A Maze in Green Valley (Amazin’ Green Valley)
I try to live a “small things with great love” life. But I confess, I really wish at least one of my Sunshine and a Purple Dress stories could be about achieving great things with small effort. Not likely to happen any time soon if my current level of dottiness continues or increases.
Now, Wednesday morning went well. Road my bike to the food bank. Helped with mailing out the annual report and appeal. Worked with others making up some 300 emergency food kits for school kids. Biked home. Didn’t even look in the parking lot for my car.
Made lunch without burning the toast. Washed the dishes without breaking any. Talked to my mom on the phone and managed to only disconnect once. So far so good, until it was time to go to the Registered Massage Therapist – I’ll call her Jenny, though that is not her real name.
I had already printed off a map of how to get to her place – on S. Paseo off Esperanza. And I even remembered to take it, and my passport, and my purse, and my keys. I did forget the book I’ve been wanting to give her for close to a year. Ah well.
One has to leave early for things if you live in Green Valley. The speed limit on the main drag – “La Canada” – is 35 miles per hour, with most folks – being seniors – going much slower. And you have to slow down even more when you pass the folks driving in the golf cart lanes.
There are normally two lanes, but this day, there was only one because the other lane was being oiled (!?) and that slowed the traffic down even more. My appointment was at 1:15 and I didn’t arrive at Jenny’s complex until 1:15. I was sweating by then. Me, if I’m not early – I’m late, and I hate being late.
Then I realize I have two different addresses for Jenny – I’m a bit numbers dyslexic – and I can’t for the life of me find either of these units. I wander around for a while, and finally borrow a cell phone from a worker and phone Jenny. She is wondering what the heck happened to me?! I explained. She said, “No worries, I’ll stand out on the street.”
So, I started driving up and down the street – only to realize, I must be on the wrong street. Oh my goodness! There are FIVE S. Paseo streets that run parallel to each other – Seco, Tierra, Sarta, Quinta, and Pena. I was on Quinta (I think). By this time Jenny realized, “I bet she is driving up and down the wrong street.” So, she ran over to Quinta.
But by this time, I had moved to Sarta – which is the right street (I think). It was 1:40 pm by the time Jenny and I happened to be on the same street and I was so stressed out, I drove over a curb while parking the car. Thankfully, Jenny has a good sense of humor and had no client after me for another hour. Phew.
I had an amazing massage and a lovely chat with Jenny. She is a kind and spiritual person – and you can feel this positive and strengthening “energy” as she loosens the knots – and I had many by then. She also gave special attention to my cranky wrists and hands.
OK, I felt calm and strong again. Enough to pick up a few items at Safeway. Got to the cashier and could not find my Safeway card. Safeway shoppers know that having this card knocks quite a few dollars off your bill. She tried to access my account using my phone number, but it was not the same as my current number. The minute the sale went through, I found my card. “Dang!”
The kind cashier told me that if I took my bill to the courtesy desk, I would be given my savings in cash. How exciting. Off I went. With a woman chasing after me. “I think you forgot your groceries!” – which I had. Gah!
I made it home without any further mishaps – it helped that there were no more curbs to navigate - and the rest of the day went splendidly. Laur got back from his hike with the Wednesday group. We had folks over for snacks and chats – we have such lovely friends here in at our RV park.
Being rather full, we had a soup and salad supper and a short walk after supper. We were both “cooked.”
I woke up today still a little rattled – I worry about getting Alzheimer’s. Thankfully, I can look to my husband for support. Not for what he says, but what he does. Today he put a fork into his cereal bowl…
Now, Wednesday morning went well. Road my bike to the food bank. Helped with mailing out the annual report and appeal. Worked with others making up some 300 emergency food kits for school kids. Biked home. Didn’t even look in the parking lot for my car.
Made lunch without burning the toast. Washed the dishes without breaking any. Talked to my mom on the phone and managed to only disconnect once. So far so good, until it was time to go to the Registered Massage Therapist – I’ll call her Jenny, though that is not her real name.
I had already printed off a map of how to get to her place – on S. Paseo off Esperanza. And I even remembered to take it, and my passport, and my purse, and my keys. I did forget the book I’ve been wanting to give her for close to a year. Ah well.
One has to leave early for things if you live in Green Valley. The speed limit on the main drag – “La Canada” – is 35 miles per hour, with most folks – being seniors – going much slower. And you have to slow down even more when you pass the folks driving in the golf cart lanes.
There are normally two lanes, but this day, there was only one because the other lane was being oiled (!?) and that slowed the traffic down even more. My appointment was at 1:15 and I didn’t arrive at Jenny’s complex until 1:15. I was sweating by then. Me, if I’m not early – I’m late, and I hate being late.
Then I realize I have two different addresses for Jenny – I’m a bit numbers dyslexic – and I can’t for the life of me find either of these units. I wander around for a while, and finally borrow a cell phone from a worker and phone Jenny. She is wondering what the heck happened to me?! I explained. She said, “No worries, I’ll stand out on the street.”
So, I started driving up and down the street – only to realize, I must be on the wrong street. Oh my goodness! There are FIVE S. Paseo streets that run parallel to each other – Seco, Tierra, Sarta, Quinta, and Pena. I was on Quinta (I think). By this time Jenny realized, “I bet she is driving up and down the wrong street.” So, she ran over to Quinta.
But by this time, I had moved to Sarta – which is the right street (I think). It was 1:40 pm by the time Jenny and I happened to be on the same street and I was so stressed out, I drove over a curb while parking the car. Thankfully, Jenny has a good sense of humor and had no client after me for another hour. Phew.
I had an amazing massage and a lovely chat with Jenny. She is a kind and spiritual person – and you can feel this positive and strengthening “energy” as she loosens the knots – and I had many by then. She also gave special attention to my cranky wrists and hands.
OK, I felt calm and strong again. Enough to pick up a few items at Safeway. Got to the cashier and could not find my Safeway card. Safeway shoppers know that having this card knocks quite a few dollars off your bill. She tried to access my account using my phone number, but it was not the same as my current number. The minute the sale went through, I found my card. “Dang!”
The kind cashier told me that if I took my bill to the courtesy desk, I would be given my savings in cash. How exciting. Off I went. With a woman chasing after me. “I think you forgot your groceries!” – which I had. Gah!
I made it home without any further mishaps – it helped that there were no more curbs to navigate - and the rest of the day went splendidly. Laur got back from his hike with the Wednesday group. We had folks over for snacks and chats – we have such lovely friends here in at our RV park.
Being rather full, we had a soup and salad supper and a short walk after supper. We were both “cooked.”
I woke up today still a little rattled – I worry about getting Alzheimer’s. Thankfully, I can look to my husband for support. Not for what he says, but what he does. Today he put a fork into his cereal bowl…