It's Good To Be Home

Though we had a lot of fun in California, heading home was a welcome relief, especially after this morning’s adventures before ever leaving Capistrano Beach. We arose fairly (though not ungodly) early to embark on our drive home. However, when we arrived at the office around 6:30 a.m. in need of breakfast (make that coffee) we found the entire place closed. Breakfast, such as it was, started at 6:00 a.m. every other day of our visit, but not today. Thinking that perhaps the staff was just running late, we returned to our room to finish packing and loading the car, presuming we would eat just before check out. When we returned at nearly 7 a.m. the office was still dark and locked up tightly. Dialing the courtesy phone brought us a manager (after about five minutes) who completed the check-out procedure before asking, “No breakfast today?” as if the dining area was not shrouded in darkness without so much as a hint of brewing coffee. At this point my son and I exchanged a look of utter amazement, stifled a laugh, and answered, “We have to hit the road,” with as straight a face as possible. (We later decided he was delusional if he thought breakfast was waiting for us.)


Following this incident we decided our best bet for sustenance would be the Mickey D’s we found last night on our return to the hotel. Before ordering up our Egg McMuffins, though, we stopped for gas where we were accosted by a homeless person begging for money. A woman walked into the gas station parking lot yelling, “He took my stuff! I’m going to call the cops! I’m going to sue!” while pointing at a deliveryman near the door of the mini-mart. She then wheeled upon Jeff, who was trying to finish up the gas before she got too close, and asked for money. When he answered her in German – hoping to discourage her without provoking her anger – she continued walking closer and asking for cigarettes. At this point, Jeff finished filling the tank and quickly climbed into the car to avoid any trouble. She was still yelling at us when we pulled out.

Luckily $15 at McDonald’s purchased some much-needed caffeine and quiet, shoring up our nerves for the drive home, which was also interesting. Our Garmen decided that traffic on Interstate 5 was a parking lot and “took us the back way” as we say in Tennessee. We drove about 28 miles – mostly through a state forest on winding roads that dropped off on one side (ours) to a mist-shrouded Lake Elsinore. This route did not add any time to our trip, but a few of the hairpin turns may have subtracted some hours from my life! Ultimately, we were directed back to the interstate and made it the rest of the way home without incident. After such a harrowing day we decided to throw healthy-eating caution to the wind and have frozen pizza for dinner! After all, nothing is better than comforting junk food at your own table wearing your own fuzzy slippers while a cat tries to curl up in your lap in warm greeting.