Epilogue: Navidad, We're Home!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

Navidad and I arrived home yesterday, Tuesday 19th.  I didn't do any writing since I posted my last blog on May 16th, so I’ll backtrack --

On Sunday 17th, we left the KOA in Salome, AZ around 11:00 a.m. and, about an hour and half later, arrived at the Buckskin Mountain State Park, located just north of Parker, AZ.  As soon as the camper was set up, I took a walk and it was immediately obvious that this state park is a fun place for both day visitors and RVers/campers.  It’s noisy!  I couldn't hear anything (come to think of it, I didn't wear my hearing aids at all during this trip!) but Navidad sure could!

Uh, oh.  Situated on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, this is the kind of campground where the river is full of fast boats, jet skis, and water skiing.  The river was within view of my camper, as were basketball and volleyball courts.  Next to those was a structure that I later discovered included a market, an arcade with pool tables, and a snack bar that served alcohol.  A fun place for families with kids AND for young people – the ones in their late teens, early twenties…you know the sort.

But not a good place for Navidad.  The poor fella stayed in the bathroom, ears twitching, eyes opening, head turning every time he heard something - a boat speeding by or people hollering.  “Hey,” I said to Navidad, “it’s kinda warm inside the camper, ya think?  It’ll be a good idea to close all the windows and turn on the AC, righto?”  I sincerely hope that when I did that, I was able to muffle or minimize all the outside noise and Navidad could rest easier.

Observing Navidad that particular day, I noticed that he looked weary, worn out.  This daily routine -- going back and forth between truck and camper and constantly discovering that we’re in the same “home” but something is different about the outside – is getting to this middle-aged boy.  It has been a little over four weeks.  It’s time to go home, definitely time.

Leaving the State Park the next morning [Monday 18th], we drove about an hour or so on Rt. 95 S and got a site at the 88 Shades RV Park in Quartzsite, AZ.  Quartzsite, in my opinion, is not a glamorous area but it is a very popular winter hangout for snowbirds.  The whole region is packed with RVers and boondockers (folks who like to camp out in their RVs, all by themselves, out in the desert, without hookups) during the winter months.  I figured, it now being mid-May, I could very well be the only person at 88 Shades (how the heck they come up with that name?).  I was almost right.  There were a couple of other folks but the entire place was bare and very quiet, according to the lady in the office.  Perfect for me because of the dumping chore I need to do tomorrow morning, a chore better done when you don’t have an audience watching for you to, maybe, have a disaster.

So, yesterday, Tuesday 19th, tanks dumped, Navidad and I then drove the last 140 miles of our truck camper adventure on I-10 W and arrived home shortly after 12:30 p.m.  I don’t know, while parking the truck on my driveway, if Navi knew or sensed that we were home.  Mike, my former neighbor and good friend, who had been keeping an eye on my home for me, happened to be here when we arrived and I’m sure Navi thought, hearing Mike from inside the truck – I know that voice!  Toting Navidad’s carrier inside, Mike joined me and we both enjoyed, as soon as I let him out of his carrier, watching Navi’s reaction as he looked around and started to realize that we were HOME!

Navidad went from room to room, checking out his usual favorite spots.  I had already put the litter box in the bathtub and he checked that.  He checked his food and water bowls and was satisfied that they were exactly where they always are…and filled.  He went under the bed.  He went into the kitchen and clawed open the door to his favorite lower cupboard – a dark and quiet spot he likes to nap in.  He went into the master bath and into my office.  Checking everything!  He even walked over to his carrier, where I’d left it on the floor, and sniffed it. 

Good riddance to you! probably was his very thought!

WELCOME HOME, NAVIDAD!