PCC News Monthly August 2017 | Page 7

FINDING A FOREVER HOME After ten years in Dewey, aka Prescott, Carol, Katie, and I are no longer one of those, ah… so- called snow bird families. The Prescott Country Club is finally our “forever neighborhood.” Farewell Bullhead City. Larry Wonderling By now, you probably know how Carol, Katie, and I feel about the PCC—perfect altitude for moderate seasonal weather, compared to those nearby lowlands and highlands. The scenery is spectacular, the animals, fowl, and even the reptiles are very tolerant of sharing their ancestral territories with we “newbies.” Also, there are plenty of dog lovers and human neighbors who are caring family members. As for the essence of this article, it was around June 22, when I noticed an old pickup truck parked in the wash. The truck belonged to a homeless guy who had apparently been stuck there for a few days. I virtu- ally slid down to the pickup at about 8 a.m. Peering through his windows, it became obvious, the vehicle, filled to the ceiling with clothes and personal stuff, was his home. After a few more taps, the back boarded window gradually opened and a half asleep, bearded man smiled. I explained I lived nearby and I asked if he needed help. Tall and rather thin, he thanked me for my concern as he drank eagerly from a water bottle. He added that a few others in the area were prepared to help him, and one gave him some water bottles. After a friendly chat, we exchanged names, shook hands, and I returned home. The next morning, dur- ing my walk with Katie, I noticed that the pickup was gone. Then I learned from several neighbors the most gratifying aspect of this story when Sheriffʼs deputies received a call about the stranded pickup truck. I learned that the homeless guy ate dinner with one of my neighbors who lives across the street, and that anyone in our mobile home PCC neighborhood who discovered the stuck pickup was ready to help him. In fact, they reportedly all told him that, like it or not, he was a neighbor as long as he remained in our neighbor- hood; and that they would always be ready to assist him. I further learned the real clincher about the day after I knocked on his windows. Two neighbors in addition to two Sheriffʼs deputies spent several hours that evening helping Mr. Homeless remove his thoroughly stuck pickup from the wash, while later getting a tow truck to finish pulling him out of the wash, and apparently towed him out of PCC. Once again, youʼre reminded, as we were, why we cherish our neighborhood and our decision to make PCC our forever home. – Larry Wonderling, Ph.D. Email: [email protected] Celebrating 13 Years in the Country Club ~ Thank You! “When you expect the best” Joan DeLabio & Annie pccnews August 2017 7