Gumbo and B-52's

We had a little gathering at the club house tonight.  Sharon and I commented to each other afterwards that one of the neat things about the RV community is meeting new people, trying new things, and seeing new places.  Tonight was no exception.

It was a wine and cheese party followed by a special dinner prepared by one of the lot owners and his friend (a cook) from Louisiana.  Not just any dinner ... but a Louisiana down home cookin, pot of Gumbo.  All kinds of stuff  wonderful  were simmering in this huge pot big enough to wash your Springer Spaniel in.  Sausages, chicken, vegetables, and whatever else from the bayou filled the room with the smell goodness.  The cook forewarned us that he had not spiced up the mix much but if you wanted, he brought along a big bottle of red hot witches brew that would help if you need more 'kick'.  After some wait to reach the caldron of goodness, I peered into the bubbling concoction as the cook scooped two large ladles of the goodness onto a bed of white rice.  The waiting was over and it was well worth waiting for.  Not too spicey but oh so good.  Didn't see one bowl that wasn't that wasn't figurativly licked empty.

When all guest bellies were filled, I noticed out the corner of my eye, the cook making himself up a bowl of the goodness.  Heaped high he showed his Louisiana colors by grabbing that big bottle of red hot witches brew and doused the goodness with the fire and heat percolating in that bottle.  I didn't see the flames but they must have been there. Surely the smoke alarms were on the verge of going off.  He polished off the bowl as if it were Wilford Brimley's oatmeal.  Michigan mortals would have sought medical assistance.  Gotta get that recipe for my South Haven friends.

Conversation after dinner was entertaining.  A perfect example of the variety of people you meet when travelling.  Sitting across from me was a man and his wife who have been married 52 years.  Quite an accomplishment in itself but they have been rv'ing for 50 of those years.  From tents, to pop-ups, to trailers, to 5th wheels, to a motor home ... they'd seen it all ... done it all.  They've camped in every state of the union (except Hawaii) and most of the Canadian provinces.  They'd been on river barge caravans. They been to Mexico.  Name a place and they'd probably been there.  Living enclyclopedias of travel.  He a former B-52 navigator who vividly remembers the ramp up to war during the Cuban missile crisis and she,  a former nurse.  I can only imagine what stories they could tell from living such a rich life.  This is what I wanna' be when I grow up.  Never content to sit and watch life pass by ...  but being a participating member.  I've got a feeling I'll meet more of these types along our path.  And looking forward to it.

So another day that started out cold and windy and ended with spending time with some very engaging people. 

This is what livin' the dream is all about for us. (unfortunately it's still cold and windy however)

Phil