CELEBRATING ANOTHER
BIRTHDAY
Our week has been typically lacking in excitement. I complained to the City about the dishwasher
permit and, of course, received the bureaucratic response that I expected. In my youth I think I might have been willing
to “go to the mat” but at this stage in my life, too much activity might create
more anxiety than effective “due diligence”,
Our big event this week was celebrating Ken’s birthday and though we no longer feel the need to acclaim our aging years, I decided to indulge (or haunt) him. We have enjoyed many wonderful meals at the
Fisherman, a restaurant on the pier in San Clemente. On our infrequent trips to and from San Diego or when we
are in the vicinity of San Clemente we tend to indulge ourselves with a trip to the pier and an appropriate restaurant extravagance.
As a Thank You for our patronage, The Fisherman rewards Ken with a birthday coupon for a free entree. Ken is always excited with the recognition as well as appreciative of something free. Most years we can’t coordinate our travel within the dates the coupon is good. The last time we were at the pier we discovered that Amtrak not only goes right by the pier but that two trains in the morning and two in the early evening stop at the pier long enough to load and unload passengers. With this information I decided to treat Ken to a special day and revive our memories of another era.
I discussed my idea with him and we agreed that we could catch the 950 AM train to San Clemente, have lunch at the Fisherman, walk the pier, grab an umbrella and sit on the beach and catch the 520 PM train back.
As a Thank You for our patronage, The Fisherman rewards Ken with a birthday coupon for a free entree. Ken is always excited with the recognition as well as appreciative of something free. Most years we can’t coordinate our travel within the dates the coupon is good. The last time we were at the pier we discovered that Amtrak not only goes right by the pier but that two trains in the morning and two in the early evening stop at the pier long enough to load and unload passengers. With this information I decided to treat Ken to a special day and revive our memories of another era.
I discussed my idea with him and we agreed that we could catch the 950 AM train to San Clemente, have lunch at the Fisherman, walk the pier, grab an umbrella and sit on the beach and catch the 520 PM train back.
Some of our most memorable celebrations with Ken’s Uncle Bob
and Aunt Gladys were of similar trips. Back in the day, we would catch a train to San Juan
Capistrano, have dinner and catch the next train back on its way back from San Diego to Los
Angeles. Our memories of those
wonderful celebratory events are precious to us today as we recall many treasured times shared with that wonderful couple.
I purchased tickets for our planned escapade on line, called our son Gary and
asked if he would let us ride with him to Union Station on his way to work and
bring us home after work. The timing
worked well and Gary agreed. Thursday
dawned bright and early with a slight overcast, but otherwise the day seemed to encourage our youthful
enthusiasm for adventure.
We arrived in San Clemente at 1130 AM, enjoyed a lovely lunch
of sea food extravaganza at the Fisherman and started our trek up the pier. The
weather was magnificent. Slightly
overcast, a light breeze and near perfect temperature. It was neither too hot nor too cold. Ken insisted that I take my walker which helps
make my long walking events more tolerable. However, he failed to consider that he might
not be quite as spry in the walking category as he once was. We made it to the first bench of the 1,296 foot long pier and stopped,
ostensibly to watch the surfers below. Upon resuming what we now recognized might be, for us, the equivalent of a hike up Mt Everest. We were shocked to realize that our walk on the pier would take the better part of
our day. Fortunately, the benches were well placed for climbers such as ourselves and we can tell you first hand that every one of the benches on that
pier are suitable for sitting! Some needed cleaning and we performed our civic duty in the cleaning category which proved our contributory status even in our old age.
On our way back, we stopped for a brief birthday toast and by then it was nearing 415 PM. Ken was still too full from lunch and too tired to enjoy his intended splurge of the Fisherman’s “to die for” signature mud pie. Regretfully, we made our way back toward the embarkation area where Ken found a patch of grass and took a nap. I watched over his nap and contributed by assuring those passing by with a puzzled look that he was okay. We were waiting and ready when our train arrived at 520 PM and the conductor helped us aboard. Terri had worried that Ken would not get his daily nap and we had discouraged her concern. In retrospect, perhaps we should have listened more carefully and prepared more adequately?
Our schedule worked perfectly. We arrived back at Union Station approximately 10 minutes before Gary arrived on the shuttle from LAX
and I can tell you first hand, we were glad to be chauffeured home. The next day Ken had his regular appointment
for rehab and his morning greeting reflected a wish that he did not have
to go. Like the trooper that he is, he rallied his energy and did his scheduled rehab.
Ken declared the trip wonderful and the memories special while
conceding that he may have been made aware of some previously unacknowledged limitations.
Terri has laid the law down.
The next time we should make it a two day trip and she stands ready to
pay for our overnight stay. Sounds like
a plan! With an offer like that, a monthly event sounds inviting!
