Caterwauling

Last night was my third in a hotel with Bella, normally my happy travel kitty, spending the entire night singing the song of her people.

So with no sleep and also knowing I am working today (which, believe me, happy to have this job — I am not suited for anything else!), I asked the universe to remind me to be grateful.

I ran to Foxtail for breakfast. Which, the coffee was good but my sandwich was as frozen as it was bland. And I got a free drink coupon for my trouble.

As I gnawed on my heated-again-this-time-to-an-infernal-temperature bagel, I saw a woman eyeing the trash can in front of me.

She had a full shopping cart of, well, things she’s clearly picked up.

I was going to throw away the half of the bagel I didn’t feel like busting my teeth on. But I decided to take it to the car so she wouldn’t think it was something good.

Anyway I was not gone six seconds. But the woman somehow conjured up a half-full cup that clearly looked like an iced coffee.

I ran over to her and I said they gave me a coupon for a free drink next door. Go get yourself a fresh cup. I said it’s good for any drink — get the best one!

Man, she lit up the biggest smile under the sun. And I noticed she had perfectly applied bright red-orange lipstick. Like, she might be in dire straits but she was not going to sacrifice her beauty ritual.

Anyway, it wasn’t much and I wouldn’t even have thought twice about it after I left. And in a normal world, I would have NEVER written about it. Too many others do that and I find it tacky AF.

But I had told the universe to remind me to be grateful. And I got almost an instant reply.

I hope she used the card. I would have used it but I was happy to have turned what would have been a useless visit into something good.

I couldn’t wait to get to the HOB for some Voodoo Shrimp tonight.

My food intake was a piece of candied bacon and a mango Dole Whip by that point.

And I would go on to have an entire flight of Dole Whips and a Dole Whip float after.

(Adulting is getting drunk off Dole Whips. And don’t even bother buying the ones in the freezer section. Not even close.)

Anyway I took the last available seat (and maybe I’ll talk about my crazy bar stories from STK last night).

Some woman said she’s so proud of me, being out and about by myself.

She asked where I was from and she said she’s from Jupiter. Which, the last hospital I had Mom in. So, she must have felt me bristle a bit.

Anyway I get this whole reading that, “You have someone on your shoulder” and I said good I hope. She said yes.

She also said she picks up abuse around me. Which … my cats are assholes. Mom’s ex-husband was an abusive shit. I’ve known a few psychos in my life too. Then there’s the hospital system roulette. Spin that wheel, Bob Barker.

She said I have to take some time to rest but I have one massive battle ahead with someone or something.

Great. Don’t any of you take that as a challenge, since she said I will defeat you.

Jen gave me her number. Her man said don’t use it if you don’t want her to stalk you with all these things that come out of her mouth.

After I heard her stage-whispering, “SHE’S ABUSED!” I figured I should take his advice.

She also made him hug me. Which was the best part of the interaction.

I would have been impressed if she said there’s a mother energy around you or something else that might have resonated with me.

I mean, if we’re all reading people here, I looked at her and felt like she might have the gift but she might not know what to do with it other than drink to drown it out.

Ask me how I know that trick.

In any event I might look up her number to see what I can see.

But I am bummed as hell that the Voodoo Shrimp that I used to buy two of at $10 each and then $16 each so Momma and I could each have one is now $24 for one serving. Same five shrimp and three wedges of jalapeño cornbread.

I am also bummed that I am literally going out there and putting myself out there and, while I am generally meeting lovely people,

I am not meeting people who have much in the way of a message from Momma. Or who could be a friend or a date or anything other than what they are — a story to tell.

I’ll have to write about Susan, the gal from Minnesota I met at STK who, yes, knows Tim Walz because who doesn’t. Or Kaia who bought me a glass of Caymus. Or the girl who looked like Kat who told me how to get to Magic Kingdom faster than any of the people on our tram. (She was right!) Or Summer at the KSC badging office who saved us so much time by sharing her spare ticket. And so on.

Anyway, maybe Jen is right. I should be proud of me for putting myself out there. I should also be proud of me for knowing who or what to avoid. Like, well, her. Even her man said it!