Wednesday, February 27, 2008

St Paul, MN

Well, I had the pleasure of encountering Marilyn on a city bus in St Paul, Minnesota this morning on my way to work. She was passing out two-sided photocopies of her message to me and my fellow bus riders. To further emphasize her point she had a laminated copy of her screed affixed to some sort of a necklace and another copy of it taped to the back of her coat. Though I'm certain I could have engaged her in some fascinating conversation, being that it was only 7:15AM I felt more comfortable to just opt to listen to her interactions with other passengers.

I was of course shocked to learn that John Rodwin Rinwald was with us on the bus at that very moment! Other than that, there's not much more to share except that she muttered something about God and Thanksgiving as she traipsed off the bus to a near-by convenience store.

I've scanned a copy of her message (attached) which curiously features an image of her Amtrak tickets from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Minot, North Dakota

  • Letter (pdf)
  • Saturday, February 23, 2008

    Winchester, VA

    12:50 Saturday Feb. 23 , I encountered the distraught middle-aged black from my vehicle at a traffic intersection near Apple Blossom Mall, Winchester, VA . She hand me a handwritten tract of obscure rambling accusations which I shared with my wife. We subsequently prayed for sanity and safe passage for her stressed-out mind in this fast-paced hectic world. Godspeed...

    Friday, February 22, 2008

    Stephens City, VA

    She might be harmless, but when she came into my hotel asking for copies, the copy she handed me, said "Tis man and woman is in the building now". In the corner of one of the 3 pages she left, she wrote hotel abuse of guests and staff.

    When it's 9pm and you're alone, this is pretty scary stuff.

    I'm not sure but I think the cheese done slid right off her cracker!

    Monday, February 18, 2008

    Reno, NV

    I am a skycap in Reno today I met Mrs. Gibbs she told me that she was a lobbyist flying to Washington D.C. she then handed me three pages of senseless rants which i and my friends greatly enjoyed throughout our workday. I feel bad for laughing, i hope she gets some help.

    Wednesday, February 13, 2008

    Auburn, CA

    Well, I believe I encountered Marilyn in Auburn, CA, so apparently she made it to her destination. She was on a street corner, and motioned for me to roll down my window. I opened the door instead, and took her paper, which appears much like the one scanned in by the previous poster. She was very pleasant, and it was a brief encounter, since I was at a four-way stop.
    No word on where she is headed next, so I'll be watching the postings.

    Monday, February 11, 2008

    Battle Mountain, NV

    A middle aged black woman approached me in a small grocery store in Battle Mountain, Nevada on Feb. 11, 2008. She said, "I am an activist and I'm heading for Auburn, California."
    She handed me a piece of paper and walked away. The writing appeared to be senseless rambling of a trouble mind but did speak of a bus ride and the driver so I assumed she was passing through since we have many buses stopping along I-80. I almost discarded the paper but tried one of the names on the internet first and found this site. During this brief encounter she appeared pleasant and calm but in a hurry.

    Thursday, February 7, 2008

    Salina, KS

    My fiance and I saw Marilyn on Feb. 7th, 2008. She was at a bus station/truck stop in Salina, Ks. We were sitting at a table when she came up to us and told us she was an activist like Martin Luther King, except without the money, and handed us a manifesto that was very bizarre! It read the same as everyone elses. She was very well dressed, articulate, and presented herself in a respectable manner. She asked that we deliver her "protocol" to a domestic violence shelter and then she went on ther way. I think we spent 30mins reading the thing, trying to figure it out. We assume she must have come across some terrible abuse in her life that scarred her terribly. We wish her the best and hope she remains safe and finds someone that can give her the help she needs.