So Much For Mental Health Day!

11 February 2022

Story #1058

R. Linda:

The weather this winter has been GLOOMY! It has been cloudy day after day. The clouds sometimes bring snow, rain, or both, leading to ice. Occasionally, the sun peeks out, and we all look at each other and wonder if someone turned on a light. 

This occasional sighting of the gaseous orb in the sky brings smiles, but they don't last long because the light disappears, and we are in the gloom again! To say our mental health isn't suffering from these long, dreary days would be an understatement. To combat the feelings of depression, a kind of hopelessness and frustration, I have decided to take Saturday as a mental health day for the family. 

I reckoned we should travel to places in New Hampshire we haven't been to. We would find things to stop and see, have lunch and leisurely spend our day without phones or electronics. We have been doing this for a few months, and what that one day does has been uplifting. It recharges our batteries, so to speak, and we are all getting along better and smiling, yes, smiling! 

The first few outings were filled with, "Are we there yet?" Mam told the kiddos that this was not a day we HAD to be someplace, it was a day of enjoying the scenery and each other. After three trips like this, they finally got it, and we had no more of that. We did have phone and tablet withdrawal, though. I don't know what was worse, the "Are we there yet?" or the "I need my phone, I'm bored!"

A few months ago, I decided we'd go to a famous trading post. There are bears there, a gift shop, and a train ride! It was a trek to get there, but it was our destination. It had something for everyone, and it did! We were not disappointed. The trained bears put on a show; if you haven't seen a bear up close, this would be a treat. Unfortunately for us, we always see bears in our front yard. The trading post bears are massive animals, and the show is entertaining. At least you know these bears are busy doing their thing and not lumbering through the yard, feeling very peckish. The gift shop has all kinds of New England souvenirs. We had a few balsam-scented small pillows, and the kiddos each had to have one. Mam bought a mini log cabin that burns pine incense and pure maple syrup in bottles shaped like a maple leaf, etc. Then there was the train ride. Oh yeah, the train ride was unforgettable, as it turned out.

We had a nice lunch, saw the bears, visited the gift shop and had some time before the train ride. As we were relaxing and chatting, I felt I could have taken a nap under the fall leaves, a sort of Rip Van Winkle feeling, BUT we had the train ride, and it was about time to go. Feeling mellow (all of us) and at peace with the world and each other, we climbed aboard. The ride takes about 30 minutes, and the scenery is beautiful; there was even a covered bridge down the Pemigewasset River.  Enjoyable? You betcha! UNTIL the guide says on the loudspeaker that we are now entering Wolfman Territory. The 'wolfman' is a prospector with a mine in the area he fiercely protects. 

I have been on train rides where one or two outlaws dressed in cowboy gear will board the train and make like it's a stickup with a lot of humour, and that's what I expected. That's not what happened. As we clacked along, lulled to a relaxed sleep almost out of the woods, this man dressed in raggedy fur waved a gun and fired. The Cowboys never fired their fake guns, but this guy did! BLAM, BLAM!!! So much for the relaxed state. We were all instantly stressed and on alert. Worse, this 'wolf man' was hollering at us, shouting, and jumping around, waving the gun. To be honest, he was SCARIER than all get out; he was! Me youngest started crying in terror at the shenanigans going on. He wasn't the only one. A lot of kiddos had leaned back away from the tirade playing out.

The man beside me said to his wife (loud enough, I overheard), "Is that a homeless person? Sure does look it." It felt that way, an angry one at that. It was as if we intruded on his encampment, and he wanted none of it. We chugged on past him, and after a while, we all settled down and started to relax, the chatter calming down when the train turned around and we headed back. We thought we had seen the last of that guy, but no, that cryptic voice came over the loudspeaker informing us we were back in Wolfman Territory, so watch out! 

Holy Mother of G! No sooner was that announced than the man came flying out of the woods, shooting off his gun, waving it around precariously and shouting at us. No one was amused. We were all frightened to death! He was a menace; this was not cowboy outlaws with jokes; this was a ranting, crazy lunatic!

We all got off the train, sort of shell-shocked from the experience. The ride home was filled with analytical discussions on getting that homeless man some mental help. He had destroyed ours, so why not get a group plan going, and we all go?!

I tell ya! The best-laid plans and all that rot. I have since explored our choices of where we go, so none of that will happen again. Sheesh! Talk about taking a role too seriously. The wolf guy has to tone it down. Never a dull moment, R Linda!

Gabe

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