Desert Messenger

12 www.DesertMessenger.com June 15, 2016 SEE GYPSY PAGE 16 PROLOGUE: I remember the first time a wrong turn became a right turn. I don't remember my destination....heading west some- where...but I ended up in Laughlin, NV. I'd never been to Laughlin, and it was too late in the day to either travel on or backtrack. I parked free at one of the casinos overlooking the Colorado River and stayed two weeks! I don't drink, smoke, or gamble; so I just let the gamblers support me while I ate delicious meals, walked the River Walk, enjoyed the beautiful scen- ery, and danced the night away to terrific live bands, all for the cost of a free glass of water! (Now I go back to Laughlin each year to escape Christmas.) I left Quartzsite yesterday with 116-degree heat forecast, once again ignoring the note on my bathroom mirror that warned me to leave before June, before the serious heat strikes. I am very good at ignoring that note; it has been on my mirror for the past ten years. I stopped in Q to check my email and pick up coffee for the trip. I returned books to the library and filled the gas tank. At last, my "leaving Q list" was complete. The RV air conditioning worked well, and I was looking forward to using my $10-off coupon for my favorite eggs-Benedict breakfast at Mimi's in Avondale, just before Phoenix. Vowing never to drive through Phoenix again but wanting to use my coupon, I chose a Saturday to avoid the weekday work traffic. I had decided to drive north on Highway 87 to Payson; then Pine to dance at Sidewinders. I knew Hwy 87 was after the Hwy 17 exit so I just drove on and On and ON. I began to think I had missed the exit and considered turning around. Then, when I was almost to Casa Grande, Exit 587 appeared. I took a chance that it was really Hwy 87, and it was. (Have faith!) I gassed up in Payson and drove 15 miles through the Tonto National Forest to Pine where I took a nap and danced until the band stopped at 9:00 p.m. (small town hours). I remembered the times I house-sat in the area. Payson has wonder- ful free outdoor concerts in the city park by the lake, and Pine has a great library and thrift store. I remembered the cute little grocery store with the terrific in-house bak- ery with all sorts of bakery goods including several kinds of "home- made" pies. I decided I would only buy a pie if it was marked half price. No luck; so I consoled my- self with the fact that I had saved myself a lot of weight, dollars, and sugar. Sometimes, my will power amazes me (but not often enough.) This morning I looked, but resisted, the bakery again and left for Flagstaff. The drive up the mountain and through the forest was lovely. I kept an eye out for the turnoff on the left which would take me to Flag. I took the one I remembered, and guess what? I ended up in Cottonwood. I guess the turnoff to Flag was further on. Why don't I ever check the map? Was it Erma Bombeck who said, "If life gives you lemons, make lemon- ade?" Well, I thought, since I'm go- ing to Cottonwood, I'll get to have Huevos Rancheros for breakfast at Pepe's, my favorite restaurant in Cottonwood. I'll eat at Nic's in Old Town which has half-price food on Sundays. (I had the crabby mac and cheese. Yum! It was served with the best bread I've ever tasted and a dipping sauce of olive oil and fresh garlic.) Then I'll dance at the Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) Wrong turns are often right turns - Cottonwood COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW? POP-UPS? SPYWARE? TROJANS? Quartzsite WiFi Computer Repair, Service & Support (928) 927-5592 • Computer REPAIR & SUPPORT for Home/Office • PC Tune Up • Wireless Networks • WiFi Boosters • Office Equipment Service/Support www.QuartzsiteWiFi.com Your Local Year-Round Choice $ 350.00 per denture when purchasing an upper and lower Dental Laboratory Service, LLC Call: 623-444-4013 Goodyear, AZ http://www.DLSAZ.com FREE CONSULTATIONS Same Day Dentures and Custom Premium Partials and Dentures • US Military Trained with 30 plus Years Experience • 1000's of Satisfied Customers • Extractions & Implants by Licensed AZ Dentist DENTURES Desert Messenger MyQuartzsite.com ONLINE

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