LAUNCH

Got the rig all ready to roll and pulled out about 2pm.
Michael got out early from his real estate seminar and saw me off. I felt relieved to be rolling yet a bit sad leaving new friends. Life marches on. Must embrace our own destinies. Still feeling sad about leaving new friends in Wallingford Changes.
John, Dana, Colleen, Marc, Allen, Tim, Jake, and Felippe. You guys rock!!!
I want to Discover a meaning I can embrace. Open up to the thousands of galaxies and to trust there is some sort of meaning to it all. 
 Already studied what main world religions offer and I don't quite accept it all.
This is what my road journey is all about. Slowing down to a pace where I can process sensory input as it comes through these feelers. I don’t like the way I was living. Gotta find a new one! The serendipity thought occurred to me: June 6th is my deceased mothers birthday! How cool of a coincidence. Launching on moms birthday. Wish I could talk to you mom. I know you’d be proud of me to have made a living from selling my artwork. You didn’t get to see that, leaving too soon. Dad? Well that is an all together different story.

Took highway 18 east toward Snoqualmie and the worst imaginable thing I could imagine actually happened! Everything was going well and I was about 45 minutes along when I looked back in mirror at small black pieces bouncing along behind me.
I also heard a flapping noise. It was when a truck passed with a young woman wildly waving her arms and screaming: your tire! your tire! (lip reading) Then the Adrenalin kicked in. I steered the rig off to side. There was just barely enough shoulder to squeeze along with cars and semi trucks zipping by a few feet away at 60-70 miles per hour. I got out, dogs ready to jump out and be squished on the freeway (didn’t happen) and saw right front tire had stripped apart, shredded like. The RV rocked as traffic whooshed by. All blood ran out of my face. I fumbled around, mind racing, what to do, who to call. Noticed a little memorial with bright fresh flowers and a white cross that said Glenn. Apparently he died on this obscure spot between thick blackberry vines and meadow grass. I must not die today.
So I called AAA. Since it was a “busy Sunday” it would take 3 hours to get to me!
Thought for sure I’d end up like Glen only instead of a cross they’d have to erect a paint palette and an easel, fittingly saying “Drew”. 
Luckily I had a nice spare tire. I unbolted it quickly to be prepared for help in 3 hours. A Washington State Patrol showed up and he saved my bacon!  My experience with cops has taught me not to trust’em. He suggested I drive rig to safer spot just a mile up the way. Think his name was Chris and he escorted me going about 15mph to a gravel dirt turn off space. I thanked him like I have never been so grateful to a cop. I would’ve given him a big kiss but then he might not like that. 
From there a Goodyear tow truck showed up. How appropriate since it was a Goodyear tire that blew! He quickly changed it and just like that I was on my way to the Snoqualmie Casino. The SC has 6 spots for RVs to stay over  and I slowly winded down to lower parking lot to snag one. I took the easiest one on the end.
A big space easy enough to navigate. Right? Well, that’s if you know how to back one of these suckers up!!! How confusing is it when everything is backwards. Its like looking in the mirror trying to pluck a nose hair with tweezers for the first time, only there’s much more at stake besides social graces.
There was a hippie dude, my age, (long hair and happy friendly) who saw me struggle and helped get me her straightened out. Thanked him and talked a bit.
Whew! After dogs were pooped I went up to Casino and proceeded to play Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory slot machine. I watched the guy next to me hit one spin after another getting up over $200. I was reluctant to let my bank go below $20, but managed enough wins to stay close to original bank. Then it happened. I hit a nice one and landed $320. At that point cashed in, happy to pay a month of camp rent, and hit the sack for my first night of RV adventure. Not a great place to camp by the way, though not bad. Free is good.
In the morning had an omelet at casino. Food at SC is very lacking. Food should be a big draw on its own. Omelet had 3 ingredients built like a subway sandwich. Factory style. Gift shop did not seduce me either. Could use some K.Drew Edition souvenirs. Games were fun to watch, though didn’t play any cards this time. I like to watch the people and make up stories about them. Hard not to be entertained by all the bells, eye orgasms, and human drama unfolding. Many desperates hoping to hit it big. Some casino lizards. Some passing thru. Most I would not want to emulate.



Highwa(Note to readers: I don't know if anyone is reading this (Hi John), but I hope to keep up once a week.)