Drum Roll Please…The Rally

I know I left you all wanting more even before I ended that last post. I can’t blame you, I was living it, and it only got better. My suggestion to you…fill up your cup, settle in and enjoy the story. 

When Rob signed us up for a profile on the RVillagers app I shrugged my shoulders and continued doing whatever I was doing. When he said, “I got us tickets to this RVillagers rally,” I thought, “What in the hell is RVillage? I have never even heard of that.” There is usually a pattern with Rob and I, he talks, I don’t listen. He says, “It’s like a Facebook for people that like to camp.” I never heard one word of any of that. 

So blindly I jump head first with him (and later without him) into a gathering of people, each with their own stories and lives they have created with the camping lifestyle being the center of it all. Whether they had a Class A diesel pusher or were daydreamers curious of how we do what we do, we are all one community of people. And this last week, I found my people. And as you can imagine, as with most of my people, it was an unusual cast of characters. This is a short story of only a few, because this was one of the most diverse groups of people all assembled in one location I had ever seen. There was literally someone for everyone. But onward to my people…

The night before the rally begins we met Mari Mabus and my life will never be the same. And neither will yours. Mari Mabus deserves her own post and possibly her own chapter. I will only give you the highlight for now. Mari has a few pets she travels with. Including, but not limited to A PARROT!! As she was loitering around my campsite, she told me about her traveling bird. Now, if she had shown up at my site with this parrot on her shoulder and a patch on her eye right out of the gate, I would have demanded she pull up her pant leg. I could have potentially met a real life pirate and it would have been GOLD!! A pirate at a rally. I would have brought her rum and shouted “PARLAY” everywhere we went. But she didn’t have a patch, not even glass eye. Bummer. So forcing her to show me her potential peg leg was out of the question. She might have thought I was weird. 

At one of the Get-Togethers I met Mike and Barbara who still look at me with a side eye. I don’t blame them, I would too, I called her Debbie the entire first night I met her. I think they still like me. But if not, there is always Bryan and Lynn. I shared my toilet paper mache clog story with her when I was a few drinks in and they still like me. She even thought enough of me to tell me not to poop in a bucket. You never know what random piece of advice will save you down the road. That’s why you should always have a Lynn on hand. 

Now every night in the heart of the music and festivities on the common grounds, there were metal sculptures called Firebirds filled with wood and set ablaze for warmth and amazement. They really were nothing short of awesome. One night while I was at The Firebirds, I met maybe one of the funniest people I’ve been able to banter with in a very long time. Her serve and volley were unmatched as we played an extensive game of verbal ping pong. She was definitely my people. Because, well, listen to this. Her husband registered them for this event. Upon arrival, they got to the registration booth and her husband checks in to get their credentials and welcome bag. She looks at her name name badge and says “Who the hell is EJ Famous?” He promptly elbows her in the ribs to quiet her protest. He had given her a fake name! Why? Who the hell knows and who the hell cares, that is a great story! And Mrs. Famous has an equally funny husband. Obviously. 

And then there was Mary. Sweet, sweet Mary. Not to be confused with Mari with an i. Everyday there were several classes and seminars in various locations throughout the park on a variety of topics. Ranging from technology on the road to resources in this lifestyle, your days could be filled with anything you wanted to learn about. I met this Mary at a seminar and she stopped to ask if I was from Indiana, I had on a Colts t-shirt. We struck up a great conversation and after a while she asked about my story. I gave her my background and brought her up to speed on our current situation. She leans in closely and whispers, “I knew it had to be something like that. You’re so pretty.” Maybe if she saw me with only half my eyebrow that day she may not have drawn the same conclusion.

But on our last night at the Firebirds I had the pleasure of meeting, through attempted murder, Gina. Now, not all campers at this rally were murdery. Just her. I can’t help but keep calling her Stacey because she vaguely reminded me of my college roommate that used to terrify me and hide aliens in my bed. As she was fitting me for my custom, complimentary glow necklace comprised of exactly 2 glow sticks short of a full circle I said, “There is no way that’s going to fit me,” as I slowly took a step back. Her response, “Well let’s try anyway,” came as a surprise to me as she continued forward with a wide smile and a twinkle in her eye. I’m anxiously awaiting an RVillage Get-Together that she hosts because I hear they are fun as shit and I enjoy listening to her accent and avoiding near death experiences.

And lastly, no rally, of any kind, ever, on the face of this planet, or any other planet is complete without sister wives, including this one. How exciting would that be to have not 1, but multiple women screaming that you’re doing it wrong while you back the camper into your site? Marriages can be made or broken with the simple shifting of a gear and the alarm of the back up beeper. And this guy has 3 of those opinions shouting at him what direction to turn the wheel. What a lucky, lucky guy. 

The moral of this story is, you get out of anything, what you put into it. I got out of my comfort zone, went to classes, seminars, and Get-Togethers. And I got unforgettable friendships and an understanding that people are as interesting as I am. I’m thankful Rob signed us up on a website and for a rally to a growing community of people that want to connect and fellowship across the country. Moving forward, I can’t wait to be present and participate in one of the rapidly increasing lifestyles sweeping our country. Whether you are full timers or weekend warriors #youarenotalone…RVillage…be there or be square.