Now
I have to explain that I don't have a car and at the end of 2008 they
discontinued the bus service that stopped in the front of our complex
and by taking that bus I was able to connect with buses that
could/would take me all over the city. I did apply for a service
furnished by the Broward County Transit Authority called Paratransit or TOPS, which is transportation for handicapped people and/or senior
citizens. They pick you up and take you anywhere you want to go (doctor
appointments, shopping, movies, etc.) letting you off at the door and
then will pick you up and return you to where you live. There is a
charge of $3 each way and you have to call one day in advance.

I
called yesterday and made arrangements with the understanding that I
would be left off at my NET and then picked up there after all my
appointments. I was given a pick up time of between 11:29 and 11:59 AM.
I thought that was a little early for a 12:45 appointment but then I
figured maybe the driver had to pick up other riders. Not only he
didn't have to but he got to my place early in his van. I told him to
drive slowly as it only took 15 minutes, the most, to get there and we
were there before Noon BUT here is where the trouble started. My NET
doctor had just recently moved her office to a new building and I had
given the dispatcher the old address. The driver said he would call the
office and correct the address to where I was to be picked up. I didn't
want to take a chance so when I walked into the doctor's office I
called the transportation office and corrected the mistake.

Wouldn't
you know the doctor was not busy and I was taken in right away!?! It
was 12:30 when I was finished and since the podiatrist's personal go to
lunch from 12:30-1:30 and lock the office up I decided to stay in the NET's office and read the paper I had brought along. At 1:20 I walked the 4
blocks to the podiatrist's office. He was running late and I didn't get
in to see him until 2 PM. I did get out in time to walk over to my
primary doctor's office, who was also running late, but I did get out
in time to walk over to where I was to be picked up between 3:15-3:45.
I was still waiting at 4. It turned out that the dispatcher had not
changed the address, the driver had gone to the old address and marked
me as a no show. After 3 different calls I was told that a driver would
pick me up between 4:30-5--good thing I always carry a book with me!!

At
4:35 a TOPS van showed up but not for me!! I spoke to the driver, she
made a couple of calls and cleared the way for her to take me home
though she did have to make another stop first. When I went to pay her
she said that since I was suppose to be picked up between 3:15-3:45 and
it was after that time frame I wouldn't have to pay for the ride back.
I wasn't aware of that ruling but will be aware of it in the future. I,
finally, got home at 5:30. Of the 6 hours I spent away from my place I
actually had, maybe, a total of 75 minutes with doctors and was given 3
subscriptions not to forget the NET doctor wants me to go to Miami for
and exam and to come back for a hearing test--I don't think so--at
least not until July. "Kids" don't say I didn't warn you what's ahead
for you! LOL

By the way I gave the driver the $3 as a tip.

I do have an appointment with my cardiologist tomorrow at 1:30 PM with a pickup time to go between 12:25-12:55 and to return between 3-3:30--I don't think I'll hold my breath!