Boxcar Bertha - No City Lights

 Boxcar Bertha spent many years wandering the country, riding the rails when she could, and just plain walking when she had to. She would get a job once in a while to earn some money, and soon as she had a small nest egg, she took off again.  She really loved the life of a hobo, technically a hobo will work when they have to while a bum won't. She had many friends along the way. Some of them gone now, but some visit her at her small apartment now that she retired from the life. Her comments:

Riding the rails was a good life for me, sure isn't for everyone. But I enjoyed the freedom, liked seeing a lot of this big beautiful country with my guitar over my shoulder.  But it's a rough life. After about 30 years, my body is just too worn out to do it anymore. I worked enough to have some money in the bank, and worked enough to get Social Security and Medicare, so I'm better off than a lot of rail riders. Too many of them don't last, die from disease, accident or injury. I'm lucky to have made it this long. One of the things I miss the most is sleeping outside under the stars. I did that a lot, always picked my spot carefully, and when available I'd cut some thin pine branches to lay on the ground under my blankets. The scent of the pine combining with the fresh air, punctuated by all the sounds of night, made for the best sleeps I've ever had. Luckily, the apartment complex I live in has a very nice area, a mini forest that's almost as good as being out in the wild. I got permission from the landlord and told my neighbors about me sleeping outside in the mini forest sometimes. No doubt some of them think I'm not wrapped too tight, especially when I'm out there snoozing away on a cold night. But it helps me to stay grounded, literally, physically, and emotionally.

Her simple guitar accompaniment fits the gentle song, her tribute to sleeping under the stars. 

Ever slept with stars overhead 

In a night as black as can be 

A bed made out of pine boughs 

That conform to your body 

 

No city lights that will invade 

Slumber that is deep and free 

With the scents and sounds of the night 

That refresh your sanity 

 

 All by yourself, but really not 

There's plenty to keep company 

It's a feeling that most forgot 

The earth and all its sympathy 

 

 Don't have to go far aback 

Don't need to take much along 

What you can fit in your pack 

And escape the teeming throng 

 

You'll find a place that's just right 

A spot where you feel you belong 

Your eyes get used to little light 

So just stretch out and sing your song 

 

Mother Earth will cradle you 

Look out at darkness so deep 

Before you know, you'll be all through 

And drift off to a peaceful sleep 

 

 Do your best to learn the lessons 

Of earth and its connections 

To your life, your body, and soul 

It is the mother earth's intention 

To offer you direction To help you be happy...and whole