Other than to go to work twice last week at HSC, I had not been back to Winnipeg since I moved to Steinbach. However, I had several things that needed doing, and Mom needed stuff at Walmart so we ventured into the big city of Winnipeg today, just me and Mom.
Our first stop was at Mom's accountant where she dropped off her tax papers; apparently she and Dad had been going there for the last 30 years or so. What shocked me about this accountant was that he mentioned Dad and how he would drop by every now and then and tell stories and chit chat. But guess what?! He didn't have Dad's book! Unheard of! So now we have to get a book to him somehow.
Second stop was HSC where I took Mom up to visit D2 and to introduce her to my former co-workers. Only gone for a week and already it felt strange to be there. Mom has been there to visit only once before and that was about five years ago when I was still a student. She doesn't remember that visit.
Third stop was the parking office, where I turned in my transponder for the Tecumseh Parkade. I was so proud of that thing! It stuck to my windshield and gave me unlimited access to the Parkade for $75 a month. Not a bad deal when you consider that one full day of parking in the William Avenue Parkade costs $15.
Fourth stop was Roger's near the stadium, not the Rogers in the mall. I've long since given up on going in to the mall. The employees at this location are so much more friendly and helpful. However, I'm not entirely sure they helped me today. I was overcharged $200 for my iPhone due to a "glitch in the system" at the time of purchase.
Fifth stop was A&W right across from Polo Park where Mom had an Uncle Burger and she ate every bite of it.
Sixth stop was my doctor's appointment; I was there half an hour early and was out of the building 15 minutes before my appointment was even scheduled. It was just a change of prescription appointment, the business portion of the appointment took a mere minute or two and we spent some time discussing the stupidity of some patients that we've met in our various positions in the health care profession. My favorite is the man who was triaged at approximately 2330 on one of my orientation shifts. His entrance complaint was "swollen foot." When asked how long his foot had been swollen his reply was "for a few months." The question that immediately popped into my head was "and why is it suddenly such an emergency tonight that it could not wait till a walk-in tomorrow or even wait a week or two for a scheduled appointment?" My doctor's favorite story of needlessly seeking health care is of a mother who called at 0200 complaining of her infant being constipated on that particular day. Apparently the constipation could not wait till the following morning.
And the seventh and last stop (by this time I was just dying to get home to Steinbach) was Walmart @ St. Vital. Mom needed hearing aid batteries, panty hose and her favorite brand of cereal. I needed a shower curtain rod and a shower curtain and am quite happy cuz I haven't been able to shower in a few weeks. Of course I had to have someone else come and put up the curtain rod cuz I was completely incapable of doing it myself!
Finally we were done and it was time to leave the bustle of the city. Traffic and traffic lights have never irritated me as much as they did today. I wanted out of the city in the worst way and that was an interesting feeling for me, as I don't remember ever feeling that way before.
Mom had a good day and was pleased with what we accomplished. She got to assist me in dropping off Kev at Auntie Pam's and then again when picking Kev up on the way home. She always asks me where Kev stays when I'm working; hopefully now she will have something to remember when I tell her where he is.
So it seems that I won't be going to the city any more than is absolutely necessary. There are so many people there, the stores are so full, the streets are full and everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. I love my new life in "the country" where my drive across town takes mere minutes instead of an hour or hours.
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