After weeks of uncertainty, Scotty Gosson Exposed is
back in business in a new improved location. Several Craigslist leads guided me
to dead ends before connecting with a great rental space in a historic
commercial building in downtown Medford, Oregon. At the cost of my beloved Bi
Polar Bear ’80 Malibu station wagon, I’m now safely ensconced in brick
surroundings that formerly housed a mapping company. My floor of the building
(the third, or top level) is in the midst of a remodel, so it isn’t quite
luxurious, but will soon be. In the meantime, I’m so grateful for warm and dry
shelter that words fail me. I can only say that getting here has been an eye/heart/mind-opening
adventure, and so worth the thrill ride.
With over six weeks of writing time lost since drifting into
homelessness, I’m now playing catch-up at a frantic pace. I’m not complaining.
If anything, my grin is wider than ever.
Only I know which
door knob leads to safety and which ones trigger the attack dogs.
My driveway.
I’ve heard would-be drift heroes practicing their moves here, late at night.
Skateboarders otherwise rule the parking garage. Business hours are devoted to
storing commuter vehicles, but on weekend evenings, a festive mix of night clubbers
and foodies can be found comparing notes on all three floors.
Even my rooftop parking
space offers a panoramic view.
The upstairs
entryway. Inviting, huh?
I’m renting my space from a guy who sells printed material from America’s most beloved wars, with a
focus on the Civil, first and second World Wars. Blood money, sure. But it's a living.
The spacious new
SGE office, with a dazzling view of another historical brick building across
the alley.
Attention Cartech
Editor Bob Wilson: I’m back at work, with one eye on the deadline. Don’t worry
about a thing, man…
Imagine my surprise when I awoke last Saturday morning to
marching bands and thousands of jubilant local citizen revelers, cheering in the streets
below. They were celebrating SGE’s triumphant arrival in the newly refurbished downtown
area! While touched to the point of tears, I somehow performed my
photojournalist duty to document the event from my apartment window.
God bless the
SGE fans. They came by car…
… by truck…
… by bike…
…on
horseback…
… by any
conveyance or contraption imaginable…
… some out-of-towners
even flew in…
…many
arrived on foot…
… music filled the streets…
… and the
people celebrated with dance and song…
… all were
there to take part in greeting SGE like the tightknit community that they
comprise. Their outpouring of support has made me feel a member of the downtown
family, mere hours after considering myself a social orphan. Incredible. Never
give up five minutes before the miracle!
Oddly, my surprise welcoming party took place on the same day
usually scheduled for the annual Pear Blossom Festival. Southern Oregon (and
the Rogue Valley in particular) has celebrated the agricultural milestone for
many years, never missing a single iteration, no matter the weather - until
this year! Weird. I hope they get back on schedule next year, as I believe the
pear farmers deserve their moment in the sun, too. I know that’s profoundly modest
and selfless of me (after just saving downtown from certain bankruptcy), but it
just seems like the right thing to say.
