Key West - First Day

The first day of the vacation on the Keys was great, spending most of the day in Key West.  

However, throughout one’s life, nature, in the endless evolutionary process, tests us to meet the challenge of your decisions; it tests our fortitude of the commitment to a quest.  On Saturday, it tested my commitment to have a wonderful time in the semitropical paradise of the Florida Keys.  The test came in a series of challenges to discourage me into returning home.  

The first test came in the torture of the airline seats.  I sat with my butt jammed to the back of the seat and my knees would not fit in the space provided; they jammed against the back of the seat in front of me.  For two and one half hours I was cramped, my legs got Charlie horses, my ankles were in severe pain, my right leg was jammed in the hand rest and my back was killing me.  14 years ago, I had surgery for my bunions and to correct and align the two toes next to my big toe.  The bottom line is that I have 7 screws in each of my feet.  Well, one of the things that happen with the low pressure of the cabin and sitting in a constraint position for that long is that your feet swell.  When this happens there is extra pressure in the on the screws and it is very painful with no chance to find comfort.  A we were about to land the flight attendant announces to put our trays up and out seats in the upright position.  Now a simple rule of physics dictates that for a person of my body type and age it is impossible to sit upright.  When I did, the gut gets pushes into my lungs and I can’t breathe.  So how does one slouch when there isn’t room?   The landing made the flight a lot more miserable.

The second test came when we got the Fort Lauderdale.  I got to the Advantage Rent a Car  and the clerk announces that they don’t have a car for us – they ran out of cars!  “But we have a reservation!”  I said.  “Well you can rent a car at some other agency for one day and we may have a car for you tomorrow.”  The agent said.”  We had no recourse.   I went to EZ-Rental, the agency next to in line.   And by luck, or by agency collusion, they managed to have a car for $130 more per week.  At 9:30 p.m. and with over 100 miles to go, I had no choice.  But it didn’t affect me, my confidence and commitment was still intact.  We drive over 100 miles and arrive at the house after midnight to 45 degrees, 35 mile per hour winds and the beginning of a cold front that would last for about two days.  I did not give in!

The next day was a clear sunny and a beautiful day, went out the porch and we could see forever it was so clear.  It was also only 43 degrees and we still had a 40 mile per hour wind from the north.