ADVENTURING???

         Friday was an adventure day for me, myself and I. I got up showered, went on my daily walk for an hour, had breakfast and then got into my car for a 30-minute drive. I’d say two-thirds of the drive was on roads I used to traverse daily when I had a job. The second third I would use when Greenwood Avenue was too busy, either coming or going from home. Then, I used Third Avenue, which is what I used Friday.

          Not getting out and about very much certainly made me appreciate every single sight that came into my field of vision. There were special homes, yards and locations I hadn’t seen in a long while. I slowed down and looked especially hard at those as I passed. On Third Avenue, I was amazed at how many homes had been removed and replaced by new, more modern ones. When did that happen? I know it didn’t just happen since shelter-in-place became the norm, but not working didn’t provide many opportunities to drive that particular road.  

          My destination was Swanson’s Nursery in north Ballard. This nursery is allowing people to come shop on an appointment basis. You have to go on line and make an appointment. When you arrive, you have to be wearing a mask, as are all the employees in lime green shirts, and check in with the receptionist. After you are checked off, you take one of the clean shopping carts and are free to move about the nursery, but there are signs encouraging you to keep a six-foot distance from shoppers and staff.

          I could have spent most of the day there wandering around looking at stuff, but I believe you are expected to obtain what you want and be out of there within 30 minutes. So, I paid attention to my business. I selected a couple of squash plants, a pumpkin plant, and then sought out the tomato section. I’ve purchased my tomato starts at Swanson’s for the last five years at least and have always had very good luck.

          There are four pots on my driveway, so I chose four tomato plants that will get fairly large. Then I looked for the Tumbling Toms. I couldn’t find them and asked a staff person. She told me they were hiding from me, but directed me to where I found them. Initially, I thought there were only red ones, but I did find a yellow one too. The Toms will go in hanging baskets. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll move them out front to hang from the eves or if I’ll hang them in their usual spot in the backyard.

          In addition to the tomatoes, squash and pumpkin, I also bought Thai basil, regular basil and chives. I’ll plant those in smaller pots. I asked if Swanson’s carried potatoes, because I have two larger pots I’d like to plant with those. They did not, but I have some small red potatoes, so I think I’ll just plant a couple of those in each pot. They’ve worked just fine in the past.

          At checkout, I almost had to laugh. The young woman checking was wearing a mask. I was wearing a mask, but she was definitely into keeping six feet away from me. She told me to stay behind the stand that had the credit card machine. Then she took my cart, counted up the plants and rang them up. When I came around the table that held the credit card reader to get my cart, she backed further away than six feet. Better safe than sorry though, especially since I wasn’t the only shopper she was going to have to deal with that day.

          I took a different route home. I went back up Third and across 145^th to the freeway. I got on there and was amazed at how much work has been accomplished adjacent the freeway for the light rail. It wasn’t all that long ago I was making weekly trips with John, and the work seemed to progress at a snail’s pace. Miss a month…or two…and, wow, it’s coming right along.

          Instead of getting off at the Lake Forest Park exit, I went to the next one for Mountlake Terrace and east on whatever street that is. They’ve (whoever they is) have been working on that street forever, and they’re still not done. I drove carefully past all the orange drums, equipment and people. I believe they’re not just working on the street, but the light rail track as well. That led me to wonder if I’d be alive by the time it would be available for me to use.

A friend was going to come visit at 1:00 pm, but since I’d adhered to the 30 minutes at Swanson’s, I had time to grocery shop, so I did. I carefully parked in the south part of the lot because they had had only the south door open. When I got to the door, there was a sign informing me that door was closed…use the north door. Ah well, that was okay, just more steps toward my daily goal.

Shopping finished, I turned toward home. Not a lot new to see on that street because it’s the one I always use when I go to the grocery store.

This little adventure made me think about how reduced my travel area has become since I retired. When I worked, yes, I did travel the same route to and from most times, but those are routes I rarely use now. Plus, there were often events or errands that would take me out and about to Fremont, Ballard, the University District and other places. My life seemed to loom much larger then.

With the pandemic, my travel and my life have become even more limited. With the exception of Friday, I don’t think I’ve ventured further than 1.5 miles from my house most weeks. When I have to go to Costco, it’s probably three miles, but I only go there maybe once a month. Since some time in March, I’ve had two visitors, aside from my son, his wife and daughter. One yesterday and one the Friday before. I, myself, haven’t been out to visit anyone anyplace else.

Yes, I talk to people on the phone, stay in touch via email and/or Facebook, but it definitely seems as though my life is becoming more and more diminished. This is happening at a time when I seriously expected my life to be growing and expanding with new experiences, places, friends, family and abilities. That’s not happening for me or for the majority of people these days. It doesn’t look like the door to any novel happenings is going to open wide any time soon thanks to the novel coronavirus.

Getting out and traveling about on Friday really was an adventure and I was surprised just how excited and pleased I was to travel those roads and see those sights. I read something recently, or someone told me, about just getting in the car and taking a drive. You don’t need to wear a face mask for that. You don’t have to come in contact with any other people in the process. All you have to do is get in the car, turn it on, and choose a direction. I think in the coming days and weeks, while we’re still sheltering-in-place, I’m going to do just that…plan a little road trip for me, myself and I.