The instructions were explicit, as they were last year at this time, “bring your chair, bowl, plate, drink, and eatin’ tools. We’ll do the cooking!” This year Hobo Stew Day landed on April Fool’s Day so the hosts had to remind people several times that this gathering was not a joke. Unfortunately, the timing conflicted with our annual Bead Week and several other local activities so fewer people attended. They came by car, on foot, golf carts, and four-wheelers, and everybody knows, where there is food, there are Escapees. The weather was cooler than last year and a soft breeze blew on the hot soup so we could gobble it down more comfortably.
Our hosts, Mark & Kathy Guidry, and other North Ranch friends, Paul and Kay Ernst, were celebrating their 48th wedding anniversaries. It was a grand excuse for inviting all of North Ranch to share their wedding day antics and our usual glorious desert days.
As we did last year, everyone had brought ahead of time, a can of something to add to the Guidry stew. A few people brought desserts or something to go along with the stew, in my case, my version of cheesy bread. Along with the soup pot contribution, we also took non-perishable foods for our local food bank. That is a great idea if you are having a gathering of any kind.
With all of these people being current or former RVers, and Escapees as well, hugs were rampant and stories were funny, sad, and sometimes even helpful. Laughter boiled over as we ate together and enjoyed each other until the big pot was down to the dregs, the last cheesy bread was munched, and we at last folded our chairs, “until we meet again.”
I wish you many warm-hearted gatherings. God Bless until next week.
Winter in the Wilderness, the first e-book novel published by Minshall, is offered at most Internet book sites. A print edition may be obtained from Amazon, or you can order an autographed copy from the author at Box 1040, Congress, AZ for $7.95 plus $3.50 for postage and handling. The fourth edition of RVing Alaska and Canada is available through Amazon.com. 
At 45, Widow Minshall began 20 years of solo full-time RVing throughout Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Sharlene canoed the Yukon, mushed sled dogs, worked a dude ranch, visited Hudson Bay polar bears, and lived six months on a Mexican beach. She lectured at Life on Wheels, published six RV-related books and wrote a novel, “Winter in the Wilderness.”
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