A Troubled Time

It was sometime during this period that I lost the support of PNT. LTR had become increasingly uneasy over our friendship. I can't blame her, we were spending a few hours, a lot of afternoons together. But the end seemed so sudden to me. For the sake of his family, it just stopped. I was still struggling with the secret I was keeping from my family about J's death. And I missed my oldest son. It had been 3 years and the aneurysm had become an old friend I could live with, though not comfortably. I had realized some time after that first year or so that I might live. There were no longer all the rides in Semi trucks with the 6 men friends. The group was still meeting, and growing, around 5 a.m. at the diner and often some of us met up again around noon. I did still make an occasional short truck run, but I'd limited who I went with to a couple of guys who didn't have families. When PNT stopped the private meetings for LTR's sake, I was suddenly adrift. FLF was still my confidant, but she never had the same understanding. I guess the difference was that she was always critical of me. She never accepted me as I was. I just wanted understanding and support. PNT had always talked me through things without criticism. I sure wasn't getting any support from my husband. And when I realized he didn't care the same way LTR did about my "men friends", I added that to my growing list of resentments.

Then along came CH 34 after which a small incident led to my first earth shaking revelation. It started so simply, and really had nothing to do with the CB radio. One day when I left one vending account and arrived at the second, I had to park on High St. because the lot was full. I got my car parked across from the Hospital and was reaching under the seat where I'd put my purse. I needed money for the meter. I was startled by someone tapping on the drivers window. It was the Meter Maid. I rolled down the window to see what she wanted. With the worst snotty attitude ever, she demanded I immediately fill the meter. I've got a quick temper and I told her in a duplicate attitude I was trying to do just that. This woman had been on the other side of the street when I'd parked. She jaywalked to give me a rough time. We exchanged a few more words and she finally crossed back to continue what she was doing before crossing at the light and coming down my side. I made sure I had filled the meter and left by then. Though I waited just inside the hospital door to make sure I didn't need to run back out to attack her. The witch. It had occured to me she might give me a ticket anyway and say there wasn't time on the meter. Good thing for both of us she didn't.

That evening on the CB radio I was talking to the new group on CH 34 and I complained about that meter maid. I tried to make it a funny story, but I WAS a bit angry as I remembered it. And that is how I discovered my new CB buddy," FlyRod, was the Chief of Police. In other words he was the meter maids boss! And he was very interested in the exchange I'd had with "that woman." (I'm rather embarrassed to admit, she was fired. Though I was assured there had been other complaints and I shouldn't blame myself.)

Anyway, I was very interested in anything FlyRod might be able to find out about J's death. I told him I had questions concerning the law and he told me his office was always open. Just come in anytime. I analized my story and my questions all night.