RoaminDaze

Monday, June 4, 2018

MAZIE NEEDS A DOG

OLD PEOPLE 13

Janice ate sparingly; she drank less sparingly. She felt better. Mazie are more, drank less. “Hard to believe it’s nearly July 4th,” Mazie said. “I had in the back of my mind to plan a July 4th something. But since Clyde died I can’t seem to get organized. He was the planning master.”

Janice drained the last wine from her glass. “What you need, Mazie, is dog. Or a cat or a bird for god forbid a man. Alone is not the way to go.”

“I don’t need a cat or man or a dog.”

“But you like my dogs, don’t you?”

Mazie ran her finger around her plate, scraping up hardened cheese bits. “I love your dogs-- in your house. But not in my house. My god, Janice, I see how you’re plagued with dog hair-- everywhere-- everyday. That I do not need.”

The beagle Paddie and the ‘who knows what breed’ Kelly lay on either side of Janice’s chair. “Mazie, just look at them. So sweet. Sometimes when I feel so alone and can’t decide whether to sob or drink Paddie or Kelly or both circle around me demanding I meet their needs. When I do I feel better. I feel alive. I feel needed and loved. I’m telling you you need a pet.”

“Works for you maybe. But not for me.”

Then came the gasping, gurgling sound from Kelly. Janice was out of her chair, on her knees watching Kelly gasp for a breath. “Oh my god Mazie, call my vet.” Mazie was on the floor, arms around Kelly. She hugged, she tugged, she slapped, Kelly’s heaving body. Kelly gasped. Mazie hugged the dog tightly and squeezed. Kelly gulped; the gasping stopped. Mazie pulled Kelly to her chest.”

Janice I am so sorry.”

“Sorry? You were great. You saved her life.. I thought she was going to die.

“But it’s my fault. I slipped her pizza crust.” Silence. More silence. “I am really sorry.” Kelly nuzzled up against Mazie’s legs and licked her. A tear ran down Mazie’s cheek. “And you’re right, I need a dog.”

“Get your own, you can’t have Kelly.”

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

FLORIDA TRIP CUT SHORT

Old people 12

Janice had not anticipated leaving Florida sick. But she was sick and remained so during the long return trip. Four days after her arrival home she was still sick.

Results from a battery of tests were-- what did they tell her? Inconclusive. Whatever that meant. Janice’s physical discomfort, bad as it was, did not begin to equal her deflated spirit. “I have no time for this.” she told her haggard face in the mirror. She had stopped counting the phone calls interrupting her private pity party.

Mazie had not called again after the explosive response to the last of Mazie’s many solicitous calls. “Why did I yell at her.” Janice asked the pitiful reflection in the mirror. “How can I blame her?”

Now was not the time for recriminations-- about anyone – about anything. Now was the time to find out what the problem was. Now was the time to see if it could be fixed.

Now was the time to ask for help from a life long friend. Janice picked up the phone and dialed. When Mazie answered Janice said, “Mazie, You had supper yet? I have a pizza in the freezer. Want to share it?”

“I’ll bring a bottle of wine. What time?”

Saturday, April 7, 2018

LAST DAY: EVENTFUL DAY IN ST AUGUSTINE

Old People 12

Despite the rigors of yesterday’s outing Mazie and Janice were up early and ready to to. It was 8:00 AM. It was hot as they sat under the giant oak, Old Senator, and waited for the Red Train.

“Glad we’re getting started early, “ Mazie said. “ It’s gonna be a hot one.”

Janice laughed “Know what you sound like?” Mazie shrugged. “Like some old southerner on his porch on a hot summer day. ‘It’s gonna be a hot one’. Like Barney Fife and Andy Taylor.”

The Red Train arrived.

First stop. Gonzalez-Alvarez, the oldest house of the Spanish colonial period. The original was built in the 1500s. The one standing now was rebuilt in 1702 after a fire destroyed the original. It does represent the look of the time and period. “It’s amazing,” Janice said, “how much of the niceties these houses of wealth had, even in those times.”

“Still, “ Mazie said. “I suspect they might have liked air conditioning.”

Next stop the old Jail dating back to 1891. It was, they were told, a first class jail when compared to some of those in other parts of the continent.

Then down San Marco Avenue to the old fort. The ladies sat on a bench outside a cafe looking up at the Fort Entrance.

The heat had become oppressive; moisture hung in the air. Finally they began the long walk to the Fort entrance. With what seemed a sudden event dark clouds rolled in over the hill on which the fort sat. The wind increased and with threatening speed and force sent a driving rain horizontally. No hope for shelter. Fighting the wind and suffering the rain they made their way back to San Marco Avenue and waited for the train, which was filled to capacity. The only seats available were just behind the diver open to the elements.

Dripping cloths, soggy shoes, weary spirits. They entered their motel room. So much for St Augustine. They were leaving tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

RED TRAIN TOURS

With Red Train Tour tickets in hand Janice and Mazie took the full ninety minute tour around the city. Choosing the sights they would see was a daunting task. “I am amazed by it all,” Janice said. “Just think what we’ve seen in the last hour and half. Five hundred years of Spanish and English. All that old and new. Right next to each other a Spanish Villa and a Victorian house. What do we do first?”

“Anything but Believe It Or Not,” Mazie said

“Agreed. How about Villa Zarayda?”

The Villa Zarayda, built as a winter home by Boston millionaire, Franklin W. Smith, a 1/10 size replica Alhambra Palace in Granada Spain it oozed of wealth and elegance. End on end furniture, art work, rugs, and household articles collected from all over the world.

“My favorite,” Janice said as tired feet and growling stomachs forced and end to the tour, “was the cat rug. Do you believe it was woven from only cat hair and is the oldest rug in the whole world?”

“Does it matter? Not as much, I think, as the superstition that if you walk on it you will die.”

Janice laughed. “Of course if you walk on it you will die. We all die- sooner or later. You notice they do not tell you how soon after you step on it you will die.”

“But the day they finished it they found a dead cat.”

“Cats die too, Mazie.” Janice said as they entered a cafe for a late lunch

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

It was an easy morning, perfect in every way except for a second admission charge. But as it turned out well worth it.

The Fountain of Youth exhibit laid out the history of Spanish explorers to the area and offered what they claimed was water from the same spring the Spanish explorers found when they arrived in 1513. It was indeed tasty containing what they claim is at least thirty minerals. It is that plethora of minerals which cures and prevents illness and lengthens life spans.

Exiting the exhibit Mazie said, “I think that water is in fact magic. I feel terrific. A lot better than yesterday.”

Janice laughed, “I suspect that might have more to do with not hiking all over the site than the water.”

“Maybe. Then we should feel super terrific after sitting on our behinds for an hour. Ready for the planetarium?”

The room darkened. The show began with explanations of sailing methods in 1513. Stars, quadrant and astrolabe. The ceiling of theater lit up with stars as they appeared on April 2, 1513. The explanations continued.

“Wow,” Mazie said as they reoriented their eyes to the sunshine. “Amazing. Absolutely amazing. But I think there might something in that water.”

Monday, February 26, 2018

TIRED TRAVELERS AND TIRED WAITRESS

The morning drive and the afternoon walk through the mission left Janice and Mazie with little energy or motivation for more activity requiring effort. Unwilling to drive at rush hour in unknown territory, too tired to walk far they settled on the first place they found, a non-elegant pizza place with dirty windows, iffy patrons at five of the eight not too clean tables. A tender looking waitress worked all the tables.

“Miss, you forgot my water.”

“Miss, this spoon is not clean.”

“How long does it take to nuke up lasagna?”

Janice picked at the salad of limp lettuce, pale tomatoes, rubbery cucumbers and browning celery. Mazie pushed her salad aside. “This is without question the worst excuse for a salad I ever saw.”

The pizza minimally acceptable they ate. Janice whispered, “I’d like more water, but...”

CRASH!! The waitress motionless before the lasagna covered floor. An overweight sweat browed man appeared waving a spatula. “You clumsy little heifer. Can’t you carry two plates?”

“Poor child,” Mazie said as they left. “But I did tip her really well. Ten dollars.”
Janice broke into laughter. “That’s why she opened the door for us with a big smile. “I gave her fifteen.”