The YOUAREME Guy

Last night I decided to start my trip a day early by driving up to the Cache La Poudre Scenic river area. The drive up the Poudre Canyon was beautiful and helped to let my mind wander. I stopped at the second campsite I came to since there didn't seem to be that many people camping there. The fee ($17) was pretty hefty but I figured it would be nice to have water and a picnic table as I organized all my gear. After about an hour I had camp set up and everything organized, so I decided to take out my new toy. For a very long time I've wanted to learn how to play the guitar but for various reasons I never tried. So yesterday, as I was getting supplies for my trip I stopped in a music store and bought a cheap beginner's kit. So there I was, sitting in camp going through all the items in this kit but basically not touching the guitar because it looked rather intimidating, when my camping neighbor walks over. This guy is easily 6'6" tall, wearing a Fat Tire baseball cap, carrying a half empty box of wine, drinking out of a wine glass, and staggering just a little. "Hi, don't mind if I come over?" I said, "Of course not!". I'll talk to anyone, especially if they have a good story to tell. I quickly learn that not only does this guy have a story to tell but he also needs to tell it, so I listen.


"I have my own business installing window treatments but it has been really hard lately. The last 3 months of last year I did 40k in sales but the past 3 months of this year I've done $200. I keep sending out resumes looking for work but no one is hiring. There is one company that has some work but they are in South Carolina and I live in Ft. Collins. I don't know what to do but since I'm going to get divorced from my wife I'll probably take the job and move. I've never been to the east coast but I like to kayak and surf."

There is a lot there but I focus on the important issue..."Have you already filed for divorce?"

"Not yet. My wife and I have been together for 8 years, married for 2 but she kicked me out of the house and so I figure we'll probably get divorced." After some lighter conversation, he steers the focus back to his crisis. I then ask a very simple question: "Do you love her?"

"Oh YES! I still love her." Then I'm thinking why are you at a campsite drinking with a stranger when you should be at home, trying to work things out. Of course, he is adamant that he can't go back, so I'm sure he did something he regrets but that just makes the making up much more fun! Right? Well, I try to cheer the guy up and eventually tell him a shortened version of my story. blah, blah, blah...when he stands up and shouts, "YOU ARE ME!". Then he hits me on the arm and sits back down repeating, "You are me, 4 years in the future.". Um, ok, calm down have another drink. "Imagine the odds of meeting like this! Crazy." yeah, craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy.

After a couple more hits to the shoulder he asks me to hit him hard in the ribs. Huh? "yeah, hit me as hard as you can." No. "Go ahead, do it." I begin to think that I need to end our conversation and call it a night. Ok. "Harder" "No, harder." ...maybe I shouldn't have shared my Vodka with this guy.

Guy, "Hey where are you going?"
"North. Wyoming, Montana, and probably Canada."
"Can I go too?"
What? Um, how do I get out of this situation without any complications? "Sure but I'm leaving early in the morning."
"Great. I'll park my truck and you can drive."
WTF? "Um, you need to drive too since I may have to drive back to Denver if work calls."
"Oh, ok. See ya in the morning."
whew...
This morning I got up and quietly drove away. I felt bad but the guy was a little strange and had some anger issues. While I wish I could help him, the best thing for him would be to either go back home and work things out or head to South Carolina, not freak me out for the next few days in remote areas of Wyoming. Yeah, I still feel bad about it.

As I was driving away I thought about when I was in a similar situation and if everything had worked out for the best. My answer came almost immediately and I laughed to myself when I thought of all the things I wouldn't have been able to experience and all the new friends I wouldn't have taken the time to meet.

If the YOUAREME guy reads this post someday I just want to say it was good talking to you and I hope your difficulties quickly work themselves out.