I am not religious, but I think the Bible says something about having to lose it all to find it. That about sums it up for me. I took off chasing fantasy relationships and get-rich-quick schemes—I know, I know, I should know better, right?—and lost virtually everything I owned and then some. So, I find myself in Terre Haute, Indiana, of all places and liking it—loving it might be too strong. I have been here since the end of August, and through continued folly, I reached the end of my finances at the end of September. Being a veteran, I turned to their services first.

The admitting clerk was a retired Marine gunnery sergeant, nicest guy ever, who took me under his wing and set up a plan for me. The fact that I had my two toy poodles with me was a little bit of a glitch at this point, but he got me in one of the apartments for homeless vets with a young guy named Herman, Army, I do not know the rank, but not far up. I had my own small room for the dogs and me and it worked fine. I was so happy to have a roof over my head and be in a safe place. I had only a cot to sleep on—that was an experience—but I had brought enough blankets that I made it work until I could get my own apartment.

While this was going on, I am still talking to my online Mistress/girlfriend who I had been warned time and again was bogus. Gunny said the same thing, but I persisted in believing in her. No fool like an old fool. I had no more money to send, and Gunny would not be so nice if I were to send her any more money. But I was involved in a scheme with her “cousin” who purportedly worked for Sprint. It worked as long as cousin Penny was paying my phone bill. In the end, it was another scam, and I was left holding the bag.

Gunny was pressing me in the meanwhile to make some decisions, and I opted to take a one-bedroom apartment just down the hall from my current room. It would be so nice to have my own place again. Herman was okay but rather taciturn. He had a pregnant wife who would visit the apartment on occasion. I remember that he would burn the eggs when he fried them. Stunk up the apartment. I would also be able to have my wine with dinner. No drinking or drugs allowed in the homeless apartment—too many vets with substance issues.

(to be continued)