I met up with a Geocaching great today! He's known for his teeming variety of Geocaches in the Denver area - and perhaps even more around the world! He's found every type of Geocache there is to find for a total of 36,415 caches (compared to my 115 finds). He's attended 282 cache events, and has hidden (owns) 967 caches to his name, according to his web page at geocaching.com
He and I met unexpectedly near a Geocache hidden on a small walking bridge near Denver. We shook hands, and then he stopped to show me how to use my Garmin GPS for Geocaching!
Oh happy day!!! I went back to work jubilantly walking on air, feeling absolutely 'ebullient' after that quick lunch-break geocaching spree and the unexpected, captivating, meeting with "Mondou".
It started simple enough. I was working a 12-hour shift today being "oriented" by a Registered Nurse who's been in nursing about six months. I really tried to stifle my yawns and hide my absolute boredom as I was shown the nursing processes I've been doing for almost 50 years. She was really sweet and worked hard to train me well. But, I'm just saying... When I finally got a lunch break, I tore out of that building as fast as I could run.
The universe rewarded me for my sweet patience and incredible tolerance by presenting "Mondou'.
A highly respected geo-person whom I never expected to actually see and touch. (You know, the "handshake".) lol
Just before the precipitous meeting at the bridge, I had purchased a veggie sub from Subway, surprised and pleased they had drive-thou. I asked for 'two pickles on the side" and got two pickle slices in a little plastic container...Ok this is Denver, Colorado, not Columbus, Ohio where when you ask for two pickles on the side you GET TWO PICKLES ON THE SIDE.
Then, instead of driving back to work and eating in my car or in the employee break room, I decided to see how close I was to a Geocache I'd seen on the geocaching website last night. I'd eat my sandwich while looking for the cache.
Driving to the back of the strip mall, I saw that this one should be an easy walk to a little bridge where I might find the small cache called, "Don't drop this one" (or something like that) because there was a rippling creek under the bridge.
Some kids were running around, but I also noticed an older man walking and holding what looked like a GPS in front of him.
Yep, there was someone else looking for that cache too.
I waited in the car until "he" got back almost to his vehicle, rolled down my window and said to him, "Did you find it?" A surprised look of recognition came over his face, then a smile, as he walked closer and simply said, "Yep".
"I'm Starcatcher55. Who are you?"
"I'm Mondou" was the calm, drawling, reply.
"You're Mondou"? I asked incredibly with a mouth full of cobwebs and a head to match.
Actually, I can't remember what I stammered next. I tried to tell him about the Kiddie Cache my sister and I hid and he made a Geocache favorite, but all I can remember is that I couldn't remember the name of our Kiddie Cache!!!!
Somehow I got on the subject that I was still trying to find more information on how to use the Garmin for Geocaching because Garmin doesn't have very much info on that. I pulled out my Garmin from the glove box and handed it to him. (Speechless still, I think!)
He fiddled around a minute or two. Took it over to his jeep and put in new batteries, made some adjustments, and then proceeded to show me the steps. I wrote them down and thanked him profusely. I'm sure he was a bit amused.
As he turned to leave, I was able to think clearly enough to pull out one of my angel cards about my book and write the words, "Starcatcher55" on it as I offered it to him.
"Thanks Mondou" I squeaked again.
"It's Bill" he responded with a smile.
Jubilant now, I didn't even eat my lunch. I savored the moment before heading back to 'work".
Miss New RN had never heard of Geocaching and didn't seem interested.
But, I managed to slip my iPhone out of my pocket and text a quick message to my sister on my Facebook. "I met the King of Geocaching today! He showed me how to use my GPS!"
This might bring home two lessons...
1) Always be kind and patient because you never know how the universe will reward you.
2) You never know who you'll meet on the geocaching path.
Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda
