Overall, I would give yesterday high marks in all areas, and although the Old Man will certainly NOT win any charm contests, his behavior was well within acceptable limits.
I knocked on the door at Elsie's House yesterday about noon, and they had him on a recliner in the living room with one of the residents. He referred to her as 'Tony' and her mental condition was so declined that he appeared to be a Rhode scholar by comparison. Both were asleep when I entered the room, and she was sitting with two very life-like stuffed animals. I tried to introduce myself and she went into a long discourse on raising her feet in unison. While this was going on, Rosie was shouting, "This is your son, talk to him!". And, all he could say was, "What do I do now"? When three and a half of us finally understood what was going on, the topic switched to, " why don't we go for a drive".
So, Rosie wrote down his menu (I remember Joe mentioning that he accepts no deviations), and we put his walker in the car, and off we went to a McD's at the corner of 43rd and Thunderbird. Thankfully, there were few people in the store, and when I told him what he was going to get he said, "Oh, I could never eat all of that". However, when he began on the McNuggets and salad, he started wondering (loudly!) where were fhis cookies and sundae. The entire procedure took over a half hour of ravenous focus with as little conversation as possible. My presence was completely unnecessary. When we got home (three minutes later), he scrambled up the driveway on his walker, and was back in the recliner in no time flat. I talked with him for a few minutes, but he kept drifting off. I went into the kitchen and talked a bit with Rosie, another helper, and Marilyn, and then left to get supplies at the local Walmart Superstore. Of course, Marilyn didn't remember who I was, she was pleased that I remembered who she was, and thrilled that someone knew that she had been a nurse on Long Island.
The next visit will be noonish today. I told them that I would be doing a workout, and then will come by the house. I don't know what we will do, but I would imagine McD's is in the offing. And, because of all the discussion about his problems with the bathroom, I do not anticipate any long journeys.
Both flights departed and arrived almost precisely on schedule. Although it is true that American Airlines offers wifi on the flights, it's five bucks for thirty minutes or $26 all day. It was amazing how many people had their smart phones set for wifi hotspots, but, of course they were all encrypted. I spent most of yesterday reading Pasternak's DR> ZHIVAGO.
The room is slightly threadbare, but tolerable.....it was probably quite the place, thirty years ago. I must pay for all seven days since I booked with an outside agency, so if I go to Tuscon, it'll only be a day trip.
I am the proud rental owner of a brand new Toyota Camry. It's got GPS, a backup camera, and more features than I could ever figure out. And, all for.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE....fifteen bucks a day!!!!
I think that the food is much higher than Springfield (even at Walmart), and lunch at McD's was ten bucks and I only had a senior coffee and a dollar cheese burger.
It's down to the free breakfast and then maybe a run in the neighborhood or straight to LA Fitness.....more as it occurs....seeya kw
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