San Diego Trip

Feb 14th in San Diego
Wierd stuff is happening. Flight was much delayed and sitting on tarmac for almost an hour. The ride was really bumpy 1/3 of entire way, makes it hard to get up and walk around. I like flying though, no matter what. You get to go somewhere and get to meet fascinating people. There was a nice guy next to me. He kept coughing. He was an overworked med student who just came off 30 hr shift... brilliant ... certainly teaches Dr's about stress! but in such an unhealthy way. He was going to his grandfather’s funeral.

I remember a flight once where in the middle of the night the man next to me was really sobbing. He was going to his best friend’s funeral. His death had been so sudden and he never got to say goodbye. He was so heartbroken. Our hearts are fragile things.

The luggage seemed to take extra long to arrive on carousels. I always figure I have two choices. I can get mad or not. I usually decide not. That way I'm not standing in my own way and I can connect with people, learn things interesting and new and have a few laughs.

The promised free hotel shuttle doesn’t run after 9PM. I wish they’d told me that since it’s now midnight and I’ll have to take a cab. An old gentleman, an elderly man named Bill, who works at the airport offers to help me get my luggage to the taxi stand and we chat. It’s a long walk to the cab, heavy luggage to pull. He is really sweet. We talk about his many long term jobs, over 20 yrs at the airport. Now his wife has breast cancer and she’s angry at it and at him. He just allows it all. I thought he was maybe 65 ish; turns out he’s 86!!!. We hugged at cab. He was quite the little Buddha master, calm, reflective, happy from the inside. Very cool guy.

The cab driver was amazing. Ethiopian man, only here 3 yrs. I can only imagine what it must be like, going to a foreign country, learning the language and how to get around enough to drive a cab there? They use GPS systems to find any place. How cool is that! You don’t have to know the area, just how to spell in a foreign language!!!

The hotel has put me in a handicapped room altho there are many rooms open. I wonder why. There is no tub in handicapped rooms and I really want to relax in a lovely tub of hot water.
The chatty lady at check in is very helpful and pleasant. We chat about her Mom, family. She tells me the handicapped room has a view and surely I would want it.

An older man who did hotel security, was drafted to help me with luggage and helps/escorts me to my room. He tells me he's been clean and sober for 10 yrs now. YIKES.. the things people have to deal with. I see 'view' from room. It turns out to be of the elevator and the hallway, that's all... she just lied. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and say she had forgotten.
I ask to change room. No problem, he comes back up w/ new keys and we change. I call her and change the room. Now it’s 1AM.

Hey there’s 2 free, small, water bottles in room.. frig.. micro,coffee...big room nice... windows open.. but they DON'T LOCK in any open position! Can't open them all nite so I have to use the air cond. Noisy and too cold and no drapes, just the huge wooden blinds w/ slats. But at least I have a way to stay cool all nite. Didn't get to bed til 1:45. But the bed and pillow are really comfortable and I sleep like a baby. There’s free internet connection in the room so I’m a happy camper.