The Good:
I just returned from an absolutely fantabulous weekend at a lake-side condo with my girlfriends Bridgy, Cricket, Karen and Michelle. We talked, laughed, shot photos, watched movies, used terms like “Rabble Rouser” and “Unctuous”, and consumed delicious meals and calorie-laden snacks. I will post more about this tomorrow when I get pictures from Brigitte.
The Bad:
I suppose that eating my weight in shortbread could be considered for placement in the “Bad” category. The biggest “Bad” of them all is that the motherboard on my computer is shot. It will probably be like the cobbler’s wife that has no shoes. I will be a computer-less wretch with a geek for a husband.
The Ugly:
On the way home, we met a very intriguing homeless man traveling from Alaska to Virgina on a modified riding lawnmower pulling a trailer that had a big sign on the back, “NEED FOOD”. We were taking more food home with us than we knew what to do with and so we stopped.
I weighted putting an “Ugly” label on this topic because there were many things about this encounter that were insightful, human and lovely. It was also overwhelmingly sad for many reasons. Falling into this situation is much easier and more common than most of us would like to admit. Many Americans are just steps ahead of homelessness, myself included. I dare say this man is luckier than most. There is nothing more ugly to me than the suffering of my fellow man. It doesn’t seem fair that this is just how life is.
His name is Paul Woods.
His traveling companion is a dog is named “Yoda”. 
Paul used to work and travel with The Grateful Dead. I daresay that this band was, and is, his life. He has 3,000 copies of their music in storage because he cannot travel with them. The day that Jerry Garcia died was more painful to him then the death of his father.
I have no idea where he was born or how he fell into his situation. He was covered head to toe with black dust and oil that made his eyes look startlingly blue. He is missing many of his teeth and was only wearing one glove. He reminded me of Mr. Edwards from “Little House On the Praire”. I almost expected him to call me “Half-Pint”.
There are some things I do know this stranger: He had a love named Annie that he was with for fifteen years and that he met her at a Grateful Dead concert and that Jerry Garcia is perhaps the biggest influence in his life. He has a sister who owns a cafe and his dream is to rent out rooms to the disabled and disadvantaged and to open a commune for “Dead Heads” and lovers of Janis Joplin on the 12 acres his family owns in Virgina.
He doesn’t like banannas and was turned away from a local hotel, The Alta View, in Logan. He was filthy from the elements and from cleaning a chimney for extra money the day before. The clerk at the hotel told him that “They hadn’t rented any rooms in a while.” RIGHT.
He was polite enough to inquire if he could tell a “Dirty redneck joke” and took the decline with a sense of humor. He was also good natured about me photographing him and his dog when I explained that I photograph everything in my life. The seat of his lawn mower was completely held together with duct tape and he hugged the jug of fresh milk we gave him to his chest.
Paul loves to talk, mainly about the Grateful Dead, and it was difficult for us get on our way. He doesn’t get the chance to really talk to people that often. We left him with food, gloves a jacket, some cash and a hope that we made his way a little easier. He left us with a hearty appreciation for the warm car we drove off in and the lives we were traveling back to.
I wonder where he will end up in his life and what other roads he has left to travel.
Paul is 44 years old.
In the end, I am not really sure what I take from it all except for the feeling that I am profoundly lucky in my life. Yes, I have had a lot of trial, angst, sadness and hurt, but I am so blessed in my life and loved ones. I have a lot of happiness and joy and having times like this week put it all into perspective.
LL,
Dang.
That was powerful.
Thanks.
Yes…very powerful. You and your girlfriends are good people to stop and help that man. I imagine just having someone talk to him like a fellow human being was the greatest gift you gave him.
Thank you for sharing this…
Oh my, I’m sniffling.
That was such a wonderful post, L.
The story about Paul is one that would make a “movie of the week”, but better.
You are very kind to give your food to him and to share his story.
Who knows, maybe if he tells his story to enough people along the way, he can raise the money to build his dream-home.
*off to get more tissues*
GREAT post! that was such an enjoyable read this morning.
-nopey
Wow. I’m with the others. It was powerful. I am so glad that you stopped and gave him some food and other things to make it better. You are a very caring person.
Lo-
As much as I loved EVERY minute of the weekend (except when that damn name game made me cry, what the hell?), I think talking with Paul was my favorite, too. I loved telling my kids about him, and holding them after I got home and praying that we could always take care of each other. I loved that we got to see him as a human being, instead of just an unfortunate cold and dirty person driving along the side of the road.
Thank you for posting about it, you did a fabulous job.
Right on Loralee and ya all, that was a good thing that you did…Hope that he makes it here in one piece..
i’m happy y’all stopped and talked to him and helped him out a bit. i didn’t know things like that happened outside the south (people stopping and helping strangers). i’m not knocking the north, it’s just most southerners are too nosy to let a chance like that pass.
i hope he gets the help he needs soon.
you’ll be blessed, i’m sure, for helping him in his time of need.
You wonder about his whole story. What an interesting thing. There is a homeless man on a corner here in town that holds a sign saying, “Homeless Bill needs rich woman.” I’ve never figured out exactly what it meant.
That was an interesting encounter. Sometimes I open up my heart enough to have encounters as such, but am usually much too cold and cynical. Maybe I’m missing out on something wonderful.
Food for thought.
Thanks LL, what a great reminder that we are much luckier than we usually realize.
What a tug on the old heart strings. Yet more reason why I adore you (and your very cool friends as well).
linny
I think other sources say he’s not actually homeless. He just inherited a house in Virginia from his recently deceased mother and he’s on his way over there. And I read that he is still with his wife. She’s waiting for him at the house. Of course, I didn’t actually talk to him; you did. Anyway, it was nice of you to leave him the supplies. I hope I meet a mysterious traveler sometime!
horsemom, fouind Paul outside of Livingston. Mt. Had been turned away from a mothe in Bozeman, Mt. Gave money, food for Yoda and arranged for new tires for the toro. Like you such a profound experience espically knowing there but for the grace of God could go myself or family members. May he travel safe.
Hello lora lee, i just got back from giving paul a ride from Bozeman to the belgrade truckstop as he trys to make it to Astoria Oregon, it is Jan 9, 2009. It was hard to follow all of his stories but you obviously had an impact on his life because i recall your name coming up multiple times. just wanted to give you an update.
bill