More Planning Would Have Made Difference
Wrapping a couple of personal leave days around the recent President’s Day holiday weekend seemed like a great way to create a mini-vacation for myself.
I didn’t want to go anywhere, just spend five whole days relaxing close to home.
From home, I would venture out to try some of the new restaurants here in the Valley, check out some inexpensive entertainment, maybe indulge in a little people watching.
Whatever I did, it had to be cheap. My budget was in the minus column.
So what did I do and what did I learn on my Valley vacation?
Read on.
On Friday, after running errands, my husband, George, and I set out in search of the perfect hot turkey sandwich. It couldn’t be a chain restaurant. I wanted it “Valley cooked.”
George suggested we try The Old European, which we had frequently passed, but never patronized. Their menu didn’t offer a hot turkey sandwich, but it was eclectic! I devoured Swedish crepes with strawberries and George enjoyed potato pancakes with applesauce (reminiscent of his Eastern European heritage). Great restaurant, good service, but no hot turkey sandwich.
On Saturday, while watching my daughter bowl with her league, my glasses disintegrated before my eyes! Freaking over the possibility of missing the final performance of Central Valley School District’s production of “Oliver!” that evening, I went frantically in search of a quick fix.
At the Spokane Valley Mall, a helpful sales clerk found four frames that fit my lenses. Blindly picking one and discovering the cost was a mere $30, I ecstatically presented a $100 bill.
Suddenly, this apparently easy outing had become a task!
The store didn’t have change for a $100 bill. Neither did the Valley Mall’s customer service desk. I’m afraid I was a little rude - sorry about that, everyone - but it seemed unbelievable to me that at noon on a Saturday at a major shopping mall it would be so difficult to change a paying customer’s $100 bill!
George finally made a $5 purchase at a health food store, cleaning out both of their tills.
“Oliver!” was spectacular! We in the Valley, and the Central Valley School District in particular, should be quite proud of our youngsters and the teachers who put on this show.
On Sunday, I missed church and vegged out.
On Presidents’ Day, I decided to add some excitement and adventure to my Valley vacation by attempting a home foot amputation.
Attempting to navigate my way through the messy maze on the floor of my storage room, I stepped on a metal box, slipped off it and sliced a 2-inch gash into the bottom and side of my left foot.
Blood gushed, I felt little pain, but a lot of panic as I hopped to the bathroom to grab a towel.
At a minor emergency center in the Valley, a wonderful women calmed me as she sutured my foot. She assured me that she was accustomed to stitching feet the texture of mine. She had learned to suture on pig’s feet.
The last day of my vacation, I kept my long-scheduled appointment for a physical with my family doctor. He examined my foot, pronounced the job well done and me physically fit, for the most part. (He admonished me to exercise and we discussed walking as a beneficial activity.) So my five-day vacation in the Valley consisted of crises and doctor’s offices, but there is a postscript.
My vacation came back to haunt me when my foot became infected and I spent five more days in the Valley - all in bed - all paid for by company sick time.
I don’t know when I will take another vacation day, but I’m positive I’ll put more thought and a great deal more planning into it!