Author: alohawild

Sorry for the delay. I was drained after a 22-hour stress-filled adventure. Sorry for typos and I just wrote and published.

I started Friday just before 7ish in the apartment. It was my last morning living there. I got up and pulled the sheets, and put them in the hamper. I showered and dressed. I then wrote the blog while running one last load of laundry. I took the extra nice butter, eggs, cheeses, and meat I never finished and put them in a paper bag and but outside near the street. “Free Food–Moving” sign was put on my slightly ripped Zabar bag. I washed the one glass I used the last month and put it away. I cleaned up a bit and tied all the bags. I emailed the apartment manager that I was leaving and left the “Cleaning Invoice” form filled out on the counter.

I put the key away as directed before and left the apartment for what is likely the last time.

I called an Uber that drove right by me, and that was when I finally walked 1/2 block to him about my luggage, but it all fit without issue. This would be a pattern for the day.

I then had all the luggage staked on the wheelchair. I went through security one last time, and the security folks all wished me safe travels. Susie was still in bed and not dressed when I got there. Susie was dressed soon, wearing her best sweater and her sweater coat with her nice leather hat. The staff members stopped by to wish us the best.

The official exit wheelchair, following the strange pattern for this day, was early, and we soon were on our way out. I was quickly handed a wrapped peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apple sauce, pudding, and juice containers too. This was Susie’s lunch.

Kat had asked to see Susie as she left, and we managed to get Kat in the hospital’s front door to chat with Susie. While she did that, I had to find the car service.

I had ordered a car service to get us to Newark. The guy was at the front of the hospital, but not the entrance. So the driver called me and discovered he missed the actual entrance and had to circle five blocks to get to the correct. After three calls and me waving my hat, we finally got him into the right entrance and Susie aboard and off to the airport.

The driver got us into the airport and helped me get the bags into the proper place. We managed to get boarding passes, and one bag was checked without issues. The gate security was massive, and we got funneled to the very last lane.

I managed to get all the shoes, belts, bags, laptops, and cane into a bin and then walk through without issue. Susie was lost in security. They just left her sitting there for ten minutes. They asked me why I did not wait for her; they told me to go through (growl). They finally found a gal to pat down Susie and test all her surfaces in their checker machine. Our bottles and food also got to be hand-checked. It was all passed. Susie and I were happy to survive that without more trouble. We had hours until our flight.

Next, we learned that a first-class lounge does not exist for United. After looking unhappy, the United Club check-in guy let me buy one-day access. I was happy with that. We had a nice table, food, drink, and excellent Internet. So we rested there for three hours. That was my safety margin for getting to the airport. I found it restful to have a short rest, and Susie nodded off a few times.

Soon back to the adventure, as hours initially appear to move slow, but suddenly there is no time, and I thanked the gentleman who made an exception for us to use the United Club as we headed back down to the elevator.

I get Susie to a family restroom, but it is in use, and even after twenty minutes, it was still in use. Not sure what happened, but the dad of the family came back with ducktape! We leave them and find another restroom for Susie to use. Out of breath and worried, I get to the gate only 15 minutes before boarding.

Delayed. The plane is late being released from customs as the previous flight was an international flight. The lead stewardess heckles the gate worker about not having a plane. Apparently, the aircrew had rushed too, only to find nothing at the gate. So my rushing and worrying were followed by waiting.

Ninety minutes later, the plane is called. There is no wheelchair for Susie to get to her seat. The gate guy just calls for boarding and boards the plane. There is no early boarding for those who need more time or kids. With an extra 90 minutes, they failed to get a wheelchair there.

I get frustrated and just push Susie down to the plane, telling the gate guy to scan us on, and said  I will not be stopped by them. For Susie, the big issue is that first big step into the plane. It is uneven, far, and just a bit scary. I figured we just make it work–we have done it before, but as I get there, the stewardess who was heckling the staff before steps out and says, “How can I help,” and she carries all the bags on while I help transfer Susie to the chair/wheelchair which finally arrived to get her to her seat.

Susie and I have the last aisle seats in First Class. They had given away our seats and rebooked us to these. I was surprised when I checked in and found our seats changed. But two aisles next to the other bathroom, economy, worked for me. Susie just reached over and banged on my chair if she needed anything.

We get Susie into her seat, and everyone is happy to help us and glad to see the last passengers loaded. Ready to go.

Well, no. Catering was late, and so we waited. Then once we finally pulled away from the gate, the pilot told us that a “halt” was issued, and we saw fire equipment out to meet a plane with issues. But, it appears that it all worked out, but we spent another thirty minutes on the ground. I could see the IKEA sign in the windows and I suggest we visit “catering” to get meatballs for dinner.

Finally, we took off, and it was an outstanding experience. First Class dinner was good, and there were endless drinks. I stayed to coffee and ginger ale. One child managed to scream for about an hour after take-off, then on and off again, and finally for landing. I did not know a child could cry that much. I was able to ignore it as it was four rows away.

We landed and were the last folks off as the chair/wheelchair waited until everyone else was off the plane. I did help with the process and showed one of the Portland folks how to clip all the safety belts (I have done this a lot now). Luckily, we found our one bag locked in the lost baggage office as we missed the claim process as we were so late getting off the plane.

Mariah drove us home. We missed an exit, and Mariah had some issues getting to the airport as the torrential rains had flooded some roads, and folks hit the water and flipped their cars. But we made it home, unloaded the car, and drove Mariah home in Forest Grove. Finally, home at 2:30 and asleep about 3ish local time. 22-hours or so of work.

I am glad we are home now, and I hope you liked the story.

 

Going backward, it was past midnight when I went to bed here in the apartment. I road a near-empty and fully masked 1 train back from Time Square. Kat road the train one stop with me to Columbus Circle–the Kat Layer is not far there.

I did finally notice that Kat spells it Cat, but it is too late to change!

We came from the new movie, opening night, The Eternals. It is long, and it is flashy. The acting was good, and the special effects, including new bling that impressed Kat. It was a disappointment. There are no spoilers here, but the movie seems a bit disjointed, and the storyline is hard to believe and even follows a few times. The action scenes are a feast of special effects, but I think the storyline is lost, and the movie needs to be edited better. It seems to drag a few times. But, Kat and I were still happy to have seen it. Your experience may be better, and if you are an Eternal comic book reading, you will love it.

Before that, I said goodbye to Jason and Tasha after enjoying cheesecake at Juniors near Timesquare. Real NYC cheesecake, or what I call, stealing from the Parrotheads, “The Last Cheesecake in Paradise!”

We had a slightly rushed dinner at Danella’s near Times Square, preceding “The Last Cheesecake in Paradise.” This is “an Italian Restaurant,” and the food was good. I am not sure if you should just eat appetizers here as the pasta is heavy and good. Especially if you are following it with cheesecake and then a movie. ZzzzZzzz.

Me looking at cheesecake in NYC.

To get to dinner, I road the C train from Columbus Circle. It was my first time on this train. It is a bit newer and deeper than the 1 train. I had kissed Susie goodbye at 7ish and walked down to the station from Mount Sinia West.

The day at the hospital was busy as I had to get prescriptions at the local CVS. Dr. Kline wanted to ensure we had stuff ready until we could get help from our Oregon-based doctor. I had to discuss our plans to exit at 1PM and let Susie hear that she cannot walk alone any time when we are home. Until Susie gets used to walking inside her walker, she is not safe to walk alone. This will be a burden for both of us, but we will make it work.

Susie had her last therapy, and everyone was happy with how much she has improved. Susie is to have more work with PT and OT when we get home.

I got there and helped Susie get dressed. I also got a pile of soiled laundry to deal with and tried to take that with grace. Well, I tried–I had hoped my last four loads the day before were my last opportunity with the apartment laundry room.

I road the 1 train the last time downtown this morning. Being about 30 minutes late. I cleaned up the apartment and packed some more. Getting ready for our escape from NYC.

I awoke about 7:30 and got up and wrote the blog and had breakfast after that, dressing and all that jazz.

Note: Today is a travel day as I am writing this Friday. So the blog is a bit rushed while I get ready to escape. I talked to the super and will put out the remaining food for folks to take. While I will not miss the apartment as I never planned to live here, I have had the pleasure of finding out what life is like living in a Studio in the Upper Westside. It is a strange life in NYC, both excellent and cramped. You live outside of your apartment here. That is where you find the cheesecake!

 

The day started with me up before 8 and rushing like a crazy person. This was my packing and organizing day.

I first called the hotel I stayed at, Fairfield Inn, thanked them again for all their help and told them we were leaving. They were happy to hear that Susie was getting better. They also gave me the phone number of the car service they use.

I managed to get transportation from Mount Sinai West scheduled; I had to give them the hospital’s address to Newark. Plus, It took three calls, but it was arranged for and even paid for.

While that was going, I did four loads of laundry. Then, I got our stuff organized back into luggage and put everything we wouldn’t need in my bag.

I then took my Nike roller bag on the subway (it was past noon). Next, I stopped by the UPS store not far from the hospital and shipped that bag home. One less thing to carry to the airport. I have clothing put out for the remaining days, of course.

I spotted a Russian Dumpling to-go place and got an order.

Finally, about 1ish, I was back at Mount Sinai West, and security folks remembered me and were happy to hear we were leaving.

Susie was partially dressed when I got there and was eating lunch. There was a morning PT session that I missed. Also, the new walker, to take home on the plane, had arrived. Susie was happy to see me, and I shared some of my dumplings with her. While good, I did not finish them. It was a lot of dumplings.

I helped Susie get fully dressed. I also got more light in the room. The PT folks have noticed that Susie is often not ready to fully be a part of the therapy when it is darker in the room.

Susie had Occupational Therapy while I was there, and the OT gal asked me to participate. So we walked with Susie all the way to the gym, and there, I was surprised, was most of a taxi car. We practiced getting into the back of the Buick. We then walked all the way back. The OT person was surprised by Susie’s not getting tired.

Susie’s dinner came, and I got a text from Clint that he was 40 minutes out. Clint is married to Susie’s niece and so like me an inlaw. So I met him in NYC for a few hours. He was in New Jersey for some training and popped on a bus to NYC.

We met at the transit bus station near Times Square.

Aside: Before that, I had to walk the insane tunnel between the 1 line and the rest of Times Square station. It has some ramps that are so steep that you can actually slip and fall. There is a sign that the ramps are not safe for wheelchairs! I call it the f**king endless tunnel, and I walked that thing three times on Wednesday!

Next, we jumped on a subway to the Bryant Park area and took a quick walking tour of the big public library. We did manage to get to the reading room and took a quick look at the Treasure’s show I did a few weeks ago; it was free.

Next, we walked for twenty minutes to Macy’s. Clint loves to show people the old wooden escalators. I have to admit it was fun to ride them all the way to the top and down.

That is Clint riding the wooden escalator.

Lastly, we popped on the subway back to Times Square. We went to the Beer Authority, and the security guy remembered me and asked how my wife was. I used to write the blog there at night. He was happy to hear that Susie was better.

Clint picked out the beer, and the pretzel bites were great. The rest of the food was just average. We chatted about things and caught up. We have not seen each other since the last family meetings before the pandemic in 2019.

Clint and I said goodbye at the bus station, and he reached his hotel without issue. I took the 1 train, after walking that tunnel again, and was home and just slept.

I also took a picture of my walk to Columbus Circle. I always look up and head towards the three sky scrappers. It is one of my memories of NYC, the strange skylines.

I hope you have enjoyed the blog and the stories of my accidental residency in NYC.

Today was mostly sitting and chatting with the medical folks at Mount Sinia West to figure out how to get home. I am a bit rushed this morning so I hope there are too many typos.

I started the day packing up the books and some other items that I could easily ship to Oregon. It was another night that I slept better even with the heat raising the apartment into the 80F a few times. I counter with a fan and an open window.

I was out of the apartment just about ten after writing the blog, it was a longish one, and dressing and all that jazz.

The Tuesday subway was busier than the Monday load of folks. Everyone had on masks, and all the regulars had phones and earbuds and just ignored everyone else.

I walked to the UPS store and then had the privilege to pay more than $13 for a box and packaging to send the books to Oregon. One less heavy thing to get home.

It was a cold, dry October day with a wind that promised to make anyone not wearing a heavy coat regret their clothing choices. Later, I saw one guy in the subway using it as a warming place. Season changes are hard on the homeless and poor of NYC.

When I got to Mount Sinia West third floor–3G, Susie was not dressed and the PT person was helping Susie to get ready. Susie seemed more tired and even a bit depressed. The room was dark. Susie does not do well in the dark and I got the window open and lights on later. She was better after she got started that day.

The day was busy for Susie as soon as one thing finished, lunch or dinner showed, and then there was more intensive therapy. I waited for the official word and talked to the staff often. I needed to know what I needed to do and whatever else they need from me. Finally, about 4ish we met with Dr. Kline and he officially told us Susie is being discharged on Friday.

I then remade Susie’s nail color to yellow to represent victory and returning home.

I learned I have to arrange for pick-up at the hospital and that the discharge will tell me what else I will need.

I left Susie at Mount Sinia West just after 7PM. I walked down 10th Avenue to a Mexican place, Mamasita Bar & Grill. There you can spend almost any amount of money on a margarita (or a pitcher or a huge column filled with a drink that you pour yourself) of many different kinds. You can also mix them up to have a near-infinite number of versions of their flavors. They have been in this location for more than thirty years the owner told me. It is actually a small family biz. I asked for a medium-sized, regular flavor, moderate quality booze, with salt, on the rocks margarita.

Kat was there just after 7:30 and I ordered her first Pina Colada (with no rum). I asked Amy the bartender and our waiter “to only wave the most expensive rum bottle around the drink.” That got the point across and smiles too.

Dinner was burritos for Kat and I had a combination plate of three items for me. The food was more expensive than I expected, even in NYC. It was also better than I expected, exceptional actually.

Kat and I then walked back to Columbus Circle and I took the 1 train back to the apartment.

Aside: Some of my medical problems are returning so it is good to get back home soon.

Monday started with me sleeping almost to 8ish. I had no laundry and was again a bit lazy and reached the trains about 10ish. The look and feel of the trains are much different on a workday. By 10sih people are already at work, and those on the trains are mostly wearing masks and using their phones. Nobody hears anything as they all have earbuds in.

I was with Susie soon after chatting with security and the nurses on All Saints Day and 50 minutes passed 10 when visiting hours began. Susie was in the chair, dressed, and sleeping when I got there.

The PT folks, two of them, had worked Susie hard. Susie was very tired. The OT decided it best to move the therapy out to the afternoon.

Lunch came, and Susie thought she already had lunch. The days are merging for Susie, which I have also experienced in hospitals. It is really time to get home.

I decided to see the bookstore The Strand in NYC, so I headed out about 1ish. I walked the three long blocks to the 57th Street Station and popped on to the N train. I was soon at Union Station at Washington Plaza.

I was going to find lunch along the way to the bookstore. I discovered Carl Brenner’s Chocolate Bar within sight of The Strand. The restaurant serves food and chocolate.

I asked the waiter what was good, mac and cheese adding bacon (!) and mushrooms; I ordered it with a cup of hot chocolate. It was to die for.

I then managed to escape without getting any chocolate to go. Susie may not have chocolate with her racing heart.

Next to The Strand is a comic book and game store, Forbidden Planet. They had a full-sized Terminator in the window with gay pride flags. I went in and had a look. It is a friendly shop.

I had backpain out-of-nowhere. It made the trip to The Strand shorter than I planned and made the walk back to the subway and the hospital unpleasant.

The Strand is, like Powell’s in Oregon, a new and used bookstore. Used and new copies of the same book can be found on their shelves. They have four floors of books (the fourth floor–rare books–is still closed), including the basement. It is neater than what I am used to for used book stores. There were many good deals, and it was quite busy for a Monday afternoon.

I drank a whole bottle of water and got to the hospital, and sat for a while. I was better soon. Too many carbohydrates and not enough water and rushing a bit seemed to cause the back issue. It went away almost as fast at it started. I will be more careful.

When I got back to Susie’s room, I had missed her as she was now in OT. But she was back soon, and we chatted for a bit. The PT folks talked to us and ordered a walker to have with us when we returned home. They think Susie is safer with a walker, and we might need it for the airport.

I then called Wayne and Anne Weld-martin. We had an over-the-phone prayer for going home.

Susie’s dinner came and waited until about 7ish to head out. I met Kate at 7:30, and we had dinner at Westville Hell’s Kitchen. We just walked in, and they had a table in the very back. It was a cold but dry October day, so inside seemed a good idea.

Kat had a burger, and I tried the Cobb Salad. Both were good. It being Margarita Monday, I had one of those too, with Kat staying with just water.

We then headed to Columbia Circle, and I said goodbye to Kat and off on the 1 train, empty almost on a workday Monday.

I got a text from Clint from Susie’s family, and he is in NJ, so I will try to hook up with him on Wednesday. Clint is the husband of Susie’s niece, and thus like me, an inlaw, we stick together.

Returning to the apartment, I managed to reconnect to United Airlines and, via various twists of logic, have reanimated my previous reservations. I was given credit for the canceled flights (two of them) and added a flight home to my original plans. Really, it is like reanimating a long-lost travel plan, and it even uses the same designator codes. Thusly, we are now scheduled, again, to return to Portland on Friday, November 5 at 6:45PM EDT on flight UA1760 from Newark (EWR).

I received emails to match and nearly hyperventilated. It showed a round trip, but I soon understood that we had reanimated the previous trip, and the first flight was our original flight here and was already in the past. Just like many Halloween stories, reanimation is not without its scary moments!

This is a bit earlier than I hoped and will require attention to travel times and getting to the airport, but it is the only non-stop that arrives on Friday (there is a red-eye flight). Therefore, I will have to revise the “Escape From New York City” to be home at 10PM PDT and that our transfer from Mount Sinai West needs to be in the early afternoon.

I was about asleep when the phone rang. It was Expedia Travel Services who I asked for a call-back before I managed to do it all by myself. With the disaster that was American Airlines yesterday, they were still trying to connect me with an agent. I had asked for a call back as it was an hour’s wait time. The call was 90 minutes later, and the polite computer voice told me they still did not have an agent for me and asked if I wanted to wait. I let it go as I had managed to get the flights without help.

I hope that you are enjoying the story as we approach the epilogue, I hope, soon for this story. I cannot express our thanks to all the people that have helped us to get this far. NYC is cool and kind, not its usual reputation. Mount Sinai West is an inner-city hospital but works once you get used to it. The rehab department is happy and capable. NYC is an incredible place.