Day 3

Well, you remember that instant Karma thing? Karma works in mysterious ways…I believe in Karma…even if I don’t always get to see the end result…And, it’s not always instant…but in this case, humph!

Today “Previous Tenant A” finally deemed me worthy enough to call back. I now know the number and recognised it at a glance. Did I answer it. Good Grief…NO. That’s what Husbands are for! To take over with negotiations when things deteriorate to another level… not on this woman’s radar. There are fewer words involved between men…but lots of meaning behind them.

I called Mike. Mike called him and by noon “Previous Tenant A” was packing his belongings (or rather his belongings that we packed for him) into a truck and handing over 350.00 dollars. It appears he went “camping” . Naturally one would go “Camping” the actual day you’re supposed to move… I’m sure it’s in the tenant manual under selfish, cement headed idiots. I’m certain there is a Political position just waiting for this guy. Maybe a Senator or something?

He didn’t answer my 19 phones calls over a period of 8 days that ranged from really very sweet and charming… to somewhat peeved… to completely and totally… really pissed off. My Family and Friends will both attest that the third is a very rare thing in me…but when it happens, it takes care of everything that’s built up for years… So I’m good for quite some time 😉

Tonight I will meet with the Carpenter, the Electrician, the Painter and Drywall Guy. Hey, why not attack it full force…I’m 10 days behind. Just for fun, I told them to all show up at 6:30pm. I probably should serve refreshments as this will be my first impromptu party…but chairs might actually be even better! Heck, their all younger than me…they can stand!

Sadly, I was just beginning to develop a close personal friendship with all those water bottles…

I’m your Huckleberry…

Tombstone: Too Tough to Die

When you hear the name Tombstone, it makes you think of gunfights on dusty streets and the romance of the Old West with characters like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. Tombstone itself was formed around an area called Goose Flats, after a prospector named Ed Schieffelin, discovered a wealth of silver in 1877. He was warned of only finding his “tombstone” while searching for his treasure.

Tombstone is legendary for many things but none more so than the most famous shootout in the History of the American West…the Gunfight at the O.K.Corral. The gunfight itself happened at about 3pm, Wednesday, October 26th, 1881 in a vacant lot behind the corral in Tombstone. About 30 shots were fired in about 30 seconds. The gunfighters, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp and Doc Holiday fought Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Billy Clairborne, Ike Clanton and Billy Clanton. Ike Clanton and Billy Clairborne (who later claimed he had been unarmed though reports credit him with shooting one of more times) ran away from the fight, unharmed. Both McLaurys and Billy Clanton were killed and Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp and Doc Holiday were wounded.

Of all these infamous Cowboys of the West, Doc Holiday has always held the most interest for me personally. Wyatt Earp was quoted once saying “He was a dentist whom necessity had made a gambler; a gentleman whom disease had made a vagabond; a philosopher whom life had made a caustic wit…” Famous Gambling legend Bat Masterson (one of my favorite tv shows as a kid) was quoted as saying “Doc had but three redeeming traits. One was his courage; He was afraid of nothing on Earth. The second was the one commendable principle in his code of life, sterling loyalty to friends. The third was his affection for Wyatt Earp”.

Doc stood about 6 feet tall and despite all movies, he was a fair haired, platinum blond, built long and lean. Doc’s weapon of choice in his early days was an 1851 Colt Navy revolver given to him by his Uncle. Later in his western career, he carried a nickel-plated .41 caliber Colt Thunder or the .38 caliber Colt Lightening, both double action pistols. He never chose to use a shotgun but was handed one by Virgil Earp during the famous battle, which after firing one shot, threw down the gun in disgust and jerked the nickel-plated Colt, his favorite weapon.

Doc is known to all of us (who’ve watched the most recent Tombstone movie) as a bit of a wise guy with sayings like “I’ll be your Huckleberry” and also making reference to the term “Daisy”. Eye and ear witnesses present at this shooting say that when confronted by Frank McLaury at the gunfight, Doc’s reply to McLaury’s challenge “I’ve got you now!” was “Blaze away! You’re a daisy if you have”! Back then the slang “Daisy” referred to “the best in it’s class” or condensed to “the best”. His celebrated line “I’m your Huckleberry” was also a slang term meaning “I’m just the man you’re looking for”!

It was my privilege to walk down the same streets once walked by these legends and get to see this famous old town. The old courthouse is completely intact, along with the gallows in the courtyard. Allen street is still dusty, lined with buildings from the past, including the spot where the O.K. Corral stood. I looked very much the part as I walked it sporting my new black “Wyatt” hat while holding onto my newly minted “Tombstone Sheriff” badge. Sadly, my mystique wore off quickly when it blew off my head in a strong wind (or was pushed off by an old ghost) and I had to chase it damn near that whole street. I’m sure this “City Slicker” made the “Townies” days. 😉