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How Much You Wanna Bet?

Two days ago I set a personal 5-month record for the most consecutive nights (5) in a single place. Exactly one week ago a little green honda with a red-headed driver climbed a hill, turned a corner, and at long last entered the city they left just under 5 months earlier. Flagstaff, Arizona. The crisp, sun touched mountain town I call home. Home. Now there's a term I haven't used in a while, except in a distant day dream. But now believe it or not here I am. And I have to tell you, it feels pretty good.

I was happy to find that in my time away, besides a couple new Starbucks, bridge and walkway, Flagstaff has stayed pretty well the same. The bicyclists, the hippies, the grungy riff-raff and studded-collar pets lingering on the edges of the town square. A comforting sight. When you've been working your way west for several months, averaging only two nights in a single place, the very thing you want most is normality. Even if that normality is an unbathed, earth friendly folk. It's nice.

As for me, I've spent the better part of the past week simply settling. Sleeping, unpacking, reintroducing myself to the cities coffee shops, digging through boxes I mailed home along the way, and giving slideshow presentations. Not to mention going though a mountain of mail, which leads me to this blog's story and a rich new mystery.

For anyone new to the blog, I'll need to refer you to a previous post entered on August 25, titled: "£100 Says 150 Million". It's a heart warming story of a young man losing a bet but winning a eccentric old friend. And now, the rest of the story. You know of the old man, you know the bet and that there are 91 million people in Mexico. You'll also remember the envelope filled with a mysterious promise of the future.

Here's a few things I didn't mention: 1. The older gentleman had a date that evening around 8pm. 2. The perceptive fellow was impressed enough with me to try to set me up with a date of my own by introducing me to a couple of random ladies as we walked to the bookstore. 3. After we settled our bets, and I signed my address to an intriguing envelope, he invited me to grab a drink before he met his date. My schedule just happened to be open so I agreed and he told me to meet him at a certain London intersection.

Well, I guess I shouldn't have assumed there would be a clear meeting spot at the intersection of two major streets in city like London at rush hour... because there wasn't. So after wandering from corner to corner for 45 minutes, I decided to proceed with my night and a show. I never saw the eccentric gentleman. Rather, I continued my travels throughout Europe and eventually returned home where one day as I dug through a mountain of mail I happened upon an envelope addressed to myself, with no return address and handwriting just like my own... Yes,the envelope!

However, instead of a fat wad of cash as one might foolishly hope, I found the following note penned on a flower covered card:

Hello Derek,
Love to you and your family. Sad, I didn't see you last night, too many people at the underground station. Your friend was very sad when I told them. Enjoy the beautiful country. He said you are very charming.
Love Dina

And now you know the rest of the story. Soooo... what do you think? Please feel free to share any ideas, because I definitely don't know what to make of it. In case you are wondering, no, the guy's name was not "Dina". Who exactly Dina is, I bet will remain a mystery. In fact, the note will probably forever remain a mystery as well. Now I not one for betting, but I can say I'm about 90% sure I will never see that £100 again. Any takers?

posted by Travelin' D @ 1:12 AM