As I have written in the past, Anchor Marina is in the process of reaching some sort of critical mass. No sooner did Mark return from his graybar hotel sabbatical than he fell right back into his former pattern of behavior that got him into trouble in the first place.

I do not pretend to understand the lure that those sorts of things hold over human beings. The closest that I can come is to try and understand it in terms of my own sailing addiction. That however, is part of my own soul, and comes from the inside out, so therefore, I can’t help but wonder if perhaps the other is the same, that destructive behavior is a manifestation of a rotten interior, a morally decayed soul. It leaves me melancholy and rather jaded to consider this though, and so I try and think about other things, like changing out the raw water pump impellor on ‘Divs iron heart, or tackling some other project on the list.

 The combination marina / RV park is pitifully behind on paying its required bills, even though it is at capacity with tourist land yachts, and most of it’s slips are full. No, the money collected is quite probably being diverted to self serving and destructive purposes by the owner, and any money that does happen to find its way to legitimacy more than likely goes to fund overdraft charges at the bank. It is a pathetic situation, which has resulted in the various utility companies issuing deadline ultimatums regarding the termination of services if bills are not paid.

AEP gave a cut off date for electricity, and Laguna Madre Water District gave notice that the water would be shut off if not paid by last Friday.

Some of the fishing guides who keep their boats up on electrically powered lifts have moved out, fearing that if the electricity gets cut off they will be unable to get their boats back down and into the water, and some of the tourists have withheld payment until they can make sure they too will be provided with ongoing services.

I rely on Jim and Janice to provide me with updates from Anchor Marina now that ‘Div is down the street, tucked into her own quiet (but in the face of northers, tumultuous) existence next to Wind Fit.

On Friday, the water bill was still not paid, and just before five o’clock the service truck showed up, and out jumped the field guy, tee wrench in hand to secure the water line. Horrified tourists lined the cul-de-sac wondering if they were going to have to resort to their on board water tanks, and what the next chingaso would bring.

Suddenly, Mark came charging down from his upstairs mausoleum into the broad daylight, folded check held high overhead as if to hail down a taxi cab, pleading with the water district field guy, telling him that he was on his way to the billing office over on Port Road to settle the account and to please not turn off the water.

Just then Rick the Moon (remember him from “Never Moon the Possum Cops”?) shows up as if on queue with his new sidekick, Dock Boy, and the three of them pile into the cab of the tiny import pick up truck and speed off towards the Laguna Madre Water District office. It is now 4:55, and the water district field guy is poised over the tee wrench, waiting, waiting for word whether to secure the services, or let them be. The folks lining the cul-de-sac stood on the curb in front of their motor homes, fifth wheels, and travel trailers and held their breaths, suspending all operations, waiting too see what would happen next.

At 4:58 the phone rang in the water district field guy’s truck, and he walked back there to answer it. Saying nothing, he removed the Tee wrench, climbed back into the cab of his truck, and turned around in the cul-de-sac, driving out of Tarpon Street.

The water remained on.

Tourists returned to their R/V’s, fifth wheels and travel trailers, and time no longer suspended. resumed its forward march as people began to prepare dinner, or settled down in front of television sets, another crisis narrowly averted.

I wonder what’s gonna happen though when the check inevitably bounces?....and believe me......it probably will.