Goodbye, My Friends!

Goodbye my friends. I hope you have a safe trip!

I am sad to report that the police ordered me to evict these folks from our harbor for absolutely no apparent reason. However, by the time I got there they were just pulling out--so I didn't have to be the bad guy at all. Early this morning the police had told them to leave and the kids just went back to bed (HEE HEE HEE! :) So I guess the police thought I would have better luck--not sure what the thought process was there!? They have guns and badges, not ME!

They weren't doing anyone any harm. I allow transient boaters to stay in our harbor EVERY DAY! I was told by a local officer that they "didn't need to be in there with the people that paid big money for their boats and for their slips". That absolutely infuriated me. It was all so wrong!

It comes down to the fact that they were being judged based on the way they look, the way they acted, and what they were driving.

The local boaters were up in arms. One called me today and was sure that they were going to cut his canvas or purposely run into his boat. The boaters were just positive that they were here to steal and destroy. Well...they weren't. Not at all. Someone called the police to say that these kids had broken into a boat in the harbor and when the police arrived they were all asleep on their own boat and no evidence of the boat in question being broken into. Hmmm....

The owner of this crazy looking boat built it with his own two hands with nothing but scraps. It took many months. And these people are on a journey that most people would never find the courage to set out and do. They are passionate about discovering new things and exploring the world. They are full of trust and faith that their needs will be met along the way. They do not worry about material things, money or anything. They just BE and live and explore and discover. They had my utmost respect. I hold them higher than the folks who went out and took out huge loans, with huge payments, bought boats worth a couple hundred thousand dollars all to sit in the harbor and look good and impress the world.

My friend Pat, who is a wonderful, fun-loving, energetic, outgoing grand-mother and even GREAT grandmother went down to visit these folks this morning. I had told her their story yesterday, and she was as intrigued as I. She had a wonderful conversation with them. Asking questions, telling stories, finding out their story. Pat also gave them a little history about Muscatine and had told them about the Pearl Buttons and they were planning to go to the Pearl Button Museum. That is until the police decided otherwise.

Captain Bully, Moss and the others told Pat that during this entrire trip they were not treated as poorly as they were treated in the City of Muscatine. That a way to make a lasting impression!

This embarrasses me, angers me and frustrates me and I am ashamed. I am angry. I am sorry.

I'm not sure why, but I was drawn to these people...led to them...and I felt connected. I wanted to help them, protect them. I wanted to see them enjoying their time here. Not see them being banished.

I learned a great lesson. Many times I have been the judge....based on appearance, actions or what someone might be driving or where they live. I have made assumptions much like the ones made about these transients. Next time I find myself doing that, and I know it will happen again, I will think to myself, "Stop, don't judge, they have a story too...they might be just like Moss and the gang"