After my new solar batteries were installed, I headed back to Quartzite, Arizona to meet up with Jorrie. My birthday was coming up, and we wanted to spend it together. He was staying on BLM land outside Quartzite helping our mutual friend Chimene fix the roof to her RV. It was great to see them both again. It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like more.
Since Jorrie was working on the roof, it gave me time to work on my bus. I wanted to repaint the back door, and had already taken all the old stickers off, but now I had to remove the residual goo, and then sand it down. I had been working on this project here and there for a while. I prefer to do things in intervals instead of doing a big task all at once.
Chimene and Jorrie surprised me with an ice cream cake for my birthday, even though it was still several days away. We went over to her RV, and they brought the cake out while they sang Happy Birthday. We didn’t have candles, so Jorrie held his lighter over the cake for me to blow out. I was the smallest person there, but I definitely ate the most cake.
The day before my birthday, Jorrie and I set out for Erhensburg, Arizona. There were secluded camping spots along the Colorado River, and we found a beautiful spot overlooking the water.
We shared a site with an owl who had a little nest in a tree within the camp. Every night we would hear him hooting, and another owl would often sound in return. Our camp was very private, so the animals were able to roam about. We set up two chairs near the river where I enjoyed the view of Sophie splashing around in the water and digging in the sand.
The morning of my birthday, Jorrie made me an omelet while I sat out in the sun. After breakfast we brought my inflatable paddle board down to the river. It was my first time being able to use it, and the excitement bubbled up inside me. Jorrie and I both got on and I paddled at first, but then he took over. When he started paddling I laid on my back with my head in his lap, taking in the sky and the scenery around me, and we talked the entire time.
As we were paddling back, an owl swooped along beside us, landing on a branch ahead of us. Every time we got close, it would fly to a different branch in the distance. It was like he was flying along with us. When I got back to camp I checked to see if our camp-mate owl was in his spot, and he was. It had been a different owl that had greeted us on the river.
For my birthday, Jorrie made me a leather chapstick holder from an old boot, that could attach to my belt. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love chapstick. It was such a thoughtful gift and made my heart happy. We spent the rest of the day lounging and eating tacos. It was the most simple, perfect birthday and I loved every second of it.
The rest of our time there we spent relaxing, enjoying the solitude from the rest of the world and enjoying each other's company. I felt like I could have stayed in that little paradise forever. Unfortunately, Jorrie and I both had work lined up, and the jobs were in different directions.
I was headed west to Los Angeles. I was going with my friends, Tamra, and Cami, who were staying outside of Joshua Tree, which was about halfway between Erhensburg and Los Angeles. I stopped in with them there for a few nights. We enjoyed a little potluck dinner, and spent the night hanging out and talking.
The next day it rained all morning, but eventually the sky cleared, leaving the perfect opportunity for a hike. Another couple who was camping nearby had told us about a beautiful hidden path that was full of wildflowers. It was through a wash, so there were tall rocks along each side of us. The path was splashed with colors; yellow, purple, blue and orange flowers were gloriously blooming.
After the hike we all headed off to Los Angeles. We had a job opportunity collecting signatures on a petition for rent control. We had found out orientation was the next day, and it was about a three hour drive, so we each drove through the rain into the night.
Thank goodness a friend of ours, who was also going to orientation and was familiar with Los Angeles, had a Prius, and drove us all to orientation after the three of us travelers settled our buses in a park. After orientation I set out to work. We were able to collect signatures wherever we pleased in California. I often picked different grocery stores, asking people to sign as they walked in and out. Some people happily signed, others ignored me, some wouldn’t sign but were nice, and a few were downright rude about not signing. Almost every day I was out someone offered to get me a drink. Several people brought me kombucha, and one man gave me a pretty, pink drink from Starbucks.
I asked one man if he would sign and he very aggressively started yelling “F*%k you!” in my face, repeatedly. I was a little stunned and shaken up by the encounter, but a little boy who was nearby when it happened came over afterward and asked if I was okay, which I thought was incredibly sweet. And right after that, a guy my age who I had met earlier in the day walked by. He asked how I was doing and I told him that I was a little shaken up and told him what happened. He told me that I was strong and powerful, and not to let people into my energy bubble. He told me to say “I am” statements, gave me a hug, and was on his way. The kindness of strangers can go a long way. I felt better and was back to my confident self.
It was nice being around friends who were also working in LA. Most nights we would hang out, eating dinner together, or hiking up to see the sunsets.
I had been searching for a moped for a while, and specifically had my heart set on a 1980s Honda Express. There was one for sale not far from where I was staying, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get one because I was now earning money, and could drive that through L.A. everyday to work, instead of using expensive diesel fuel and taking my bulky bus. Tamra decided to come along with me because she wanted one too, and the seller had two for sale.
When I test drove it, I was beyond excited, and knew it was the one I should get. I had been wanting a yellow one, but he had a blue one for sale that matched my bus almost perfectly. It was like it was meant to be.
Tamra ended up buying the yellow one, and we loaded them both into the back of my bus for the ride home. Luckily they were pretty light. I bought a helmet, and by the next day I was riding my moped on the streets of L.A.
I set out to work outside of a grocery store called Vons, in Glendale, a northern suburb that borders Los Angeles. It was a nice spot and I was doing well until a worker came out and told me to leave. She told me that anyone who was on the premises working needed to reserve a spot. I was pretty sure this was not true, because I learned in orientation that petitioners have rights, even to be on private property, but I called a friend who had worked this job for a while to confirm. I got the confirmation that I was right, and went back to work. Within half an hour, the same lady came out, telling me to leave again. I simply told her “No,” nicely, with a big smile on my face. She asked about me reserving the spot, and I told her I wouldn’t be doing that, especially since it was made up. She told me if I didn’t leave she would call the police. I told her she should, and she turned and walked back inside. “Have a great day!,” I yelled, as she walked away. She facetiously replied, “I hope you have a better one!” “Oh my gosh, you’re so kind, thank you!” I replied with a giant grin. To say the least, she was not impressed.
A little while later two ladies came out of the store and told me to leave. I told them they would have to call the police, like they already said they would, if they wanted me gone. They said they weren’t going to, but I still had to leave, which confirmed that they also knew my rights, but were hoping they could intimidate me since I was outnumbered now. This happened a few more times, with them coming out and saying stuff, and bubbly me, politely refusing to leave.
Eventually, with last encounter, the two women came back out and told me they had spoken to “the attorney,” and he had said I had to leave. I smiled and said “No,” which flustered them even more. They then said he told them to take a picture of me and where I was standing. So I smiled and posed for their pictures. They were beyond mad, but there was nothing else they could do, so they left me alone for the next five hours while I worked.
After work, I decided to explore a bit of Glendale. I parked at a library and started walking around. I noticed a chandelier hanging directly in the middle of one of the streets, high above the cars. It was held up by wires attached to nearby buildings, I had never seen anything like it.
I walked past fancy, expensive stores, like Tesla and Gucci. The whole place seemed like a lavish dream. Eventually I came to a little grassy area with a fountain in the middle that had a gold statue of a man in the center. I enjoyed exploring this area, but I definitely was out of place in my hippie clothes, and it was nice getting back to my homey, simple bus.
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