Oh What I Have Seen

Just as the ears cannot, the eyes, also, cannot trespass. So, I look and look and see much that surprises me here in Southern California.

The guy on the road bike was pedaling fast but something was unusual about his motion. I was looking at him from his right side. As he passed me, I saw that he had only a right leg. I wondered how many times he had fallen, how he managed to keep his balance. Was he a veteran of recent wars? Then he was gone from view.

Last years' bikini walker has not been seen. Maybe the temperature is to moderate. Perhaps in May she will emerge.

A guy with a Jeep suv painted army green with big black-rimmed offroad tires and cargo boxes, jerry cans, metal ammo boxes and a rooftop tent with folding ladder was encamped nearby. He cordoned off his campsite with towing straps and ropes. He and his guard dog patrolled the perimeter. His neighbor flagged me down to ask whether black helicopters might be following the Jeepster. We laughed, but the point was taken.

The old couple pulled into their handicapped campsite and started unloading their small Ford car. I visited them to check on their camping tags. The woman, who was driving, had a small service dog in her lap. I knew it was a service dog because it was wearing a service dog pack from which the lady removed the dog's papers certifying it was a service dog. Then the woman told me she and her ailing husband were living in their car mostly since emerging from bankruptcy due to medical bills. They lost their home she said. I watched as they unloaded their car and tried to set up a large tent. Eventually, with the help of other campers, the tent was raised. The next morning, the tent was twisted and on the ground. Their belongings were sitting on and in the tent. The Ford was gone. They returned late in the afternoon and campers once again helped raise and anchor their tent. They lady told me they were trying to save money by camping. I doubt they are up to it.

The tattooed young man watched as his female partner juggled the two children while breaking camp and stuffing the gear into the old Honda Accord. They were already an hour past checkout time. The guy complained about his partner not hurrying and yelled at the kids to be quiet and sit in the car. At long last, the car was packed and they backed out of the campsite. Suddenly, the car braked and the guy yelled to the woman something about forgetting an important item. She opened, exited, then slammed the car door and fetched what looked like a bottle of bourbon from under a bush. Mission accomplished.