Off the Grid

January 7-13

We’ve been lying low for more than a week in Riverside, so there hasn’t been much to write home about.

We had been taking it easy, nursing head colds—the occasional cough, runny nose, fatigue. The usual stuff. 

We were thinking about getting flu boosters, and you can’t do that unless you’re Covid-free. So we went to a pharmacy that charges for a test. You fill out a form on-line and submit it with a photo of your driver’s license. Then you drive to the store and line up in your car.

Very appropriate, I guess. After all, this is California, where the drive-in wake was invented. 

A remarkably short line, I have to add. That’s because instead of those free tests that never seem to be available, this one costs $99.

You already know where this is going. We both registered positive.

Nobody was excited. The pharmacist told us to isolate for five days. 

That was Sunday, so this is day 4 of quarantine.

The only difference is that we have our meals delivered. In a couple of cases, we did a curbside pickup.

The only decent food in the neighborhood is at the Big Skyy Bistro, the Chinese restaurant across the street. They recognize Joanna as soon as she calls.

We tried a place that bills itself as New York Style Pizza. I was craving pasta, so I don’t know about the pizza. I had spaghetti. It was mediocre at best, but I was so hungry that I went through it all.

I haven’t been hitting much wine, but did a glass of Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon with that. That wine is terrific. It’s smooth, and it has a lot of flavor. I think it could make anything taste good.

We’ve gone out for a couple of short walks, but there’s nothing to see. From what I have seen so far, the city is pretty enough, but bland. It’s also littered with trash.

At first sight, the neighborhood of the hotel seemed very well kept and pleasant. The streets are lined with palms. 

There’s a snowcapped peak north of the city. Roses and birds of paradise are in bloom.

When we got a closer look, from the sidewalk, the streets and gutters are full of litter. There are homeless people, many of them outwardly hostile, living on the streets.

Some of them are raiding trash cans and throwing what they don’t want on the ground.

The place is as filthy as New York.

We’ve been going to sleep early and getting up late. We’re also taking naps.

We’ve had enough California, so we’ll start heading back on Saturday. We’ll stop at Blythe and then go back to Scottsdale, where we’ll plan our next move.

Keep well, all.

Love,

Harry and Joanna