LADY IN THE TOWER-----MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD

ONE DAY WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT---THAT TINY HOUSE IN THE AIR CAUGHT MY EYE.  Can you see it above the trees?

It's a fire tower of course--and I want to go there.

It's beyond the top of this hill---up that steep road.

Steeper than I supposed---but doable. (this is a going down shot)

And there it is---50 feet in the air.  Lots of steps but I need the exercise.

And Yeah--the view is worth the climb---but not in itself worth reporting to you.

BUT THIS IS!!---Meet Lana---a gentle, open firetower lady with a remarkable story:  Married long ago to a military guy---baby comes---marriage falls apart---no way to make a living.  She got an old camper and retreated to a hidden nook in the vast forest below this tower----AND LIVED THERE WITH HER SON FOR 14 YEARS.  Early in her stay---the rangers discovered her hiding place---sized up her situation and offered her a summer job in this tower.  She gratefully accepted ---did a good job--and returned the next year---and the next 20 years. Meanwhile the son grew up and moved away.

Lana continued to live in the forest  SURVIVING ON 3 MONTHS OF MINIMUM WAGE SALARY.

Often, she would simply live in the tower itself.

Can you see her bed and the edge of her sink? (has to carry water up) There is a fridge and stove also.

I was moved by her story---returned next day with two companions--Laurie (left) and Ginger (right) the lady in the middle is Lana's replacement for Thurs and Fri. She gave me more details about Lana's story.

The hilltop is also a  communication center.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Lana's unspoken message/lesson for the world is: LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.  She has survived for 20 years on the income from a summer job.  LET THE WORD GO FORTH TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE, SPAIN,PORTUGAL,IRELAND, THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO TO THE CITIZENS OF ALL COUNTRIES: Live within your means!

And P.S. Lana's story has a happy ending:  Beginning this month she will receive a widows pension because her long departed husband recently died.

Quest for community caravan update:  Interesting new people in interesting rigs have rolled in---I will show you in a day or so.  Prepare yourself for a whopper.