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​55 Strangers

#49  Kenny and his Junkyard

2/21/2013

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​Curious Encounter in 1977

Kenny was 52 years old when we met in 1977. I was exploring an area in the Missouri Ozarks with some college classmates when we came upon what appeared to be a dump in the middle of the woods.
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I can't recall when we first laid eyes on this jovial hermit, but I still have some notes and photos that bring back this interesting character.

​Kenny's Yard
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Luckily Kenny wasn't bothered that we'd come upon his secret world.  He shared a toothless grin and offered to show us his home.  
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First he took us to his main home, a converted school bus.  We walked past an old round washing machine and onto a sagging roofless porch and climbed the stairs into his home.

​Inside
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We stepped inside a cluttered, filthy space with a sagging mattress in the corner and kitchen counters built beside the windows.  It was hard to imagine children sitting in this bus once. 
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Kenny opened up a tiny refrigerator (I don't recall how this bus was powered) and offered us some of his brew that filled a large, chipped crock.  Kenny used a mug to scoop out a sample of the beverage made from brown sugar, yeast and rice.  I declined politely. I have a feeling this brew was the key to Kenny's good spirits.

The Saddest Part
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Kenny didn't act like someone who wanted to be pitied.  In his somewhat tipsy state, he seemed pretty proud to be tour guide.  When I asked how long he'd lived there, he pointed to a tree through the window.   "I ate a pear once and now there's a tree."  I'm not sure I believed that, but I did believe that at one point Kenny had made this bus his "home".  
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There were signs of attempts long ago to decorate. There were curtains on a back window and photos tucked above the side windows.  There was one photo of a young Kenny with what I presume was a wife and children.  I was haunted by that photo for a very long time.  He had been a surprisingly good looking man, with a family.

Kenny's Trailer
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Next door to the bus was a trailer.  
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I don't remember if we even went inside, but I remember we said good-bye at the door. 

The Promise
 
We said good-bye to Kenny at his door.
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We promised we be back in the winter to visit.

​Winter

We did return the next winter when there was snow on the ground.  Kenny didn't offer us any brew and I remember he seemed sober.  Maybe it was just the fact that he had on more clothes, but I like to think he was healthier.
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Thanks, Kenny. 
You didn't run us off with a shot gun or hide inside to keep us wondering.  You shared a little of yourself and we respected you for that.  Maybe you really were content living that life, but I selfishly hope your life got a little better. 
​
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         FIFTY-FIVE
        STRANGERS

    To celebrate my birthday in April 2012, I decided to reflect on the past with a different kind of list.  I've met a lot of people in my 55 years, but I'm going to stop and remind myself about the strangers I've met.  These are  people I met by accident, not through friends or work.  For some  reason, these  strangers dropped into my life.  Even though we may have only spent a few minutes together, these people have never been forgotten.

    Each week, I'll spotlight  someone I met in the past, who in some small way, made me stop and think.

    MY GOAL: 
    Remember 55 Strangers

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  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
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  • The Barbie Bucket List
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  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!