Lucy Loves Everything
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2018 | 2 minute read | Updated at Tuesday, Nov 20, 2018
I exit the trailhead, and immediately see some broken down RVs and a tent with large plastic cold insulating containers.
These people have been here for a while.
0.2 miles into town, there’s a brewery that is rated highly, so I stop in.
It’s nice to see people again.
My frustration from the day has taken a toll on my emotional state, so I decide to get a hotel room for the night…except there are none.
None that are reasonably priced, at least. This is a small town, small enough that there’s not even a Walmart - just one Main Street. Any commercial infrastructure is just one street. There’s a town about 17 miles down the one road with hotels and a Walmart, but no way to get there.
I could walk. 17 miles along a state road. But that’s a whole day.
A man named Bill takes interest in my gear and we talk a while.
I don’t think Bill expected me to be so prepared, based on his questions.
He goes back to the bar as I eat and figure out what my next step is.
I ask Bill if there’s any way to get to the next town.
Nope.
There’s nothing.
He stands there for a bit.
I wonder if he’s going to offer to take me there.
And then the unexpected.
You can stay at my place tonight if you like.
I look up with a side eye.
Don’t offer if you’re not serious.
“I’m serious; I mean, it’s only for one night, right?”
Internally, I think, I probably want two nights.
Yeah. Only one night.
“Ok. I’m almost finished up, and we’ll head out.”
Alright.
The waitress comes over.
“Don’t worry, he’s a great guy”
That hadn’t actually entered my mind. But I guess we’ll find out.
Bill is an older man who lives in a wood stove-heated log cabin he built himself.
His daughters are grown and married, and he lives with Lucy.
Lucy loves EVERYTHING.
He shows me my bed in the upstairs loft. It’s a queen bed with a fan, because sometimes the wood stove gets too hot.
Too hot is not a concern of mine these days.
It is wonderfully toasty.
Lucy’s tail is wagging so hard that it throws her balance off a bit.
“Lucy loves company”
Lucy loves everything.
