, life is still good.

Have a freedom's just another word Friday. Do something filtered with fun.