The Keed always knows where he’s goin’

Yesterday (Tuesday, October 6, 2009) we had a doctor’s appointment at Strong Hospital.
9:30 a.m., which means drive NASCAR rush-hour.
Do battle with the stolid burghers rushing headlong to get to the office coffee machine first, so they can lean on it while yammering ceaselessly to those arriving later, whilst glomming donuts.
Stand back, everyone. Reading the Wall Street Journal or jabbering on their cellphone or texting Facebook®.
But don’t get in their way. The speedlimit ain’t fast enough on I-390; and if a traffic-light turns red, they run it.
As we used to say at Transit: “expect anything!”
“Blue-H,” my wife says, as we amble back to the hospital parking-garage.
“What?” I ask.
“‘Blue-H’ is where we’re parked.”
“I have no idea what ‘Blue-H’ means,” I say; “but I can find my car.”
All it is is the reverse of how I came in, which I took note of.
Parked four lanes over on the inside, cut through at the crossover, and walked off the Second Floor.”
Up two flights, up the ramp, cut through at the crossover, and BINGO! There it is!
I reprised our trip again today, but an 11:45 a.m. appointment.
After NASCAR rush-hour, but I was followed closely by a tiny red Chevrolet HHR, headlights on, its driver doing his best Glowering Intimidator impression, climbing all over my rear bumper.
He tried desperately to pass a few times, but was frustrated in his efforts by oncoming traffic — leading him to rage maniacally and thump his steering-wheel with his fist.
After the appointment we went to the Sears at Eastview; mainly to return a Lands End purchase.
“I could use a bathroom,” I said to a clerk unable to come up with a bagger attachment for my lawnmower.
“Take this aisle down to washing-machines and dryers, turn right up to Lands End, then right again past the jewelry. The Rest Rooms are right next to the Optical Department.”
“Huh?” I thought. Felt like I was talking to a robot.
I set out in search of the elusive Rest Rooms; turned right at the mysterious places indicated, and WOOPS! There’s the Optical Department.
Later follow-up today at Strong; back to Radiology.
Third visit to the dreaded parking-garage.
Exit Green Elevators in Strong Hospital, and look around.
“I recognize that ramp.” Off we go toward it. —Right decision, of course.
Back to parking-garage afterward; off at Third Floor, up the ramp, and cross over to the next ramp up on the outside of the building.
No idea where I parked, or inside or out.
We cut across, and HELLO! There it is! Right in front of us!
No GPS, no horn-trigger, no Google-maps, nuthin’.
“Get outta here with them directions! I don’t need no directions.”
The Keed always knows where he’s a-goin’.

• “The Keed” is of course me; “BobbaLew.”
• “We” is me and my wife of almost 42 years — it was her appointment.
• “Strong Hospital” is a large hospital in the south of Rochester.
• “I-390” is Interstate-390, the main expressway into Rochester from the south. —We travel I-390 to get to Strong Hospital.
• For 16&1/2 years (1977-1993) I drove transit bus for Regional Transit Service. Never knew the streets I was on, but knew the route. —Driving bus was challenging; people were always cutting you off.
• A “Glowering Intimidator” is a tailgater, named after Dale Earnhardt, deceased, the so-called “intimidator” of NASCAR fame, who used to tailgate race-leaders and bump them at speed until they let him pass.
• “Eastview” is a large shopping-mall southeast of Rochester.