For the second time in as many days, an older, retired woman has stopped at my gate, lost and looking for directions. Neither one had a clue where they were and only a vague idea of where they wanted to go. I would guess that they were both in their mid to late 70's.
The woman yesterday wasn't particularly worried, she hadn't been here in several years and every thing looked wrong to her. As it turned out she had turned left when she should have turned right.
She was rather interesting. Apparently 11 years ago, about when I moved here, she sold every thing, got a motor home and has been traveling the country alone. I asked if she enjoyed being so untethered. She said she had enjoyed it at first but that recently it had become a lot of work. The motor home was always breaking down and it seemed it was just always some thing. She didn't say she missed having roots, but I kind of got that feeling. She was currently staying at Hells Canyon but had driven over here to see an old friend. I gave her directions and she was on her way.
The woman today was very different. She was visiting a friend and had taken her dog for a walk. She had no idea where she was, how she got to my front gate or where her friend lived. She did have his name. She was embarrassed and a bit frightened. I called him and it turned out he was only a half mile down the road. She insisted that she did not want them to come get her, she wanted to walk. Virginia was her name.
I can see myself as the one and fear being the other.
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