It has been a while since I did two days in one blog…but it seems the right thing for today.
Friday, I rose by myself at the hotel and soon was showered, shaved, and all that and headed to the lobby. There is no in-room coffee makers in this Holiday Inn Express. I objected, but I was told that the decision to remove coffee from the rooms was local, and I found myself no more drawn to other chains. Also, I still do not have enough points for a free room, even after staying 35 days this year at Holiday Inn facilities. Other ‘H’s are attracting me: Hilton and Hyatt. They have in-room coffee, and their staff seemed happier and better skilled. I feel I am paying more for less.
I ate my industrial same-as-always breakfast with a banana still available (rare at Holiday Inns). I wrote the blog and talked and texted Deborah. She had another doctor appointment and other morning details. I stayed at the hotel and wrote. Deborah picked me up in her cool, blue Mini about lunchtime, and we headed to Recipes in Rochester Hills downtown. There we had an excellent breakfast, and we both could only finish about 1/2; the rest became another meal. We spent the afternoon together at Deborah’s house, which did include lots of petting and playing with her dogs Zelda and Trixie. At 5:15, we headed to my hotel again. There, I took Air Chevy to refuel (just a top-off to return it to the airport rental office) while Deborah carried some items to my room, including a tragic wine glass to take home, and my aforementioned leftovers.
Deborah also carried a box of items for her adopted father, Donni, and placed them in the Mini. Not a detail usually worthy of note, but adventures have punctuated this trip, and there were a few more to come. The box was just a bit heavy.
The trip to Buddy’s Pizza in Livonia, Michigan, was irregular, as there was no easy highway path, and the trip was a mix of local roads and highways. It was going well, but Deborah knew only some of the paths. At one point, a truck tried to pass her instead of letting her merge, and she hit the gas. Nothing really happened, and there was a slight acidic smell and then a code. We were only then a few minutes from Buddy’s, and Deborah parked the Mini so it could be easily hauled on a wrecker.
It was Jim W’s partner’s second birthday party, and Detroit-style Pizza with dreaded salad was served, and I had a few beers. There was cake, both vanilla and chocolate. It was good to see many of the same people as I saw at the Wagner Christmas.
With the party ending, Deborah called AAA for a wrecker, which appeared in less than 15 minutes. I headed to the men’s room and tripped on the stairs leading to it, fell, scraped my knee like a little kid, and would have to put ice on my knee later. It was sore and scraped, but I was not injured other than embarrassed. Lots of people rushed to help me. I was at first worried that I would be in trouble going home the next day on an early flight, but nope, I was OK, but a little uncomfortable.
The alternator no longer charging means the car will stop working soon. Nothing drivable. After a forty-minute slow ride, we packed into the cab of the wrecker with the box for Danni; the Mini was dropped off. Deborah called an Uber, and we were soon back at the hotel.
I packed, managing to get everything in my bag (and some in my carry-on). The wine glass would go in my carry-on, and it broke. I did have one in my bag I forgot about, and so there is one glass here from the trip. That makes us happy. We were packed and resting after 11.
I woke a few minutes before 5 and started my travel day with a shower and the last-minute items into my carry-on. Deborah went down to the lobby after throwing some clothing on to get coffee. Excellent! After 6, I drove Deborah again in Air Chevy to her house. She took the box and a few items back with her, including some other wine glasses I did not want to risk. We reluctantly said goodbye. A tough hug and no tears there, but I might have had some later.
I retraced my route from more than a week ago and at 2ish in the morning and enjoyed a second cup of coffee I picked up in the lobby after checking out. Traffic was blessedly light on Saturday morning. I managed to make no mistakes and was not in the least surprised when Air Chevy developed a tire issue, the same one as before, low by 5 pounds of pressure, which then reduced to 4 pounds as the tire warmed. We had put air in the tire twice before.
I found Budget Car Rental and returned the car. The person was upset and spilling her heart to another person. Apparently, someone chewed her out for not directing their car into a lane better. I remembered to leave the car keys, get everything, and left the Chevy for the next person (it was still coding with a tire issue). I took a picture of the back and front of the vehicle, just in case someone hit it while dropping off their car.
I found the bus to Delta, and then another employee of Budget shared her troubles with her passengers. We made supportive comments. It was tough in the corporate world of customer service and automobile rentals. I found my way after tipping the bus driver.
Delta was slammed, but I found a machine to print my baggage tag, and everything went easily, and I managed to not forget my phone in the scanner or forget to put my ID away. I kept hearing Deborah’s voice: “Do you have your phone? Do you have the keys? Do you have your wallet?” I entered the huge line for dropping off a bag, and a Delta person saw my Silver Medallion metal tag and walked me to First Class to check my bag. I did not get any upgrades, but it was a short and fast lane. I was about forty minutes away from boarding now. Security took me 10 minutes (no special medallion line breaking this time), and my red bag passed. Yay!
My gate was a five-minute walk. Boarding was twenty minutes later, and soon I was in Comfort, having missed an upgrade to First Class by one. I was soon on the plane, and the middle seat was not taken; I had the window. There was an issue with my bag after someone slid a bag against it. I had to unpack and repack on a plane seat. I suspect that is what broke the glass, as it was now moved around and was not against another bag.
I watched the movie Sirāt, and I cannot recommend it. It is intense and heartbreaking, and terrible things befall the characters, all sympathetic and interesting. I cried a lot and was deeply affected. I then watched the upbeat Moana to unwind. It was much more fun. And then the Goat 2016 animated film started, and I did not finish it as we landed in Portland.
When I rose, I finished my leftovers from Recipe, an omelet, and I also bought a croissant sandwich on the plane. I tried to not be hungry today, as you never know when you will eat when traveling.
I arrived without issue, got a bag of OPBean coffee from coffee roasters, received a complimentary cup to go with my beans, got out of the security area, and found my bag on the other baggage belt. I then rolled on to MAX, and after a while, the train left for Beaverton. About an hour later, having texted Joan S that I was on my way and that when I was close, I would get off MAX, Joan S took me the short trip to my house. There, I unloaded, checked the house, turned on the AC and hot water, and grabbed the mail.
Joan S and I then went to BJ’s Brewhouse for appetizers, splitting some sliders, and I got some flatbread (most of which I took home and had for dinner). We talked about retirement, health issues, and trips. It was pleasant.
Joan S returned me to the house, and we said goodbye. I went through the mail, washed most of my dirty clothes from the trip, unpacked (finding the broken glass still in the bubble wrap in my carry-on, and then another I had packed in my bag intact). I finally started the blog and talked to Deborah as she went to bed. We miss each other.
And that takes me to now. Thanks for reading. I can barely stay away, and it is only 8 (local time).
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 