As
I said in my talk to the class, almost everyone answered the same
when asked "What's been your favorite thing about fulltiming
so far?" What I heard most of all was "The People!"
Tab
became the main organizer for the group and I had such fun finally
meeting him and his wife, Deanna.
Tony
(Firedude) worried about me traveling solo, so he gave me this "firedude"
for company. I promptly put a big "5150" number on his helmet.
"FD code for "nut case."
I'd
often enjoyed Bon Bunge's website "HitchItch"
and Don Bradner's expertise on DataStorm
Users Forum, so it was a special treat to finally get to meet
them. The beautiful turquoise necklace I am wearing was a gift made
by Ron's partner, Terry, who took this pic. I just loved being surrounded
by all these great guys!
I
can honestly say it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I wouldn't
have missed for the world.
By
the time the sun set on my stay in the desert, I more than ever appreciated
the motto of the class: "Life is not a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved
body, but rather sliding in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally
worn out and proclaiming, 'Wow, what a ride!'" Amen!
This
truth was even more meaningful and poignant when after the rally we
learned that one of the early members of the class, Kathy
Wells (Silver-Twinkie) had died before she could fulfill this
dream of hers. We were all shocked and saddened when Mickey
Ivey passed away unexpectedly before the year was up. Godspeed,
our friends - we'll see you down the road!