You Can Learn a Lot from a Mermaid

Not to brag, but my granddaughter made the perfect Ariel in her elementary school production of The Little Mermaid. She looked the part, knew all of her lines, and delivered them with conviction. She was 100% believable as she swam against the tide, made sacrifices, and fell in love with Prince Eric. Furthermore, her dancing and singing were truly captivating and her performance was breathtaking. It caused me to reflect and draw some parallels with my current situation.

What would I give if I could live
Out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day
Warm on the sand?

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman – The Little Mermaid/Part of that World

What would I give if I could live out of this RV? What would I pay to spend a day in my own home? You can pretty much bet I would sell my voice in order to have a house that is not designed to roll down the road.

We’ve hit that milestone. We have now been living in the rear of a Ford F-550 for over 18 months. That’s right... a Year and Half with a minimal wardrobe, no washer and dryer, and a dog that sheds like an Angora rabbit in the middle of August. Eighteen months of waking up and staring at a refrigerator that is not actually, per se, in the bedroom, but may as well be. It’s been 1-1/2 years of paper plates, plasticware, and floors that will not stay clean for longer than an hour.

It’s time so swim to the surface and get into that house.

Still much to be done, but we now have siding, paint, and cabinets. The work on the deck is scheduled to begin today. Minimal flooring has been installed. Each day the idea of actual occupancy gets a bit more real. We are not yet there but we are headed towards the finish line. We are watching the pot, waiting for it to boil.

Isn’t looking backwards funny? So much of this voyage has been anxiety-provoking, and yet, there have been so many moments of awe and beauty. I kind of wonder if I will miss living in the belly of Bertha after we settle in a bit.

Look at this stuff
Isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t think i’m the girl,
The girl who has everything?

I thought there was no end to our homelessness. At times I had my doubts about emerging alive. I felt destined to live in a truck until the end of time, but here I am, looking forward to starting a new chapter. Now that we are closing in on an actual closing date, I can look back at the magical moments, the twinkles in time that I will always treasure.

Nostalgic feelings are fleeting comforts. It is time to plant myself long enough to grow some roots, and to become a productive member of a new community. Soon. In short order. Before ere long.

Stay tuned…