Oh, where to start? I might need to take this computer down to the beach with a cup (not a Dora cup this time, but a Talavera vaso I bought especially for my wine) of good red medicine. That sounds like just the ticket after a shrimp, pasta with faux alfredo (crema agria (sour cream, but it was leftover from Mexican purchases so it gets the spanish name), parmesan, copious amounts of garlic and some olive oil) sauce and broccoli. I’d much rather a Modelo Negro (dark beer) but the red medicine might be just what I need.
Well, that IS much better. The red medicine is lovely (though it is in the Dora cup; didn’t want to risk breaking the talavera what with splinters of branches and wood flying from Jesse breaking up firewood) and the temperature superb, so far either the red medicine is working or the mozzys continue to present a weak attack.
Michael left last night just about this time. Jamie and I had had many talks with him, starting in Tepic and I never blogged about it because Jamie was not comfortable with my doing so. Interestingly, yesterday he apologised and said it was a ridiculous stance. So yesterday, before heading to the Tall Grass place I can never remember the name of, Jamie and I spoke with Michael yet again to find out how he was going with the “get a job and support yourself” project as we’d seen no signs of him doing anything. It turned out that he had no idea what to do, how to begin and had decided that he’d just hang out on land that he figured we’d eventually purchase to settle down on. Needless to say, that idea went over like a lead balloon. Jamie and I told him that time was running out and abandoning him at the side of the road (how we saw the relationship ending if he continued to do nothing) or getting him a job were not solutions we were happy with. I can’t imagine the stress and worry the kids would feel leaving him roadside. We headed to the preserve and had a lovely time even when Ellen refused to walk and we never got to take a nature walk to see the “real” prarie.
When we returned, Michael had a plan. His plan, to support himself, was that we would give him the Westy, $300 in cash and the keys to our storage unit. He is very lucky I had no implements of destruction when he presented this “plan”. Fortunately for Michael, Jamie was so desperate to have Michael leave that he agreed. I talked him down to $100 and no storage keys and all the kids decided that they would rather have Michael drive away rather than us leave him here at the lake. Michael then decided then and there that he’d leave immediately. It was somewhat shocking and sudden for the kids (we had all anticpated a month of guiding him into a job and supporting himself) but they rallied. In what was typical style for Michael, he neither thanked us for the money and vehicle nor said goodbye.
We were all very very sad and upset and frustrated and worried after he left, and honestly, even this morning (for Jamie and I) but slowly we’re coming out of it. We are all happier. Jamie and I are both amazed (doh!) at how much happier the kids are. Jamie and I feel a sense of hope and freedom we haven’t felt in forever.
Today we headed to Council Grove and immersed ourselves in Pioneer history. We talked about the First Nations peoples, the rape of their land, the hardships of the pioneers, the struggles in new territory and learned an enormous amount. And had cinnamon rolls and cookies and found a great grocery store and incredibly beautiful farmhouses and craftsman sytle homes and, like we normally do, fell in love all over again. We LOVE Cottonwood Falls. We LOVE Council Grove. We are bigoted enough to assume that everyone is very conservative but we love it just the same. We rarely have trouble finding a place to settle down. Our problem is that we find EVERYWHERE to settle down. 
And that’s the news from Lake Chase County Fishing Hole, where the geese are honking, the kids are screaming to outdo them and all the men are goodlooking.
10 responses so far ↓
1 MB // Oct 1, 2006 at 12:03 am
I’m so very sorry. But I’m glad the waiting and instability is over for you all.
Many hugs,
MB
BTW, we too have the “there are just too many good places in this world - how can we choose?” problem.
2 Christina // Oct 1, 2006 at 3:43 am
Hey Kit -
Thanks for the posting. You sound SO much lighter. It sounds like you guys are really absorbing all the wonderful information and experiences to be had on the high prairie. Big hugs all around to you and J and the kids. Catie and Beck especially enjoyed the photo of Sissy.
3 Susan H. // Oct 1, 2006 at 8:01 am
Hi Kathy, AS you know I follow your adventures. I have been in your shoes with good friends before, so I know in a sense what you were going through with Michael. You have done the right thing; some people just cannot be helped but just be proud of how hard you tried! Welcome to your freedom again!
4 TaTa // Oct 1, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Dearest Kitty, Jamie, Jesse, Pike, Caroline and Ellen -
You are a family again. Michael, bless his sad little heart has some wonderful memories of each of you, and although he can’t put it in words, perhaps some day in the future, the love each of you showered on him will pull him through his present inability to operate.
Each of you have planted seeds in him - we may never see them come to fruition. Michael takes with him much more than the Westy and $100. And in his own way, Michael gave each of you something - he did have something to share and to give. Only that which he had, he doesn’t believe in nor understand how to use it to make his own life better.
My hope is that all the “gifts” he received from you, especially your love, concern and caring will someday be realized and appreciated by him.
Let’s hope your seeds fell somewhere within Michael that in time they will come to fruition. It’s about all (and more than) one can do… and you all did all you could.
I am so proud of each of you,
love,
TaTa
5 Bonny // Oct 2, 2006 at 12:53 am
well, WOW. that’s quite an ending to the story. Or beginning of the next story?
email me, darlin - I have a (silly) question for ya
6 John // Oct 2, 2006 at 11:23 am
Soooo glad you are now, once again, a true family…without the problems of an “extended” family member hanging on to you!
I have been in Council Groves many times as my father had two sisters….with cousins for me to play with….who lived in Herington, KS…just west of where you are.
What are your travel plans? You are getting closer to Missouri!!! Keep me posted.
John
7 John // Oct 2, 2006 at 11:24 am
Oh yeah…….sooooo happy you are feeling better after that wonderful “dark red medicine”….the kind that I use soooo frequently. Keep it handy!!!
8 Dr Paul // Oct 2, 2006 at 4:28 pm
We, too, have run across many local museums in our full-timing in our RV these last almost 3 years.
Bahia de Los Angeles in Baja Mexico is little more than a village, but it has a remarkable museum for such a small town.
Closer to you the Harry Truman Museum in Independence, MO was very interesting.
Abraham Lincoln’s Home in Springfield, Illinois and the Lincoln National Park taught us many thing’s about Lincoln we never learned in school. BTW, Kitty, Christina has the book “Manhunt” about the search for Lincoln’s assassin. I’ll bet you’ll read it thru the night.
love, dad
9 Christina // Oct 2, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Hey Kit - I just finished “Manhunt” and it was fascinating. A good read. Wish I could transport it to you out in the midwest a’la Star Trek. Love, C
10 Dr Paul // Oct 3, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Christina:
Can you say “FedEx?” :o)
love, dad
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