A Fairytale Beginning

1993

 

                It was the spring of nineteen ninety three when I realized that I had a problem with addiction. I was abusing speed pills, alcohol and psychedelic drugs, and had not control of the runaway train that I called my life. I would go to work and eat speed pills, drink myself to sleep in the morning as I worked the overnight, and on my days off I would eat LSD like it was candy. I would smoke weed, but it was merely a social thing. I would hang out with another poet, and we would find different adventures to go on, some will be entries in this book of sorts.

                One evening I woke up and lit a smoke and drank some vodka and Mountain Dew, and began my night off in usual fashion. Robert Maudlin had crashed in the chair for the day while I passed out on my couch. I did not stir quietly so my motion woke him up. He fished is pack of camels from his trench coat and struck his cigarette to life as well. We sat in silence for our first smoke. I did not have a coffee maker in my apartment, but the Mountain Dew provided enough caffeine that would wake me up to the point that I could make it someplace that served coffee, usually that was my parent’s house, or the gas station I worked at. This night though would be different. After my first smoke I went the restroom and when I looked in the mirror I did not recognize the person looking back at me. I mean it looked like me but different, haggard and worn would be the best way to describe it.

I was scared to say the least.

                I went back out to the couch and struck up my second smoke; I retrieved a new bottle of Mountain Dew from the refrigerator and opened without adding any vodka. I left my glass of vodka and Mountain Dew mixture half drunk on the orange coffee table. Maudlin looked at me like I had fallen out of a tree, because this sort of action was Un-Underhill like. I muttered something like “I need to get the hell out of dodge.”

                Perplexed Maudlin quizzed “You mean for the night?”

                “No I need to split, disappear, and head out away from all of this.” I said motioning to my apartment.

                “Why?” Maudlin asked

                “I am killing myself, my life is killing me, and I don’t know how to fix it. I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror.”

                “Let’s do it then!” Maudlin replied.

                He purposed that we find a coffee joint far off the beaten path where no one knew us and no one would listen to our planning, and go make plans for what we were going do to get out of the rut we were in. We loaded up in the Great White Land shark which was a white 1973 Pontiac Catalina and drove first to my gas station I worked at; I grabbed a new pack of smokes, and a coffee to keep me going until we reached our destination. When I got back in the car we agreed that heading to a mom and pop coffee shop up north would be best. We found a place in Boulder and ordered our brew and sat in the back corner. I was so far gone that my paranoia would not allow us to sit anywhere else. I had a considerable drug debt to worry about, and my ex-fiancé was sleeping with one of the dealers as well. I felt like all of the time I had a target symbol on my forehead.

                We discussed a whole bunch of possibilities for our departure and subsequent landing zone. I knew I wanted to save up some money before we took off. We originally chose Salem Massachusetts as my religion choice back then made that a sure fit for me. We also discussed my home town in California, and Salem Oregon as possible choices as well. Salem Massachusetts seemed so much better. We discussed how we would go about achieving our goal. It was one of the first things in my adult life I planned.

                The next day I confided in my brother what we were planning. I confided I was concerned because we did not have jobs out there, and he reminded me about a summer he spent working in Yellowstone National Park. He said he still had connections with the company that provides the services up there. I logged it into my memory and when Maudlin came over for my second night off, I ran the idea by him. He liked it, and said that would be a beautiful place for two poets to land. I contacted my brother’s contact the next day and got the information for applying, and had a second application sent to Maudlin’s house. I worked the next week light hearted as I awaited the application. I began curbing my speed intake and left other drugs alone completely, but Alcohol was still steady in my diet. When the application arrived I wasted no time, I filled it out went right back to the post office and sent it back, all total I had possession of the thing for about two hours before it was on its way back. Maudlin stopped by to let me know he had received his application. I told him mine was already mailed back and he looked at me shocked. I told him to get off the stick and fill it out and send it back the next day!

                Another week went by and I got a call while I was at my parents place for coffee. It was the gentleman that received my application and he said he was quite interested in having me work at the Old Faithful Inn. I told him I thought it would be able to happen, but my ride would need to get hired. He asked who my ride would be. I told him of my friend’s application, and he said that he had received that one as well and he would call him next. I hung up the phone knowing that this was going to work out.

                After a little while the phone rang again and my mother told me I may as well answer it. I picked up the phone and it was Maudlin telling me he had been hired into housekeeping at Old Faithful Lodge which was just on the other side of the compound from the Inn. I told him I knew the place and that he would not be sorry for accepting the job. I talked with my parents and they agreed to let me move in with them for the time between when my apartment was vacated to when we left, allowing me to save up some money for the road trip and supplies.

                I was out of my apartment in a week and had three more weeks before we departed for Yellowstone. I did buy some new clothes and general supplies that I could in Denver as things would be cheaper in a city than they are in the country or so my thought process was back then. Much of what I made was saved for the trip. My parents even helped me out some. We had a barbeque the night before we left. The next morning I woke to a wonderful breakfast made by my mother, and she had it ready just in time for Robert to share in the breakfast. We loaded up the car and were off. We drove most of the day and stopped in the afternoon and took a hotel room book by Robert’s Parents in Jackson Hole Wyoming. This was a plus as Robert’s mother worked for Triple A and got generous discounts because of her position. We purchased a six pack of brew and a bottle of Crown Royal and adjourned to the room to relax after a good day’s drive, after a little while hunger kicked in and we went and had supper. I remember little about the dinner other than we had pizza of some sort. Afterward we went to a bar and shot pool. I almost got into a fist fight with the cowboys at the table next to us; the reason in my mind is a blur now. I am sure it was nothing worth fighting over, as I as an a*s while drinking.

                We drove the rest of the way into the park. We had to go out of our way to get our uniforms and do our check in with the company, and then back track to the Old faithful Area. We got a dorm room that was a suite designed for the handicapped, which meant we had our own restroom and shower. We set up our dorm room, and then went over for dinner. Training started the next day for me and Robert started the following day. I started the training class and was surprised how easy hotel reservations and check in was. After the second day of training I returned to my dorm room and was surprised to find out my friend had been switched from housekeeping to desk clerk, and he began training the following week.

                A couple of weeks into the actual tourist season Robert became sick and was sent home. I was left in this foreign place with no car, no ride and still reeling from trying to kick the habits I had in Denver. I had made up my mind that I would work most of the season and then go bear hunting with a knife to end my life in a way suitable of Ernest Hemmingway. It would be legendary and my poems would sell like hot cakes. Little did I know what was in store for me after my friend left.

                A couple of weeks went by and I was working the overnight at the Inn, and I made a few friends but no one I would call close. I had made friends with a girl that lived next door to my dorm room, but we were just a convenience for each other. Friends with benefits nothing more and nothing less. The night porter where I worked had his girlfriend stop by one night, and it changed my life forever. I found myself looking over the counter as the most beautiful pair of sapphire eyes. She introduced herself as Penny and she was looking for her boyfriend. I paged him, but I knew at the first time I saw her that this woman was going to be my wife. It was not the typical fireworks that parent tell you about. It was like when I first saw her the world narrowed and everything focused on her, and I just knew that she was the one, either that or I was having a stroke.

                After about a week the night porter came in to work and began complaining saying that it was over between Penny and him, and he kept listing reasons for his dissatisfaction with their relationship, and they were literally right off my check list for what to look for in a woman. After about the third complaint I stopped him as asked if he minded if Penny and I dated, since it was over. His words were “If you want her, you can have her!” The next morning I went to her dorm room and asked if she would take me to Jackson Hole for some shopping the next day. She agreed and we had a long talk about what her boyfriend was saying. I was on my weekend so I went to my dorm room and made a cassette tape for our trip. I mixed together different music styles I liked so I could share with her and see if she had similar interests in music.

                I went back to her dorm room and we had a six hour conversation about her life and my life, and what we wanted in our lives. It was the most honest conversation I had ever had with any woman. I ended up staying the night, but in an effort of being a gentleman I slept on the floor. We went to Jason Hole and the whole trip we talked about this, that, and the other thing. We got stuck in an area of roadwork that left us nothing but time to talk, and I seized the opportunity and I made my intentions clear. I leaned over and kissed her. It was a wonderful kiss, like our lips were a Mizpah created to fit together. After several kisses she pushed me away and said that it was not officially over between her and her boyfriend. I respected her for that and we talked some more. We had lunch in Jackson Hole, actually two lunches. Early lunch was McDonalds, as we were in the park the choices for food was limited and McDonalds was like manna from heaven. We did the shopping I needed for softball equipment, and then I asked if she wanted to have Chinese food as that was non-existent in the park as well. We had a small Chinese meal and then drove back to the park. I had a softball game that night so we had to hurry back. We made it just in time for me to head to my game; funny thing was that Penny’s softball team was our opponent. We both went to the game and she felt a mile away sitting on the other team’s bench. All I wanted was to hold this girl in my arms, but she was still officially dating someone else.

                I guess that word got around about out shopping trip. I would guess it was Penny’s roommate stirring things up, before the third inning of the game started up walks Penny’s boyfriend, and my convenience holding hands a smoothing right in front of the entire baseball game. Funny thing was it neither of them played on a team, and neither one of them really had business being there at that point in time. I was not at all distracted by the scene, and when I came up to bat Penny was catching and I asked if she still thought her boyfriend and her were dating. She smiled and told me no, that it was very obvious that the message was being sent that it was no longer the case. I struck out at the plate, but it was the happiest strike out I had ever, because I knew the door was open for her and I to start dating.

                After the last out I walked up to Penny and stated that it was nice of those two to make our minds up for us, and I kissed her. We went back to my dorm room and talked more and she let it be known she was interested in dating. I was ecstatic. We went to the employee pub and celebrated. Low and behold the other pairing of our ex’s was there, so it was kind of awkward but I didn’t mind if Penny didn’t.

                We dated a couple of weeks and the time only confirmed what I knew about her on first sight. I called my parents to see if I could bring a guest home for the weekend, and that it was someone I really wanted them to meet. My parents said it was alright, but inside they were frightened. My track record with women was horrid to say the least, and they were afraid that this one would have multiple tattoos and piercings and be horrible for me. We traveled to Denver after I worked my last overnight shift before our weekend. I worked for eight hours and drove for nine hours while Penny slept in the car. We pulled up to my parents house and I introduced my mother to my girlfriend and apologized for being tired and asked if either of them minded if I caught a nap. I woke up and my whole world had changed. Here was my mother and my girlfriend chatting like they were the best of friends. I knew it was meant to be, if she met Mom’s approval then she was the one for me. My father threw the best barbecue; we had salmon, and then hung out at my father’s favorite place back then, a hobby shop. They had slot car racing, and I was interested in seeing what it was like. I raced one race and came out and asked Penny for a kiss. She loudly replied “Not now! I am talking with your mother!” yep I was in trouble indeed.

                The next night Penny and I drove to a secluded parking lot to spend some quality time alone, and before too long we were checked on by the local police who kindly reminded me that I had a warrant out for my arrest. I got carted to jail, while my girlfriend who had no knowledge of the city had to try and find my brother to seek bail for me. My last words to her were “Whatever you do, do not call my parents.”

                I got bailed out at six in the morning and the first face I see is my father’s, needless to say I was angry, and he was too. I told him that I told Penny not to call, and he told me she didn’t, that she got a hold of my brother, and my brother called because he didn’t have bail money. When we got back to my parent house Penny and I went for a walk. Most of the walk I spent apologizing repeatedly for putting her in a bad situation. I knew the season in Yellowstone was short, so I tried to test the waters with her and see how strong she felt about me and I let the words cross my lips “Any woman that could put up with that from me should probably be my wife.”

                I was mortified when she said nothing. I thought maybe I had stronger feelings for her than she had for me. I knew I could not take the words back, and really I didn’t want to, as I needed to know where we stood before the season ended. We talked of other things as we finished our walk but nothing was said about my suggestion. We left that afternoon to drive back to Yellowstone. The ride back was a quiet one. I remember thinking that she was angry about the whole police business. We spoke a little but it was far too silent for my liking. We got back to Old Faithful early in the morning too late to wake her roommate up I told her should could sleep in my dorm room. I remember thinking as I held her before we went to sleep that I wanted to hold on to her forever.

                The next afternoon we woke up and she had a staff meeting with her department. We got ready and I said I would walk her to the meeting. She told me she had a phone call she had to make first. She called her parent’s house but the only one was her sister. What she told her sister stopped my heart. She said “Guess what? … I am getting married!”

                I looked at her as if to say “To whom?” and she smiled as it finally sunk in what she was saying, and it was actually me she was accepting my proposal. I was shocked, stunned and worried at hammering out the details, but I was also as happy as any man could be. We began letting our friends know we were engaged, and several who had worked more than one season, took me aside and let me know that this was a summertime romance and that it would not last long. I can attest that this is a summer time romance, but as for lasting long that is a whole different story altogether. 18 summers later I still am madly in love with her and glad I can still call her my wife.

 

Author's Note

Thanks for reading