In the late 1960s, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was a fashionable read. This mid-earth fantasy preceded his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings and features a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who left the security of his home to seek adventure.  If you made it to end of the book – and thought you understood it, you had bragging rights above the legions who failed to complete the assignment.
Today was my hobbit day.
This was my day to be part of a “Posture and Orientation in Older Adults and Post-Stoke” research study at Temple University. Part of my adventure was to travel today using SEPTA’s low cost or free rides for seniors. Thank you, Â lottery players.
I caught the 7:18 a.m. express train to Philly to allow buckets of extra time. First thing I learned, after paying my paultry $1.00 fare, was today’s 7:18 a.m. express would be a cattle stop local. Ouch! I readjusted my thinking. I was left with cupfuls of extra time.
I then caught the commuter train – another buck - to Temple University where I read an over-sized area map and promptly got lost in one of Philly’s nastier sections. I readjusted in time to find the testing laboratory with zero extra time left.
Temple University’s Pearson Hall is being revamped, and there are no markings on any doors. A HA, adventure beckons. No one could direct me to Room 40 or the Department of Physical Therapy. It was only by dumb luck I found the room where I hooked up with Tarre and Jill who would attend to me during my testing.
After the obligatory paperwork, my body was “suited up” with multiple sensoring devices. My outfit was further equipped with a lovely vest/harness. My black running suit rounded out the ninja warrior look.
The tests combined visual sensory tricks while standing on a platform possessing its own mind. The challange was to maintain my balance as best I could while all these effects worked against it. It was old school Wii. For a guy in his mid-60s, I think I did pretty darn good.
Tarre and Jill were professional and efficient with their testing and computations. In no time, I was back on Broad Street and enjoying a nice, long walk to lunch in Chinatown. I set my inner GPS for the VT Sandwich shop on 10th Street for Philly’s best Vietnamese sandwiches. I also had their wonderfully spicy Phở soup.
I continued my day out with a leisurely tea break at a pastry shop and a free bus ride to 69th street terminal. It was here where I treated myself to a SEPTA Senior ID card. I’ll need this card if SEPTA dumps Medicare as an ID. Other old folks were floating this rumor during a previous SEPTA ride.
By this stage, the day exhausted my adventure resources. I rode free SEPTA buses from 69th Street to West Chester to Downingtown.
Waiting for me at home was my Valentine, Lyn who sat attentively as I told her about my day.
Since I’m no Tolkien, my day’s adventure is only blog material.