2026 TRIP

The day started on a really crappy note.  If the refrigerator in the room doesn’t have a freezer compartment for me to refreeze the ice packs which I need to keep my ozempic cold, I give them to the person at the front desk to put in the hotel’s freezer.  Then in the morning at check out, I tell them my room number and the person who is then at the front desk retrieves them for me.  Never a problem until this morning.

Since today was a long drive (almost 750 miles) I wanted to start out early… around 5:30 am.  So I show up at the desk and ask for my stuff in their freezer and the guy says the freezer is locked until the manager gets in. When is that I ask. About an hour or so he says.  No good says I. I tell him that’s no good because I have a long drive and I need them for my meds.  He smiles and says there’s nothing he can do.  I tell him if he can’t find a way to get them I’m calling the police and they can break in.  He calls the manager and wakes her/him who dispatches a security person to unlock my priceless icepacks.

Today's drive was a few miles under 750.  Nothing was picture worthy. I made an editorial judgment call that no one would be interested in seeing a video of an hour and 22 minutes traffic slowdown in Georgia.

Whenever I drive I-95 to or from Florida I always plan my midway stop in Smithfield, NC.  When possible I try to stay at a Hilton property because of my Amex affinity card.  In Smithfield there is a Hampton Inn and across the parking lot there is another Golden Corral.  So that was how today was ordained.  So be it and say Hallelujah!

I'm not going to wait until the end of the trip to say the following because I feel it now and have to express it. My most important big thanks to each and every one of you who I had the absolute pleasure of a visit and made the last three and a half weeks so very special and enjoyable.  I was very selective when I chose who to see and you all contributed to making me feel really good and validated my selections.  I already miss all of you.