I felt miserable on Sunday. The headline on the front page of the Union Tribune forecast the worst pollen season ever in San Diego. Now with dirty air and high ozone, I need to deal with a high pollutant count.
The carbon has become food for the flowers and plants, and the more pollen the worse those with allergies suffer. I never knew the trees and plants ate the waist from cars and planes. In any case, I downed my sorrows at the Grand Cafe nestled next to the YMCA. I ordered the short stack of pancakes, an heavy on the syrup.
To my surprise, a large plate of cakes on the plate. My stomach had room for two of the four 'batter beaters'. The reminder, I shuttled to my cell on the second floor. I cut the rest into three pieces and wrapped each in aluminum. I placed each inside my refrigerator, and felt good enough to bus to Lindbergh Field. I breathe pure air at the airport, and I need good air to breathe.
Most of the visitors to San Diego wish to go to the world famous zoo. I warn them cars are not needed. "Just get on the number 7 bus that goes east and turns on to Park Blvd. Avoid speaking to others on the bus since it can be a land mine. Many are homeless and some often speak to themselves.
Before I walk to the world famous zoo, I exit at the famous Rose Garden. It just east of the Cabrillo bridge that leads me later to the Prado and the senior center. I sit down on a bench and watch the humming birds and bees make love to the great Rose variety.
Inside my nap sack is a tuna sandwich, chips and two bananas. A water thermos is always packed inside a long pocket on its side. The summer Monsoon season arrives in August and is the cause for many flash floods in the Southwest. At the zoo it is advisable to eat at high noon in a shady spot. The heavy humidity can put a damper on your energy. Drink lots of water, even if you don't feel like it. Use sunscreen freely.
There are 10,000 homeless living in San Diego. Some use cardboard for their box spring mattress. I give each a dollar when my wallet is swollen. Some get a E.B.T. card and can go anywhere on buses and trolleys. The City of San Diego has no public restrooms.
Before summer, it is wise to carry a sweater or jacket in case it gets cold. The Harbor's mouth usually blows a five or ten mile an hour wind into the city. The closer to the Harbor, the cooler and more fresh.
I enjoy the walk to the fish market beside the Midway submarine. The main attraction for Asian tourists is the nurse and sailor celebrating at the end of World War 2. I sometimes buy a fresh catch of the day and eat it raw. I enjoy the smoked Salmon the most.
You can get a one day bus and trolley pass for seven dollars. For Seniors, the fare is only one dollar and ten cents. I take the buses and the trolleys to the Mission Valley Center, the Gas Lamp, Harbor and many other venues. The 901 bus escorts me over the Coronado Bridge. I can see the panorama of the Harbor with its ships, hotels and various piers.
Out the back door I went first to get my Mocha at the Seven Eleven. I walked up towards the dumpster and saw another one making his home. A young kid was wrapped in a blanket. His two toes were exposed to the elements since his socks needed mending. Ahead I saw a crumpled one dollar bill. I picked it up and noticed a few more bills up ahead.
A few zeros were written on one of the four bills. I tucked them inside my pocket making sure nobody else was looking. I entered the Seven Eleven and picked up the usual: a Mocha, Tropical fruit mixture and two bananas. The new Ethiopian cashier short changed me, but the other apologized for her error and gave me a five.
I returned to the front steps of the Y and sat down. The 922 Airport bus was nowhere to be seen. . I removed the crumpled bills from my right pocket. I opened one bill at a time: One, two, three, I counted three one hundred dollar bills. I even imagined Ben Franklin winking at me and reminding me of his favorite saying: "A penny saved is a penny earned."
The bus now came and my bad allergies felt a lot better. I know that God speaks to me in strange ways. On this six o'clock morning, thee would be company and two a crowd. I worked on my football story at Terminal Two. I imagined the beautiful skyline the way it used to look two years ago. Of course with expansion comes some irregular heart beats.
Monday I felt dizzy and even left the Encinitas Senor Center early. I decided to drive to Kaiser off the Eight freeway. I was in luck, I found the hard to find exit and walked to the third floor. A Dr. Mudd had an opening at one thirty. I stuck around , but was none too happy when I found my blood pressure high and my weight six pounds heavier. I had not been able to exercise for awhile since the air quality was bad.
The doctor came in and looked at my chart. "I can't give you any antibiotics since you don't have an infection but a virus."
"Well Dr. Mudd, I don't go by the book. I have lived 73 years listening to my body through God. I may not be able to sue you but my God in heaven will." He then prescribed the Amoxicllen for me. I picked the medication up downstairs and drove back on the eight back to the Old Town parking lot where I parked my car at the commuter parking lot. I had already taken a pill and felt renewed energy in my air starved body.
I bought an ice cold Mocha from the Wrightiington House and sat facing the inner grass area. I spoke to a thin man who waited for his wife. He came from Montana to watch his son graduate from the Marines. He owned a ranch with mule and horses. He guided those hunting for elk and his biggest job was "making sure he returned them in one piece. We slice and package the meat right there."
Mel gave me his e mail and phone number. He told me he talked about the big dipper and continental divide. to young kids over a camp fire.
I went to Ralph's to pick up some cold cuts. The blood pressure machine was on the blink. Dr. Mudd told me about a worker who fixes them. He said they were unreliable since they had been used and abused.
I still felt a lot better even though my labored breathing had turned into a sore throat and my nose into into a broken faucet. Eventually all hotels and apartment will be fitted with AC's. The bad air fosters higher blood pressure and thus heart attack and strokes.
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