Sex, Love-child & Whitney's Bookshelf - You never know what you'll find

The location of Tonopah's wifi sites are close-held secrets. In my search I stopped at a motel where the receptionist generously offered the password and invited me to "set uh spell" in the comfort -- at 9:00 a.m. it was already hot outside -- of the lobby.

While awaiting the boot-up I gently inquired: "So, ummm, what's yer plan of escape?" She launched into a heart-rending tale of how, in the army, she'd been trained as a combat medic and had acquired, through natural processes, a child. The skills needed as a combat medic are different from those in urban environs. In town, there isn't that much demand for someone who can stuff peoples' guts back inside their body cavities and stabilize them for shipment. Plus, the liabilities of urban care loom much larger than on the battlefield. Originally from Oregon, she'd returned to Tonopah to be with her family. She likes it and was committed to staying.

Continuing, she admitted to a high level of anxiety. Just that morning, two hours before she was due at work, her daycare guy gave notice. Her best friend had come to her aid but could only help for that day. She was now "wukkin' ha'der din uh cat coverin' shit on momma's new rug carryin' durt fum a mile away" to find coverage for the remainder of the week.

She leant further focus to her attitude as she described her long-term solution. She'd called a disabled Army buddy and convinced him to move -- immediately -- to Tonopah where she would not only pay him $3.00/hr for watching her son, but would let him live with her. He had agreed and said he'd arrive within a week. And all this before 10:00 a.m. !!

Then, in what was (to me) a wonderful display of self-assuredness, she described an evening of impromptu love-making with a friend that, even with preventative measures, had resulted in pregnancy...for her. Her prosody suggested they'd enjoyed themselves. And she made it clear she had no regrets.

She and the boy's father, who was transferred overseas a few weeks after their tete-a-tete, were still on good terms, but he wasn't helping with the costs. She disdained Federal Assistance and took pride in the fact that she paid her daycare people $3.00 an hour. She was making just over $5.00 an hour.

As her story unfolded my admiration of her perspicacity, optimism and commitment deepened. But the wifi was slow. So with well-wishes and a hearty "Good Luck!!", I took my leave. 


Downtown I noticed Whitney's Bookshelf.

An awesum collection, it's on par with The Archives in La Grande, Oregon. I recommend the Adults' section, in the back. Contrary to the stereotype of magazines with vapid-faced models, the BOOKS cover a plethora of orientations and a wide variety of proclivities. Prices are better than reasonable. Open seven days a week.