Voice of an Angel

Folding clothes and singing like an angel in the campground laundromat is what made me notice her. We talked about music and I invited her and her partner to join us that night at our campfire. I knew they were somewhere near us as I noticed Fran’s motorized scooter making its way to the bathhouse prior to our conversation. Unfortunately it was their last day in Flagg Ranch Campground nestled between the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Fran was a Canadian citizen active in women’s rights and violence protection in Toronto. We talked about border issues (remember this was 2010) and human rights. Timmy was from the United States and the two of them had difficulties crossing the border together. Hard to believe. Two women who loved each other trying to maintain a relationship and traveling together whenever they could. Was it the rainbow bumper sticker that targeted them? Was it that one needed a motorized scooter to get around? I cannot say.

It was a delight talking to them while our clothes tumbled. Down to earth, no pretenses, loving life and the beautiful Park we were visiting. I wished I had met them earlier.


When I retired Skip and I took our first long non-summer vacation driving to Orlando to see Disney at Christmas.  On the way back we drove through the Skyline Drive where we had taken our first trip together many years ago (1978).

We stopped at a lodge rest area and who do I see tooling down the path but Fran! I couldn’t believe it.
Like a crazy person I ran up to her and blurted out, “I know you, we met in 2010,” but I misremembered the National Park which certainly confused her. I kept talking about meeting in the laundromat and her partner singeing...and gradually she may have realized I wasn’t so crazy.

They are married now, recognized in both countries, and still traveling together. In my notes from that trip in 2010 I said I hoped we would run into them later on our trip.  Who knew it would be five years later!

Timmy and Fran, wherever you are, I hope you are well and happy.