Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Another bus drive

Today is tuesday. On our Calendar it says that 'Errands' will leave at 9.30 am. I left my cottage at 9 and walked, with my cane, up to my garage to get my shopping cart. Walked around to where we can get let out of the bus on our way home, parked my cart by a bush, and walked down to the place where the bus parks when picking us up. That little operation took exactly half an hour. I am practicing now so I will know how to behave when and if I loose my driver license. The whole event was amazing. And I now know why Park View Villas was voted the best retirement place in Clallam County.

The bus was nearly full. One person in a motorized Wheel Chair got on on the ramp on the back of the bus. Three of four took their walkers along on the bus, four or five used their canes and the rest of them walked on by their own balance and power. One woman who is either 94 or 95 walks as though she is about sixty. I checked her cart when our alotted hour  was nearly up and she had two candy bars in her cart. 

Before we got to Safeway the bus had dropped a couple off, to cash checks in various banks. And one man was dropped off at a dentist's office. One man was left in a Foot Clinic and a couple of women were left at other doctor's offices. Our driver, whom you have met before, is uncomplaining . It was raining and he opened the doors at these offices for everyone who left the bus. When we came to Safeway he handed each of us the carts that were going to hold us up while we were in the store.

The woman with the two candy bars remembered that she had promised a fellow inmate that she would apply a warm damp compound to an aching area of his, and when Keith heard her woe he gave her an early trip back to the home, and then turned around and collected the rest of his flock.

4 comments:

musingegret said...

I just love your bus driver!

mss @ Zanthan Gardens said...

How fortunate you are to live in a place designed to allow you so much personal freedom even if you physical abilities begin to decline.

Your bus driver sounds like a wonderful, wonderful person.

Anonymous said...

Thank You for blogging! I haven't stopped reading since I followed Shreve's link to your sight the other day! You are an amazing woman! 3 of my 4 grandparents died before I was born (longevity not a family trait, i suppose) and I've always lamented not being able to listen to their stories. This has been a real treat!
Looking forward to reading more!
- Marianne

Barbara said...

It takes a lot of maturity to accept the fact that we need some assistance as we age. In my opinion, It's a sure sign that even if one's body is getting creakier, one's mind is as sound as ever!