The National Hobo Convention Trip of 2011

As my memories began to fade into the ghostly pasts of yesterday I decide I had better write what I can re-call of this years trip to Britt, Iowa. As I am part of the National Hobo Gospel Singers my out-look will be very different from the view point of the Hoboes, Tramps and visitors.  Matt, as  I write this I think of you. HeeHee…I know. MAX! Just teasing.:) I do thank you for encouraging me to write more in my site.

I am known as Lady SonShine in the hobo community. This “moniker ‘ was given to me by Preacher Steve. He said he could see the Lord shining thru me. That was what I had prayed for that year of 2000. My first year there was 1999. Fell in love with them all. Anyway—-back to current events.

Blue Moon Bo and I traveled by plane this year. Lady Nightengale and Trucker Phil traveled in car so to visit family along the way. It was quiet a trip for Con-Bo (as her Dad “FishBones” called her) and me. We were to leave Bangor, Maine at 11:15 Tuesday morning of the 9th and go into Detroit, Mich. to catch our next plane to Minni and onto Mason City, Iowa. However—- due to bad weather in and around Detroit, our flight was put off for approx. 2 hours. Now!! You got to understand the domino effect!!! Because of the delay we got no further than Minni. There we opted to sleep on mats in the “quiet zone.” Such a zone in an airport??? I rather think NOT! We were told over the intercom system the time every half hour! By 3:30 I wanted to yell, “WHO CARES???” But I didn’t.

Blue Moon Bo is a morning person. I on the other hand am not. She got up and moved her things over close to my as  I “slept” on. Then I heard “something” and sat straight up! Who’s there??? Were my eyes even opened??? I do not know. I laid back down. Next I heard a voice…..,” you talking to me???” was all I said as I sat up. Realized it was Connie moving her things as I said. Good grief! Am I awake or am I asleep! Who could know. I laid back down. I felt like I was in a daze. Next thing I knew Con Bo is saying”wake-up. I need to tell you bad news. I am looking at our itinerary and our flight does not leave here until 10:15 tonight!”

What a way to be woken up!” Are you kidding me??”

Then she left to go get coffee and stuff for breakfast. All I wanted to do was sleep! So I did, sort of. As much as one can in “Quiet Zone.” Felt more like Twilight Zone!

Connie came back with breakfast. I would tell you what but frankly, I don’t recall. Anyway, “Good news!! ” she said. ” We leave at 10:15 this morning!!!”

“How did you change the time?” I asked.

Her reply, ” I took a drink of coffee and turned the page!”

She had been looking at our original itinerary not our current one. What a relief!

Did I mention that I was using as wheel chair or a cart this time out? Yea….been having some dizzy spells and the more tired I get the worse they get. Guess who forgot her dizzy pills? Nooo….not to make me dizzy.  Anyone who knows me knows I am just a dizzy kinda gal! Snicker!  Anyway, sometimes the wheel chair was there and other times I had to ask. Poor Con Bo. I really felt bad when she had to push me up-grades. The only good things were  I could hold some of her things and I was not walking and bumping into people. My tracking is off…like a dog or a race horse. sigh…..

So we leave Minni on time! Yes! On a “puddle jumper” NOOOO!!!!!!! What a ride! Someone needed to plow the clouds! Were we up? Were we down?  I am not fond of flying you see. Con Bo and I prayed a lot together and sang praise to the One who was holding that plane. The spirit is willing to do what is asked of me…but my flesh is so weak! I’d like to kick me right in the flesh!

We finally made it to Mason City ,Iowa! Our “Iowa Dad” left a van for us to use to get to Britt, Iowa. He watches over us as God has asked him to do. He is 84 years of age and runs circles around us, most times. We love him so even if sometimes he is hard to understand. He has some thought provoking stories to tell. And he loves kissing FROGS! That’s another story for another time.

Anyway, I drove the 18 passenger plane, errrr, van to Britt. Not! I could hardly walk to it for lack of sleep. Con Bo drove it. I co-piloted. Good thing she is an independent thinker and did not need me to assist.

We got into Britt around  noon I think. I saw some  of our hobo friends but not sure who other than Matt.  Then I requested at least three hours sleep. Debi and Phil were already there for they were on time. We were a day late! Debi said she had our beds made up over at the church. We were given the key by the pastor so we could get good rest while there and coolness if the temps. should rise. We are not as young as we used to be and over the years the heat and pace has really gotten to con-Bo and myself.

So we did not hang out at the Jungle for long. Sleep was calling loudly. I slept for 15 hours! When I awoke my first thought was, ” I called him Matt! His name is Max! Man! I musta been tired!”

That was day one….wasn’t it?