Every year around this time - now until June or so - we usually get one or two people who could best be described as a bit crispy around the edges.
These are people who drift into town with no marketable skill and no money thinking that they can survive on people's good will for the summer. They feel that they have stumbled upon the bestest place in the whole world and they just want to share it with you.
There are minimal support services out here. There is a food bank and some mental health providers but, these services are overwhelmed by the people who live out here, have put down roots here and have been here for three and four generations.
Our little hamlet used to be a city of 9,000 people - all timber industry and ancillary businesses. There was a railroad that went through town. There were sawmills and a blacksmith shop. All that gone and we are down to about 200 households. We have people whose grandparents logged and they are still living on the family homestead but barely hanging on. These are the people we support and give charity to. These are our friends and neighbors.
What has me so riled is that xxxxx was here last summer and despite all the talking to from people, he insisted on staying out here until it started snowing. The snow has melted and he is back. Nobody has ever returned for a second year. He is (my guess) bipolar and will yell at people and talk to himself a lot but when anyone suggests that he move to Bellingham, he says how this is the only place he likes.
He had to come from somewhere - we just need to find out where and see if there is a back-story we can use to get him to a place where he can get the help he needs.
He was trespassed from my store last year and asked me tonight if he could come back in. I witnessed some of his outbursts and I will not let my employees be subjected to that kind of behavior, let alone my customers.
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