AUGUST 26, 2018

BORED AND BORING

It is time to do my weekly critique of the news for friend and family.  Needless to say the news is rather lacking in activity but alas, there is much going on around me.

It is proper that I along with America, express condolences to the family of John McCain a patriot and loyal American.  While I believed he, like all men and women, was flawed he unquestionably contributed much to our country and served it well. I can think of no single individual who even comes close in their personal sacrifices to our country.   He marched to his own drumbeat and while I admired that about him, I can’t help but think that sometimes the stroke on the drum could have been heavier or lighter, as the issue may have required.  That said, what finer tribute can there be to a person than to know that they have truly faithfully practiced the decree, “To thine own self, be true”.  From all that I have read and heard he did, in fact, do that.  I admired him greatly but I am not prone to devout Sainthood for any human being.  I believe that acknowledging our flaws and accepting our inadequacies are steps to improving our life and our future.   I hope that his family can take comfort in his great legacy and all of his good work as they now adapt to a life without him.

On a lighter note, depending on your source of news, the not so quiet drumbeat for the head of Donald Trump banged loudly while the stock market seem to take an Oh hum attitude and Melania’s plans for an African trip were revealed.  You really have to admire Donald Trump.  While his detractors (a kindly observation) attack him and all that he does, he carries on with the deliberation of a bull in a china closet.  I have had moments of analyzing my own feelings about this man who is our President and while he is imperfect, it seems to me that we know more about him and how he really feels about issues that affect us all than we have ever known about any other President.  At least, that is my view as reflected in the wisdom of my young life.  He does have a sensitive streak that could be better controlled in his own best interests but you do know where he stands and that he is aware of what is going on around him.

I think when the sun sets and the dust has settled, I might do an analysis of our President and examine how I really feel about him.  As I said in my second paragraph, I am not prone to Sainthood for any human being but neither am I afraid to admit that “there is good in the worst of us, bad in the best of us” and I believe “ it hardly behooves  any of us to speak evil of the rest of us”.  (While many have expressed variable versions of the quoted remarks, I first heard it from my second year High School English teacher although I had to Google the saying to fine tune the ending.) 

Having said all of the above, (and if you read it) you are probably wondering what we did this week.  I am learning that I do not have to abide by any alarm for the time of my rising.  I am learning to sleep in – sometimes as late as 10 AM and it is not surprising that all of my chores still await my attention.  

Our day out was a bit boring with a trip to get gas for the car, lunch and shopping at Costco.  Lauren came up for a visit and brought Oakley.  She invited Oakley to go into the pool but he was uninterested.  He has joined Holly and Cooper in rejection of the pool.  Ungrateful and spoiled dogs they are.  

Ken completed his cardiac rehab Wednesday morning and was granted a certificate of completion.  Wednesday afternoon he had a skin cancer removed from his back that required 23 stitches.  Other than that, we are well and life is good.  

Phil and Sheri came for dinner and we got a recap of Phil's recent five week trip to the East Coast. Gary and Marci are preparing for their Alaskan departure Thursday.  They will celebrate Marci's birthday aboard ship.   

There you have it – not much news of us but rather observations from what was on my mind today.

Until next I take keyboard in hand, have a great week.    

August 19, 2018

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.

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!