I depart in 4 days. I will be sorting , unpacking and hanging pictures, etc. , while packing for my trip to 100%F plus Arizona and 60%F Buffalo. I take a big suitcase with limited personal stuff so I can return with my scripts, supplements, Costco canned goods, and Trader Joe's items. This will be the last of the "stuff" I left at Jeannie's apartment also. I dread this trip. The air travel and the rent a cars. Haven't driven or flew in over a year. My last meals in Oaxaca...Pizza, Pasta with Mushrooms, Salad, and Pasta with Shrimp.
The trip to Dallas and on to Phoenix went without any problems, though the airport food was not so good.
The next day, my friend Marjorie gave me a ride to pick up my Turo rent a car with no problems. I adjusted to being in the drivers seat with ease. I shopped at Costco and Trader Joe's to get all my needs for the return trip. I got my Pneumonia, Flu, and Covid shots while picking up my scripts at Walmart. Christmas already on Sept 11th?
Monday I visited the Dermatologist and he ordered me to wear compression socks before my ankle got worse along with more problems. He prescribed another lotion which helped greatly along with the socks I picked up at Walmart. Spanish Omelete breakfast at Randy's.
Tuesday I visited the Urologist and he adjusted my scripts and said all my test results were excellent and called in my Testosterone refills for another year. I then went to my dentist for a cleaning and check up and got another clean bill of health. Breakfast at Butter's
Today my primary care doctor for blood work then a follow up appointment on Friday. This afternoon it's the eye doctor for a new script and new glasses but they wouldn't cover the script so went to Walmart and got the script and the glasses for nothing...thanks Cigna. Worked out at the Senior Center then returned home for dinner with Jeannie. Happy Hour at Wok and Roll along with Crunch Tuna Roll.
VA today went to Audio for 1 1/2 hours with hi tech video visit with audiologist and her assistant with me to help pair my recently repaired hearing aide with the other and set up on my phone. It failed. So then I. . saw my VA Primary Care and she went over the last year and set up 2025 appt. I got home and paired the hearing aides myself...they did manage to get T-coil option on my Hearing aide app should I attend a lecture or concert in a hall that has it available. Roman, my Grandson and I got together for dinner.
Today my Primary care called to cancel the appointment..that is twice now! I am rescheduled for 4 days from now on Tuesday while my daughter is visiting. Screws up plans. Heather arrives tomorrow and I did do the laundry and pack the last of the stuff I had at Jeannie's to take back. Happy Hour at Roaring Fork and Lure. I had "Restaurant Week Meal" at Lure. Tuna Carpaccio and Sand Dab Filets with Spinach that was excellent. Pumpkin Cheesecake & Ice Cream.
Heather, my daughter came to visit for 4 days. We all went out to dinner at Oliver's to celebrate Jeannie and Roman's Birthday.
Heather, Marjorie and I visited the Phoenix Art Museum the next day.
Marjorie and I met Bruce and Leanne at the Dubliner for dinner that evening. Good to see old friends.
I rescheduled a flight for 6pm to Atlanta then on to Buffalo. Arrived at 12:30 am to line at Budget Rent a Car. Got my Jeep and was off to Attica when it started to rain and it was difficult to see the road. Took Rt 20 to the Hotel and called them for the key. Settled in and was asleep at 2 am.
Woke for Shower and then Breakfast at Twilight Meadows. The Sirens were going off when I left the hotel (in Attica, that could signal a prison escape) then a police car came up our drive but didn't stop at the Hotel???
Had the Farmers Breakfast of Eggs on English Muffin with Sausage Pattie and Gravy with coffee and V8. Good Attica Breakfast.
Jennifer just showed up from Buffalo for the day. Bob and Harriet are coming for lunch with us. Louies was closed and Twighlight Meadows closed at 2pm so we drove to Batavia for lunch at Alexis's. The four of us had a nice conversation, reunion, and lunch.
We parted and I returned to Attica. Ah...Attica population 2500 in 1963 supported 9 bars. Now only 2 bars open 5 days or less a week and only busy on weekends with the population still 2500. What happened...DUI laws, smoking prohibited and liquor stores cheap and safe at home. So what is missing. The Drama, sex encounters, drunk driving accidents, the bar fights, live entertainment, the late night pool, dart, poker games and after hour parties.
I went to the Attica Hotel that was open for food and drink. Opened in 1877 and recently re-opened by a local with an expanded new menu that includes the best Haddock Fish and Chips in Western N.Y. I parked where the old Stage Coach Hotel used to be in 1838 and saw a bearded, long haired man with a cane picking through the rocks of the ground the Stage Coach used to sat on. I stopped and asked what he was doing. Uncovering history, exploring the past, satisfying my curiosity, and passing time. He moved to Attica in 1978 from Lancaster, got divorced, developed brain cancer and was dying. He lived in a small apartment next to the Post Office that is a 3 story brick building built years ago. I delivered the newspaper there in 1959. He knew a lot of the history of the town before it was a town. I grew up here and knew the people and the vibes. I walked over to the Hotel.
I was the only customer at the bar. I ordered a glass of wine and took some photos while quizzing the bartender on the new owner, cook, business, food reviews, clientele. Very little was anything I remember except it was bought by Larry Fugal's son?
It was 5:15 pm when I left to visit Louies and find out what the 2nd bar had to offer. Louies was a Movie Theater with a restaurant attached in the late 50's. I used to mop floors here after my dish-washing shift at the bowling alleys on Saturday night. Louie turned it into the local bar for us Millennial's like him. There was two people at the bar and one playing pool alone. I ordered a Labatts Blue Lager. Later I ordered a Sam Adams Oktoberfest, with a Beef on Weck (best Beef in town) but NOT Kimmelwick roll. A Hamburg roll with caraway seeds stuck on top. Still a great sandwich! My time was spent talking to Bruskon? A 65 year old short haul truck driver who has the nicest Harley I've ever seen and has been riding for a long time, has three sons he is raising , divorced, Irish from Maine but just found out his nationality. We had a wonderful talk about his oldest brother who was my age and served in VN as a Draftee (1967) from Maine at the same time I was drafted from NY. Bruskon's brother got a Purple Heart in a horrific fire fight. He discharged and later got Prostate Cancer from Agent Orange and died at an early age. We parted.
My day complete: survived a whole day in the air zigzagging around the U.S.A. Meeting and getting closer to my daughter that I rarely see but frequently email, seeing Bob, who shared my VN experience from a different vantage point, and his lovely wife of all these years, meeting a curious dying man with a strong heart, then a Attican I never knew or met and sharing our stories of Attica. To return so late in life when all the memories are there but nothing left to substantiate them. A few buildings, homes, familiar trees, and streets but no one to share any of MY memories of those wonderful life learning experiences in a time that no longer exists. Streets were empty...just cars passing through or going home.
Today Jennifer met me in Batavia after I had breakfast at Twilight Meadows, visited the family grave, took some Attica photos and drove to Applebee's for lunch.
John and Carla were waiting for me, as usual, then Jennifer showed up and we all enjoyed a friendly get together. It was like I just saw you in Oaxaca...about 4 months ago. Jennifer and I stopped at the Holland Land Company Museum (The Dutch were selling land and settling in New York from the 1700's). We stopped at Oliver's for Homemade Candies and Ice Cream!
I checked into the Quality Inn, in Batavia for the rest of the week.
We drove up Helen's and she invited us in for lunch on the back porch. Helen's long time friend, Julie stopped by for a quick visit. Our lunch and visit was great. Jennifer and I took a walk around to show her the house where I rented a room. My first place away from home. We chatted a while then around 3:30 left for the George Eastman House but they were closing in 30 minutes and wanted $22 each so we went back to Batavia.
Friday I drove to the Longhorn Restaurant to meet Jennifer, Taja and her two middle children for dinner. We had a big meal lots of fun then photos after. It was great to see them all.
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Saturday Jennifer and I met Gavin and Cordell at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo. Alexis two oldest boys weren't real interested and toward the end they left early. Gavin has his driver's license and car. Jenny and I ate at a nice Greek restaurant she heard about. It was excellent.
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| Gavin and Cordell |
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| Same artist, similar to the one in Phoenix Art Museum |
We drove a short distance to a local restaurant that turned out to be fantastic. The four of us had a wonderful visit and meal, then she dropped me back off at the hotel.
Wednesday I stopped by the Irish Pub for a snack, just as they were opening. Farmer's market across the street.
I checked in at Southwest Airlines next door for my direct flight to Phoenix . Jennifer picked me up and we drove across the street for lunch since she could not access the restaurants without a boarding pass. The airport changed security gates. We had a nice talk and lunch then I returned and boarded my flight...fell asleep and woke in Phoenix. Great flight.
Jeannie was glad to see me. We both turned in early. The following day Jeannie lent me the car for some shopping and after packing some more, we went and picked up Marjorie for MY Birthday dinner of Fresh Grilled Swordfish and Cauliflower at Grassroots. They had Salmon Poke...we all shared a Birthday Brownie with Ice Cream and called it a night.
Today I walked over to Randy's after playing some pool in the recreation area, and had breakfast. Marjorie picked me up for my flight to Mexico.
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