Day One
This is an email that 'recaps' my adventures on the first day. This is a trip to Sun City, AZ, and ran from Wednesday April 27th to Tuesday May 2nd. Fun, Fun, Fun.....
Today was a long and grueling journey, and I could have handled it all with serene acceptance, EXCEPT for the fiasco at Fox Car Rental in Phoenix. After arriving almost two hours late, I took the bus to the off-site rental center where all the rental agencies are located in one building. I only noticed one sign for Fox, and it was on the lower level. I waited in this line for almost twenty minutes before I found out that this was the line in which you picked up your car after you had already been processed. And, that counter was located upstairs, and I stood in that line for almost two hours. During those two hours I spoke to other people who had been downstairs, and had waited in that line before they were told that they had to go upstairs and wait in another line. When I finally completed the rental, there were probably eighty people waiting, and the last person in that line was looking at a solid four hours of standing! None of the other agencies had any people waiting, probably because Fox can beat all other rates by only running a skeleton crew.
And then, when I got in the car to leave, I noticed that there was slightly less than a quarter of a tank of gas. I'm supposed to bring it back full, but I start with an almost empty tank--not in this life time. I located a woman who seemed to be in charge, and she made a note that I could bring the car back with the same amount as when I accepted the vehicle. I had only asked her assistance in opening the trunk (it's done by pressing down on the ignition key, I've never had a car with that feature), and that is when I happened to glance at the fuel gauge. Can you imagine the scene if I were to bring back the car with a quarter of a tank, and tell them that this is how much was in it when I drove off their lot?
In any event I arrived in Sun City almost three and a half hours late, and he didn't seem the least bit aggravated. I was upset that I told him that I would be there about noon, and that he could skip his ride to the fitness center, and I would take him. When I sat down we talked for a bit (he seems to want to 'organize' what is going to happen), he wanted to go to LA Fitness and get my pass (this is always good for a very slow thirty to forty minutes), workout, and then go out to eat. It was almost 345pm, and I reminded him that we probably could not accomplish all of this and be back for the chat with you. He had completely forgotten! So, we settled on hitting the buffet, and that worked out just fine.
We had to get back to his house at least forty-five minutes early to 'set-up' for the chat. This involves running all kinds of anti-virus scans, and utility programs which he will not stop unless they are run to completion. I told him that it does no harm to 'cancel' a scan (so that he would not be late coming on-line with you), but he is deathly afraid of all of the "filth" on the Internet, and he feels that it all must be "scalded" off or irreparable damage is caused. This is why he is late coming online, because he insists on running these programs before he connects. Of course, this falls on "deaf ears".
And speaking of "deaf ears"...He doesn't wear the hearing aids, because he doesn't need them. However, I had to shout over, and over that he couldn't hear me, and he just laughed. He clearly only pays attention to what he expects you to say, and if it deviates, he tries to read lips. And although, his glasses looked to be something 'off the rack' at K Mart, and aside from the very severe stoop, I think that, overall, he is in fairly good shape. Tomorrow morning I am to meet him at his house at 845am. His 'helper' picks him up around 9am, and they go off to the fit club, and I will follow them, get the pass, and I will stay a bit longer. But, I want to talk to these people about the hearing aid problem, and why they can't help him to find a pair that work. However, I guess they cannot force him to do something if he is dead-set against it, and although I know he doesn't think his hearing is fine, I do think that he believes that the hearing aids make it worse. And, I don't think that vanity is keeping him from wearing them, but there should be an answer to the problem.
He receives a detailed rundown of the hours that the 'helpers' spend with him, and I saw a copy of this in the Arizona Room, but I didn't have a chance to look at it closely. This is how they base his monthly bill, and he keeps an eye on it, and I plan to see if I can check this out a little closer.
He wanted to 'organize' what we could do for the rest of the time that I will be here, and he seems not to like the idea of going out each night to eat. He is concerned about gaining weight, so I suggested that he cook some meals at his house, and we can eat there. That is what we are going to do for tomorrow. Also, I got him to go 'back into the stacks', and I suggested that we go through some of the folders and photos in the bedrooms from many years ago. I really had never been in the bedrooms before, and they look like film footage from the TV show, "Hoarders". I attacked the issue by saying that he wanted to do something about the clutter, and maybe we could 'walk down memory lane', and sift through what was valuable and what was not. His defense was that he could not part with anything unless you were with us. I backpedaled, and said that we don't have to actually throw away anything, but maybe it would give him an idea of what valuable stuff he could show you and Joe, the next time you are out here. Realistically, I don't think that he would part with one single computer magazine from 1981, but I might force him to see some pictures, ancient devices, or articles of clothing that might get us into some kind of a dialog.
In any event, this seems to be the tact that we will take. His helpers will take him to workouts, and I will workout longer, and I'll meet him at his home later in the day. Then, we will sift through the debris, and I'll see what I can get him to say. Some nights we, 'eat in', other nights we, 'eat out'. I suggested since 'neither of are getting any younger', that this might be the best way for us to spend our time together. Up to that point, he wanted to "do something for me", but it seemed that all he wanted to do was to go to Best Buy, or Office Max, and buy me something to take back, and I told him I cannot take anything back. In fact, I have brought three old tee shirts, and three ancient pairs of underwear, and they are NOT going back-- they are going into the Surprise, Arizona landfill. Oddly enough, he mentioned that he would "compensate" me for my trip, and he offered $750. I guess that's his opening offer, because my flight was about $360, motel $410, and the car will be about $200, but I'm sure we will arrive at a realistic figure.
Anyway, the plan is to stop him from 'organizing photo shoots', and let's see if we can 'see some photos'.......
Don't expect such a detailed update each day, but I was just so tickled to check in, and connect to the Internet with a minimum of hassle that my little fingers were flying, and some Budweiser was involved.....seeya...kw
Today was a long and grueling journey, and I could have handled it all with serene acceptance, EXCEPT for the fiasco at Fox Car Rental in Phoenix. After arriving almost two hours late, I took the bus to the off-site rental center where all the rental agencies are located in one building. I only noticed one sign for Fox, and it was on the lower level. I waited in this line for almost twenty minutes before I found out that this was the line in which you picked up your car after you had already been processed. And, that counter was located upstairs, and I stood in that line for almost two hours. During those two hours I spoke to other people who had been downstairs, and had waited in that line before they were told that they had to go upstairs and wait in another line. When I finally completed the rental, there were probably eighty people waiting, and the last person in that line was looking at a solid four hours of standing! None of the other agencies had any people waiting, probably because Fox can beat all other rates by only running a skeleton crew.
And then, when I got in the car to leave, I noticed that there was slightly less than a quarter of a tank of gas. I'm supposed to bring it back full, but I start with an almost empty tank--not in this life time. I located a woman who seemed to be in charge, and she made a note that I could bring the car back with the same amount as when I accepted the vehicle. I had only asked her assistance in opening the trunk (it's done by pressing down on the ignition key, I've never had a car with that feature), and that is when I happened to glance at the fuel gauge. Can you imagine the scene if I were to bring back the car with a quarter of a tank, and tell them that this is how much was in it when I drove off their lot?
In any event I arrived in Sun City almost three and a half hours late, and he didn't seem the least bit aggravated. I was upset that I told him that I would be there about noon, and that he could skip his ride to the fitness center, and I would take him. When I sat down we talked for a bit (he seems to want to 'organize' what is going to happen), he wanted to go to LA Fitness and get my pass (this is always good for a very slow thirty to forty minutes), workout, and then go out to eat. It was almost 345pm, and I reminded him that we probably could not accomplish all of this and be back for the chat with you. He had completely forgotten! So, we settled on hitting the buffet, and that worked out just fine.
We had to get back to his house at least forty-five minutes early to 'set-up' for the chat. This involves running all kinds of anti-virus scans, and utility programs which he will not stop unless they are run to completion. I told him that it does no harm to 'cancel' a scan (so that he would not be late coming on-line with you), but he is deathly afraid of all of the "filth" on the Internet, and he feels that it all must be "scalded" off or irreparable damage is caused. This is why he is late coming online, because he insists on running these programs before he connects. Of course, this falls on "deaf ears".
And speaking of "deaf ears"...He doesn't wear the hearing aids, because he doesn't need them. However, I had to shout over, and over that he couldn't hear me, and he just laughed. He clearly only pays attention to what he expects you to say, and if it deviates, he tries to read lips. And although, his glasses looked to be something 'off the rack' at K Mart, and aside from the very severe stoop, I think that, overall, he is in fairly good shape. Tomorrow morning I am to meet him at his house at 845am. His 'helper' picks him up around 9am, and they go off to the fit club, and I will follow them, get the pass, and I will stay a bit longer. But, I want to talk to these people about the hearing aid problem, and why they can't help him to find a pair that work. However, I guess they cannot force him to do something if he is dead-set against it, and although I know he doesn't think his hearing is fine, I do think that he believes that the hearing aids make it worse. And, I don't think that vanity is keeping him from wearing them, but there should be an answer to the problem.
He receives a detailed rundown of the hours that the 'helpers' spend with him, and I saw a copy of this in the Arizona Room, but I didn't have a chance to look at it closely. This is how they base his monthly bill, and he keeps an eye on it, and I plan to see if I can check this out a little closer.
He wanted to 'organize' what we could do for the rest of the time that I will be here, and he seems not to like the idea of going out each night to eat. He is concerned about gaining weight, so I suggested that he cook some meals at his house, and we can eat there. That is what we are going to do for tomorrow. Also, I got him to go 'back into the stacks', and I suggested that we go through some of the folders and photos in the bedrooms from many years ago. I really had never been in the bedrooms before, and they look like film footage from the TV show, "Hoarders". I attacked the issue by saying that he wanted to do something about the clutter, and maybe we could 'walk down memory lane', and sift through what was valuable and what was not. His defense was that he could not part with anything unless you were with us. I backpedaled, and said that we don't have to actually throw away anything, but maybe it would give him an idea of what valuable stuff he could show you and Joe, the next time you are out here. Realistically, I don't think that he would part with one single computer magazine from 1981, but I might force him to see some pictures, ancient devices, or articles of clothing that might get us into some kind of a dialog.
In any event, this seems to be the tact that we will take. His helpers will take him to workouts, and I will workout longer, and I'll meet him at his home later in the day. Then, we will sift through the debris, and I'll see what I can get him to say. Some nights we, 'eat in', other nights we, 'eat out'. I suggested since 'neither of are getting any younger', that this might be the best way for us to spend our time together. Up to that point, he wanted to "do something for me", but it seemed that all he wanted to do was to go to Best Buy, or Office Max, and buy me something to take back, and I told him I cannot take anything back. In fact, I have brought three old tee shirts, and three ancient pairs of underwear, and they are NOT going back-- they are going into the Surprise, Arizona landfill. Oddly enough, he mentioned that he would "compensate" me for my trip, and he offered $750. I guess that's his opening offer, because my flight was about $360, motel $410, and the car will be about $200, but I'm sure we will arrive at a realistic figure.
Anyway, the plan is to stop him from 'organizing photo shoots', and let's see if we can 'see some photos'.......
Don't expect such a detailed update each day, but I was just so tickled to check in, and connect to the Internet with a minimum of hassle that my little fingers were flying, and some Budweiser was involved.....seeya...kw
posted by valis1949 at 7:35 AM
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