31 years ago this week I moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  My X came to Charlotte and helped me move my things to his “house” at the beach. To get to his house we had to get to the Outer Banks which back then was all 2 way roads, then go a few miles down Nags Head Wood Rd which was and still is a dirt road, then down the drive way to his house which was a dirt road about a ¼ mile or so long and not that well maintained.  My poor pinto was not accustomed to this kinda driving. After more than 8 hours on the road I got my first glimpse of the house I was going to live in. needless to say the X had not Filled me in on the rustic nature of his abode.

It is hard to describe what I saw when we pulled up to the place but I will try.  Looking from the drive way the first thing I saw was a big house to the left with a breezeway connecting the big house to a smaller house.  To the right was a small building with chickens all around it.  The yard was wet from an earlier rain and there was cow poo all over the place and ducks and chickens were eating it. They say that what a person sees from the curb will influence all future opinions well my opinion at that time was “oh boy” 

 The “house” was an L shaped summer guest house. The living room was a screened in porch in which the “walls” had been covered in clear plastic.  From that porch extending from 1 side was a bedroom area with 2 bedrooms one approximately 7 foot by 10foot and the other about 8 feet by 16 and then a little bathroom.  The other part of the L shape house had a small dining room and kitchen.  My X and I were to have the 7 by 10 room. His water bed was all ready in the room and it was literally wall to wall bed. “Oh boy”

When I first met his land lady I saw an older woman dressed in faded jeans with a floral top that was way too big for her, she had her graying hair braded in the back I am telling you she looked like a female Willy Nelson, as far as I can remember her first words to me were “how long are you going to be staying?” and my reply was “I’m moving in” she just walked away.  It seems the X did not say anything to her about me moving in.  Believe it or not that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship that lasted 32 years.  The land lady was Mary and Mary was my friend.  She died on the 18^th of March; she would have been 82 years old tomorrow.

Thanks in no small part to Mary I have learned a lot, she told the best stories, I have a wonderful home and I am very happy. 

I love you and I miss you Mary Montfort Piron