After my wife died, and I got through the probate and all the estate issues, I decided to buy a used RV and hit the road. I just wanted to get away from it all and start fresh. I found an RV I liked, a 24 footer with a double bed in the back, a decent-sized bathroom and plenty of storage space. I outfitted it with items from Value Village and Walmart, put my bicycle on a rack and hitched my car to the back end. I left a key with a neighbour, who promised to check on the house periodically, and then I locked up the house and hit the road.
I didn't have a particular destination in mind; the plan was just to take it day by day and see where I ended up. If I saw something interesting, I'd check it out. Time and money didn't matter; I'm retired and the pension cheques get deposited into my bank account every month.
I headed south from Calgary to Waterton Lakes National Park and found a spot in an RV park. I hung out in Waterton for a couple of days, exploring the park by car and bicycle. I went on a couple of hikes and saw some bears. I crossed the border to the American side, and did the same thing in Glacier National Park. I decided next I would head to Yellowstone. I haven't been to Yellowstone since 1976, so it was time for return visit.
I headed out of the park through East Glacier and down Highway 89 towards Great Falls. I stopped for gas in Great Falls, and as I was leaving the gas station, I saw a young person with a backpack and a thumb out.
"Some company for the drive," I thought, so I pulled over and clicked the button to unlock the door. The youngster opened the passenger side door. I couldn't tell if it was a male or a female. Mid-twenties, long dark hair, brown eyes, fine features, full lips, pierced ears. Very cute, either way.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I'm going to Denver," the person replied.
The voice sounded male, a bit too deep for a girl.
"I'm heading to Yellowstone, so I can get you at least that far," I replied.
"I'd love to go to Yellowstone," he replied. By this point, I'd decided the person was a young man.
"OK, throw your bag in the back and climb in," I replied.
I put the vehicle in park, and got up to open the back door. I was wearing shorts and sandals, so my painted toenails, toe rings and ankle bracelets were plainly visible to him standing below me. I saw his eyes flick up and down.
He climbed in and I secured his back pack under the kitchen table.
"I'm Greg," I introduced myself, expecting that a name would confirm my conclusion as to his gender.
"I'm Jessie," he replied.
"OK, that doesn't help much", I thought. "An androgynous name for an androgynous person."
We settled into the front seats and I pulled out onto the highway. We chatted, making small talk to make the drive more pleasant. I told him my story, and my plans for the trip.
"I have some family in the Chicago area that I'd like to visit, so I can go via Denver. I can easily drop you off there," I told him.
I learned that he was 24 years old, a graduate in Commerce from the University of Montana at Missoula. He was born and raised in Great Falls, and other than a few years in university, had never been anywhere else.
"My sister Laura is a dental hygienist in Lakeview, Colorado, so I'm going to visit her for a bit," he said. "Mostly though, I just want to get out of Montana."
"Time to see the world, is it?" I asked.
"Yeah, and Montana is just so redneck. I mean, when you look like me..." he trailed off.