. The 24 ft. Budget rental truck and its wayfarers mission from Orlando to Columbia fulfilled, the lyrics of the familiar Dave Dudley song Six Days On The Road sung by band member Kenny Kannada no longer abetting in Gary’s head. The unloading began, his sister Nan providing an enclosed area adjoining the garage, capable of adhering all of the furnishing, enabling a return of the 24 ft moving appliance to a retail Budget dealer in Jamestown. The couple occupying what was affectionately called the Sleep Shack, a two room building with a kitchenette, restroom and sleeping accommodations for friends or family when visiting overnight.
. Gary’s first order of business after returning the rental truck was to retrieve his 97 Buick that remained at his brother-in-law Don De Valle’s mother’s home in San Mateo as a safe haven while in Florida. Gary riding with Don on his Monday morning commute to the Bay Area , The second order was not one of self, but one of acceptance by others, that his decision to marry was made from the heart and to dispel any doubts about his love for Fran. The two newlyweds settling in after their long journey, able to take time to contemplate the stages of who, what and where, their future and livelihood still in a state of limbo.
. A morning driver found the couple on a journey to the bay area, passing thru the Altamont pass, its 54,000 acre windmill presence standing out, a novice for electrical power but a vision of the future. Gary and Fran conveying the Buick to interstate 580 towards the remnants of a boyhood memory, The six lane traffic laden interstate a replacement for the memorable Mountain Blvd, the two lane blacktop the wandering entry through the East Oakland Hills. The Buick navigating the Keller Ave. exit, voyaging up the four blocks to Greenly Dr. and over one block to his corner lot boyhood home at Shone Ave then traversing up Shone to its summit where one could look down on the vista of Oakland, San Francisco Bay, the Bridges and San Francisco itself in the distance. Gary pointing out the steep incline of 82nd Ave. that dwelled down to MacArthur Blvd and Castlemont high school, pointing out that the walk to school was always more enjoyable than the return. Once again continuing on #580 toward the bay, approaching the toll booths for Bay Bridge, noticing the toll price was $2.00 remembering when it was only .25 cents.
. On the San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge one is greeted by a familiar landmark, not the Ferry Building that was built in 1898 but the aromatic bouquet emitting from Hills Brothers Coffee on the Embarcadero below the bridge, a welcoming to the city by the bay. Gary having found long ago the most direct way to Golden Gate Park was to follow the familiar overhead power lines of the No. 5 McAllister electric-powered bus he had taken as a youngster. The couple arriving at the renowned Park, with the Natural History Museum, the Aquarium, and the de Young Museum, the two touring the exhibits, marshaling their time, Gary deciding to move on, traveling west down Fulton Ave, coming into view were the cascading white tips of the breakers announcing the presence of the blue pacific. A brief stop at the ocean having one more objective before returning back to Columbia, North Beach and Pier 39, the traffic laden haven for tourist better known as Fisherman’s Wharf.
. The couple enjoying the sundry shops, the abundance tourist activity, the showmanship of the street vendors, but before departing, deciding to board a Red & White fleet Bay Cruise boat. The journey under the Golden Gate Bridge, the rolling swells, from the afternoon incoming tide making its presence, Gary and Fran experiencing the wind swept sea breeze mist, and in some ways, sharing a moment in time like the seafarers before them. The boat turning about but not retracing its course back, but casting itself towards the infamous Alcatraz, the island presence still foreboding. The cruise heading back, the boat navigating into its slip, Gary wondering if those aboard left with a vision of another place in time. The two finding this experience and the day well worth the time and effort, the journey to San Francisco an emprise, Gary once again putting the Buick on the road back to Columbia.
Continuing to stay at his sister’s in Columbia, Gary becoming keenly aware of his employment status, keeping abreast to opportunities in the Sonora Union Democrat, hesitant about returning to a EMT or hospital contingency, but still willing to allocated his maintenance experience. Noticing in the paper, the woodland Columbia College was in search of a full time maintenance person. Decided to investigate, submitting a brief resume’ at the college, just over a mile from his sisters, being informed he would be contacted by phone. It was several days before summoned where a committee was assembled for the interview. On arrival being directed to a small conference building off a tree-lined path, the 58 year old couldn’t help but notice that he was much older than the other applicants. During the interview he found the job wasn’t for a maintenance person, but for an on call custodian who would do routine cleaning and set up chairs for school activities. Receiving the perfunctory phone call, the position had been filled, Gary wasn’t surprised, continuing to monitor the paper, remembering hearing an adage, opportunity is like bus’s, there’s always another one coming.
Inquisitive Quest 
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