Sunday and Monday unloaded trailer, rested, and went out for Mexican dinner. In Tucson, have to eat Mexican food. Tuesday, up early for 3 1/2 hour drive North to Camp Verde to see my dear friend Cathy and her son, Jake. Seemed like a long drive, up/down hill, lots of mountain curves so I was glad when I arrived. Cathy gave me the tour of the homestead. I loved her home. It felt so peaceful and every window had a pretty view of her yard. She and Jake have worked hard planting veggies and fruit trees - making it their Garden of Eden. Jake created a nice pond with a waterfall that has a nice sound as it runs over the rocks. Lots of porches and cool areas to hang out. A real zen feel to the place and I'm glad I got up for a visit. I feel they found the perfect home for their retreat.
Cathy made a wonderful dinner of steak, baked potato and stuffed mushroom. Reminded me of what a great cook she is. We had a little special treat and then went into her hot tub for a good visit and soak. For munchie snack later we had huckleberry ice cream that tasted extra good.
Next, met a fun man in his clock store. He told us if he had $1,000 for every time someone said "I remember our old cuckoo clock and don't know what happened to it" that he would be a rich man. The three of us were all originally from No. California so we must have talked for a half an hour. It was a fun visit.
Hungry at this point I treated Cathy to Mexican lunch. Oh my gosh, we found the best place and I don't think I have had a shredded beef burrito that good in 25 years.
Tired out, we headed home and Cathy got cleaned up to go for a job interview for private nursing for a baby. I drove her over there and sat in the car, temperature around 95 degrees, for about two hours waiting for her to finish. Took a little nap just in the front seat. A lady pushing a stroller with a baby came by and asked if I was OK. I said yes, fine, just waiting for my friend. I was parked in the middle to two house at the curb so as not to be right in front of someone's house. That same lady walked by a little later and we visited a couple a minutes. Then the homeowner who lived in the house at the front of my car came home from work I suppose. She just looked over a minute and then went in the house. About 20 minutes later her husband drove into the drive way and glanced over - not wanting to seem like he was interested. So I'm sitting there and I see this Sheriff car come up the hill, pass me and then it pulls in back of me. One of the officers gets out on the driver's side and cautiously approaches me. He says, "Hi, are you all right?" I said, "Yes, I'm fine, I'm waiting for my friend" and explained that Cathy was at that house over there and with HIPPA laws I could not be up there to know anything about any medical care for family. Then the other officer came over to my right window and said hi. I could not believe it when he said, "Do you have a place to sleep?" I wanted to just start cracking up, but I just calmly said yes I do, I'm staying with my friend in Camp Verde, she's up there at that house for a job interview and I'm waiting for her. He looked in the back of my car (which was a mess and had my curtains and sleeping bag visible). But I guess I was able to defend my presence and I was very surprised that they did not even ask me for my ID. I suppose I was a bit suspicious with Florida plates, but they must have known I wasn't a bag lady since I was in a brand new car. So anyway, it was very funny to me as that's the first time I've ever been stopped by the police. I guess in a way it was nice because I supposed I could have been a person who did need help in that heat. Just an interesting, and to me, funny situation.
Up Friday for my drive back to Tucson. Got to Mike and Cheryl's house and we went with lots of folks for Mexican food and then for a memorial birthday celebration at the accident site for Cheryl's son-in-law, Nick, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in February. It was a nice way to remember and there was an amazing turn out of friends and family.
Saturday Mike and Cheryl had a small family get together. Met some fun relatives, Eric and Mysteri, and their adorable son Oliver. Eric brought some "ugly steaks" an Arizona thing, a copyrighted meat that is marinated, and they were so good when Mike grilled them. Just fun eating and visiting in the evening.
Sunday. Cheryl and I had our annual pedicure together. Very clean and sanitary with everyone wearing masks. Went to Kohl's and found a good sale. Needed a bathing suit bottom and bought two little t-shirts that with sale were $2.35 each - what a bargain. Cheryl and I had lunch and headed home.
