Well, we are here, and just finished watching Miss USA. This being a Trump production, it pains me to watch, but David loves the beauty pageants. Here he is in the swimsuit competition. He is now snoring away (again, he will deny it, and I have threatened to record it, but it just seems like too much trouble). We had a great first day and were in the pool twice. Actually three times for me, but David joined me twice. Donovan came to visit, we brought over the lanterns that Chrissie, Gene and Liz. Thanks guys! They look great, and can’t wait to break them in by the pool one night this week. Everything looks terrific, and while none of the fruit is ripe, the lemons, grapefruit and oranges look like they will have a big harvest this year. This morning we awoke to the sound of birds, and the sight of all the flowers in bloom in the yard. The hummingbirds were very active!
We went to one of our favorite places for a drink and some tasty nibbles tonight – Tropicale. So nice when the sun has dipped below the mountain, and the air becomes less lethal and more sultry. It was only about 106 today. The only real problem is the car. It gets super hot, super fast in the sun. Speaking of the car, I took it for a bath, which it needed. Desert sand and wind do not make for a clean car!
We stopped by the storage unit to get some clothes, and then off to TJ Maxx to fill in the gaps. I didn’t want to bring too much luggage so only packed minimally and we now have to wait for the movers. We’ll do laundry every day so we have clean socks!
Yesterday’s travel was, looking back, OK, but during the trip, miserable. At Newark Airport I had a run in with a TSA Officer. I will blank out the names, but here is what I sent to the TSA:
On Saturday, June 15th, my husband and I were traveling from Newark to PSP, and the experience at security was very uncomfortable and at times, downright hostile. My husband had a severe stroke in July 2012 and has difficulty with speech and his right side is very weak. He is in a wheelchair, and we were separated after I helped him into the glass booth where he would be searched. I collected our items after they had been x-rayed, I waited patiently while Officer ___ searched David, and this took quite a while. Officer ___ left him alone in the booth and after a few minutes David began to look distressed and motioned for me to bring him his cane. I opened the door and handed him the cane, and Officer ___ began yelling at me to leave the space, which I did immediately. He then began berating me for opening the door, which had no sign or notice that only authorized personnel could enter, only a notice asking passengers to give the TSA feedback. He then called me stupid for not understanding that the door was not meant to be entered. I suggested that a sign or locking the door might be a better solution. He then began arguing with me about the lock, and threatened to have me arrested, which I would have loved, quite honestly, at this point. He said that he wasn’t finished with my Father, to which I said that he wasn’t my Father, but my husband, to which he replied “now you are going to miss your plane”. He began wandering around the area for a while, and responded to one of the other agents that they would have to wait when there were other patrons who were in wheelchairs who needed screening.
Fortunately, I gave ourselves plenty of time, so I was never nervous about missing the plane.
It is sad that folks who have a very important and difficult job to do, and my experience is that they do it well, are having their reputation ruined by one person who doesn’t know how to treat the citizens who pay their wages.
I will add to this that while I am under a lot of pressure as David’s primary caregiver, I followed Officer Yao’s instructions completely, and never lost my temper.
OH, brother! Well, the rest of the trip was fine, except, the seats on the planes were so uncomfortable. Not to mention I was having stomach problems which started early in the morning, and continued until our landing in Palm Springs. I rarely use the bathroom on the airplane, and I was going about every half hour. I feel much better today, but, traveling always wreaks havoc on my stomach! TMI, sorry.
More tomorrow on our adventures in California! And some of you thought that the blog would stop when we left NY! HA!!