May 31st, 2021

You can devise all the plans in the world, but if you don’t welcome spontaneity, you will just disappoint yourself. –Abigail Biddinger

Hello, Family and Friends!

The Dewey Short Visitors Center at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, officially re-opened on May 14th, fourteen months after being shuttered by the scam/plandemic, and more than two months after the original date of March 1. We thought by now that we’d be packing up and getting ready to head out, our commitment of volunteering March-May having ended. But that plan got tossed out the window the day the Visitors Center opened, when we were asked to stay on through Labor Day because another couple had backed out. We’ve discovered that. so often, unexpected opportunities pop up unexpectedly, so we said, “Sure!”

Otherwise, our plan for the summer was to bounce around from one Corps-campground to another and slowly make our way to South Dakota and Mount Rushmore by early September. Staying here seemed like a better option, though. The benefits far outweigh the cost of cancelling the seven reservations I’d made ($10/each.)

For one thing, having a free RV hookup and no fuel or maintenance expenses for three months in exchange for 2 or 3 half-days a week will save us a ton of money. Also, volunteers are able to see the shows and attractions in Branson either for free or for half-priced (and there are so many to choose from!) But possibly the best reason of all is that we feel safe, being hunkered down here. All things considered—rising fuel costs, vaccine/vaccine passport, border/illegal immigrant situation, not to mention all the brouhaha over the November election audits—that carries a lot of weight these days.

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Our job is to welcome everyone with a smile, answer questions, help with demonstrations, distribute giveaways, straighten up when needed, and perform duties as assigned (such as prepping the conference room and theater for meetings or workshops.) If it’s slow, one of us is allowed to go outside and pick up litter in the parking lot and walkways…which is something Dave loves to do. The Visitors Center is a gorgeous, state-of-the-art building and our first indoor workamping experience. I know we’ll be so grateful for that come July and August when the outdoor temperatures sizzle!

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We were assigned an RV spot on the south side of the Visitors Center parking lot, which is great because it’s a short 2/10 of a mile walk from Felix to work. Not only is the location perfect, but the timing is, too. Currently there is construction being done on the bridge over the dam, limiting thru-traffic to one-lane, and backups are a common thing…so we’re grateful we were assigned an RV spot here instead of at the alternate volunteer parking area on the other side of the dam—especially if this weekend’s holiday traffic was an indication of what the summer will be like.

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Our trusty pups, Biscuit and Victor, seem to love being here. They don’t like it when we leave to go work, though—as evidenced by scrunched up area rugs—but they’re adapting. Besides taking them for long, daily works around here, we take them with us just about everywhere we go, so they get to smell new smells all the time. They LOVE car rides—the longer, the better—especially when a trip to Andy’s Frozen Custard is on the itinerary.

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Until next time, take care and be well. Peace, love, and great big hugs, Maria ☺️

PS It’s been almost five months since I quit Facebook, and the only thing I miss is not being able to post on the Gratitude 365-page anymore. However, the daily Gratitude Challenge is still alive at www.gratitude365.us. Just thought I’d throw that in since a couple of friends asked if the Gratitude-page was still current.