I arrived at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch a day or two before the events started. I set up my hammock next to the river. I put my rain tarp up over my hammock for shade. I was relaxing in my hammock when a woman parked down the river from my campsite. She drove a small car and parked where the gravel meets the grass. She was obviously much older than I. She displayed a handicap tag from her vehicle. I saw her pull a new tent out of its box. I know tents can be a challenge to set up for the first time. It is a good idea to practice setting up the tent at home. I watched her efforts figuring out the new tent for a minute or two. Then I went over to introduce myself. She welcomed my assistance setting up her tent. Together we made the task much easier. It was a large tent and I could not imagine setting it up alone.
I discovered that this woman has been attending TMMR for several years. She was here last year, and her friend had been killed in an unfortunate freak accident. A motorcycle was traveling through the vendor area. Her friend and she were crossing the street. The motorcycle struck her friend. Her friend hit her head on the pavement and later died from the head injury. The woman telling me the story was walking next to her friend when she was struck by the motorcycle. It was a difficult thing to experience. So the woman decided to come to the TMMR event this year to honor her late friend. She rented a golf cart to get safely around the venue. The golf cart was a great idea. She had a seat at all the events. The cart could be parked in prime spots to view the events.
As the conversation continues, I discover this woman went on a cruise last fall. This is the same year as the unfortunate accident. It was her and a different girlfriend on the cruise. While the ship was underway, her friend passed away. This was just a few months after the motorcycle accident that claimed her other friend. I decided to keep my distance from this woman who was now referred to as the Black Widow. I say that lightheartedly. She was a nice woman honoring her friend. I remember mornings sitting in the creek sipping my coffee. I look downstream and see her tent perched on the riverbank. The door to her tent opens. She’d step outside and give me a wave before starting her morning routine. I’d wave back.
