| 3.10-6 The Far Beach (La Punta Roca) to the Urbanization to San Juan International Airport Thursday March 28th, 1991 |
I’m on may way back to the airport but I've decided best to go with the ‘opposite’ theory and go in the 'opposite' direction from my previous walks. In this way, I’ll be able to escape the clutches of Puerto Rico and return to the states (see map of area below). As early in the morning as it was (guessing it was between 2 to 4 am) I passed a couple of people on the beach. After walking a half an hour or so I head up to the main road continuing my walk passing a man riding a bicycle. I eventually see a flashing yellow light up in the distance, which excites me since it means I am reaching civilization once again. As I near the lights a group of 3 or 4 teenagers is walking the opposite direction down the road. For protection I pull the plastic bag over my head so I wouldn’t be recognized. It worked for they only said a few things toward me and passed on by. As I am walking toward the flashing light I pass a big white sign with black lettering on my right side which says something like “Escuela Elemental” which I figured meant elementary school and it had like a regulation # on it. The sign was in front of a cement wall about 5 feet tall and behind the wall was the school. Right next to the sign was a PRTC pay phone. So I get on the phone and call my dad to let him know that Manny still hasn’t found me and that I am not waiting at Roca del Mar de Jorge anymore. I let him know that I am heading in the opposite direction to the airport this time since everything is opposite from what we expect and so I will be successful at flying out of the airport this time by doing the opposite from my previous attempts. I read to him the sign that was in front of me and let him know that I was going to climb the wall to enter the school even though it appeared the sign was saying it was not legal to do so. I wanted to see if I could find some scissors to cut off my silk pants since when I ripped off pieces to protect my feet from the hot sands, they hadn’t torn nicely and long pieces of the seems were dangling from the newly formed ends of my pants. I also let him know that I was able to now read minds and even played a game with him where he’d think of a number and I’d let him know the number he was thinking. I ended the call with my dad and then climbed the school wall. It was a weird feeling being in a school that is completely vacated. I was in a like a court yard area and there were a couple of classroom buildings on either side. In the back were a couple wooden outdoor latrines, one of which I decided to use. As I exited the latrine, to my left across the courtyard were some classrooms. I pass each room to check doors to see if any were open. I found one and entered. I went to the front of the classroom where the teacher’s desk was. I sat down and looked in the drawers for some scissors but found none. But at my bare feet were a pair of slippers obviously belonging to the teacher for this class. It seemed best to me that I wear them for the rest of my journey since I didn’t know how long it might be nor how hot the road and sands would be. I found a pen and some paper and wrote a note to the teacher explaining I was borrowing her slippers and that I would be back some day soon to repay her. I left the classroom, jumped back over the school wall and headed to the flashing yellow light. At the light was a T intersection. I took a right turn at the T and headed away from the ocean and toward the airport. The area was densely forested and there were no lights around other than the flasher now behind me. I walked for a while and came to another road. I turned to the right and passed a few houses. I turned left and headed once again toward the airport. I passed what seemed like a farm house and headed down a dark offshoot road still toward the airport. I eventually came to the end of the road where it met lots of dark still water. I figured the airport in this area must be surrounded by this water. I could see the lights of the airport off in the distance. I wandered back to the area of the houses. As I’m walking in the area of the houses I guy driving wildly passes by. I can hear his engine roaring up and down other streets nearby me. Again he passes by. Figure he must be crazy driving like a maniac up and down these streets over and over again. I find a house on the next block where some kids have left their bikes out front. I grab one to ride back to the airport. I go a few feet when I see that both tires are flat. I lay the bike back down in the yard and continue to walk. I begin to search again for another bike but instead I see another taxi coming down the street. It passes me by and stops at a house just down the way. I walk toward the taxi to see if he can give me a ride to the airport but in the opposite direction from my normal attempts. By the time I reach his house he is inside. I knock on the door but there is no answer. So I know a again. I hear voices from inside the house so I begin to speak asking for a ride to the airport. Then the entity returns and begins to talk to them, even conjuring up the man’s dead mother ‘Maria’. The people in the house are crying and the entity is telling them about Satan being dead and about his mistake and the opposite theory. I don’t get my ride to the airport so I go on down the street back to where I saw early saw the bike. By now the sun is starting to come up and I see more houses on another block. I see people turning on their lights to get themselves ready for the new day. I walk toward a house with a huge tree in front of it with beautiful red flowers all over it. I see a man coming out of his house nearby and heading to his car. I approach him and ask him in English if he can take me to the airport. He has me hop in the back seat and he drives down the street to pick up his work buddy. The ride to the airport was quiet. They didn’t go the way I wanted - the opposite way – they went the same way I had made it to the airport before – past Roca del Mar de Jorge, past the food kiosks, past the marina and over the little bridge beside the Marina. On the way to the airport the entity reaches out and caresses each of them kindly on their arms – they look back with nice big smiles and then look and smile at each other. They drop the entity off at the entrance to the road into the airport and take off to begin their workday. I walk on into the terminal as it is beginning to rain lightly. I cover my head with my yellow plastic bag to keep dry and so the police would not recognize me. I head first as usual to Juan and Pedro at Virgin Air and they were in. I again tell them my lasted story and one of them tells me not to wear the plastic bag on my head. Next, I head off to find Ruth. There she was sitting outside in the row of fiberglass chairs. I greet her and ask her if I can use my Visa, American Airline Frequent Flyer card and the Virgin Airline button. She hands these to me and I bid her farewell. Next stop is the airport hotel. I take the elevator to the lobby floor, walk up to the front desk and ask to check in so I could get some good sleep. They don’t allow me even though I presented my Visa card. I head over to a pay phone to try and make some calls but with no dimes I couldn’t. So I finally decided to walk down to the Traveler’s Aid office. There I find Wanda and Lilly excited to see me (even with the bag over my head I guess they were able to recognize me). They let me know Manny has been looking for me and that they will let him know they have found me. I let them know I was hungry so they gave me an airport voucher. I headed downstairs and somehow found my way to the American Airlines employee cafeteria. I get some rice and beans and a few other local items and sit down at a table just outside the cafeteria still wearing my bag. Before I got to eat anything though the airport police find me and take me away. Eventually the airport police hand me off to some San Juan Municipal police. I see their badges and I know that I am finally in the right hands - Santos & Santiago. These were the names that Carlos was singing over and over again in Buena Vista – foreshadowing what was to come for me. Santos & Santiago were very nice to me as expected. Were they were taking me I didn’t know but as we drove away I mocked the scene of Charles Manson in “Helter Skelter” being taken away in a police squad car – face up against the right rear window. On our way I was singing Carlos’s song – “Santos, Santiago, La Santana”. They took me to Centro Medico, the main hospital in San Juan. I was there for a couple of days I believe but time became lost once I was in this system. I recall only that I was straight-jacketed (I got out of it twice) and there was another guy there who would put his cigarettes out on me. I was then transferred to CPC San Juan Capistrano Hospital, a private hospital in Rio Piedras. Here I finally met up with Dave, my sister’s husband, and Manny. First question I had for Manny was, “Am I really alive”, for I thought for sure I had died and the past week was the new reality in death. I remember having great times at the hospital. I was no longer eating meat so I would trade my meat dish at dinner with someone for more beans or rice. My salad I ate without dressing, just “au natural”. The TV in the general area kept showing advertisements for ‘Pizza, Pizza’ – Little Caesar’s Pizza. I’d ask the doctors and staff for pizza from Little Caesar’s and they’d just smile – there was none in Puerto Rico. But they were so nice that they did get pizza one day and shared with me. The time at this hospital I was on some strong tranquilizing medications and I don’t recall sleeping at all. They filled our time with some crafts and even allowed us to swim out in the hospital pool – I was the only one who did that though. The lifeguard was a beautiful Puerto Rico guy. I also recall a very pretty girl who was in for slitting her wrists – she was just a young teen – she’d become depressed because of treatment she was getting at home. I also met Ramon, a computer guy like myself. These were now the last moments of my trip around the world. I vividly recall the drive to San Juan International Airport, down 65th Infantry (as I know now) toward Carolina, with colorful signs on each side of the street and the many busy shops along the way. It was good to be going home. We all just want to go back home. |
World Turned Upside Down
My Days in San Juan de Puerto Rico (or is that Puerto Rico de San Juan?)