Written by Teresa Mahlandt
Troy asked me to write an essay on what it is like living with him. I told him to write down; It isn't easy. But then I thought; I'm not easy to live with either. I met Troy on #Facebook (surprise, surprise) 6 years ago. It was in July and his son Brandon Scott Lied had just passed away unexpectedly. I could see it was a hard time for him, but he wasn't going to admit it. Not Mr. hardass. As for myself, I had lost my husband Don one year before to the horrible disease #ALS. We both were in a dark place. Darker than most will ever know. I agreed to meet him at a local campground. So, I bought a sub sandwich for him and headed out feeling sorry for this lost soul. All the while I questioned my sanity. What was I doing? What was I thinking? We met and I gave him the sub thinking he was hungry. He said he would save it for later. We had a very nice talk, and he took my fur baby and I for a ride in this neat purple golf cart he had restored. He was very sweet! A perfect gentleman. When I told my daughter who I was now seeing on a regular basis, she almost fainted. She said he was a druggie, abusive, had been to jail, and on and on. I never listened to anyone growing up, so I wasn't about to start now. I'd decide for myself. Guess what? He was off the drugs, he certainly wasn't abusive, and his past was indeed in the past. The first year with him I felt young again. We rode motorcycle that summer and had a great time. We then sold the bike and purchased a van together. Troy put allot of work into that van. He made it a campervan with a queen size bed, microwave, and coffee maker. He added solar power and batteries. It became a true campervan. On a Saturday night we began Geriatric Trippin on #Facebook. He then took in a puppy he named Brandon in memory of his son. This is the bad boy everyone thought was going to hurt me. I'm sorry to say we took a 6-week trip to #Quartzsite Arizona and Slab City #California in the van. Two fur babies and us plus all our stuff. Omg, it was certainly an adventure! He took me places I never saw or heard of. I didn't enjoy the camping part, but Troy tried so hard to make me happy on the trip. He was so understanding. I didn't change my mind about camping but I do support him 100%. I figure women put up with hunting or fishing trips, I can put up with him camping. He's happiest on the road and I know the cold can be very painful for him. I was used to a spic and span house, everything had to be in its place. But I have relaxed quite a bit since I met Troy. Two fur babies and one big kid, lol! We leave each other do our own thing and it works for us. Sometimes I get frustrated because he eats like a 17-year-old but oh well. He's fun to talk to and we have deep conversations on many topics. Our interests are quite different yet sometimes they are very much the same. We do our own thing with few complaints. He's not hard to live with if you understand what he has been through in his life. Some of it was his own doing and he freely admits it. All in all, I like living with a man named Troy but as in all relationships there are days, I want to ring his neck. I do miss him and Brandon when they are traveling but then I focus on what I want to do. It's been 6 years and we have two close friends, an awesome couple. That's been a big plus since Troy introduced them to me. So far, no regrets. Living with a Troy does have its perks. I try to enjoy all of them and push away the trying moments. I can't see us not being together. It has been so natural at times. Besides, who would push my wheelchair when I get older? I love my Troy! |
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