My Grandfather is Missing

spitfirebill wrote:

Salanis wrote: Yeah. I called AT&T about tracking his phone. There's a feature that can be activated with his approval. I think we're going to do that, especially since he's planning to make a road trip across the country at the end of the month.

Are you going to tell him this?

I'll probably tell him, but not make it negotiable. Probably something like, "Hey g'pa, AT&T has a phone tracking service that I'm going to go ahead and get activated. That way, if you have any troubles on your trip, it will be easier for us to help you out."

I'm relieved to hear that he was located.

Lojack his car?

Datsun1500 wrote: Am I the only one that doesn't think Grandpa did anything wrong? Sure it sucks that you thought he was lost but look at it from his perspective. He went on a trip and stayed in a hotel that he told someone that was in charge of his finances about so someone knew where he was. Just because you did not know where he was does not mean it's time to bug his stuff...

Grandpa did nothing wrong here.

Timeormoney wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote: Am I the only one that doesn't think Grandpa did anything wrong? Sure it sucks that you thought he was lost but look at it from his perspective. He went on a trip and stayed in a hotel that he told someone that was in charge of his finances about so someone knew where he was. Just because you did not know where he was does not mean it's time to bug his stuff...

Grandpa did nothing wrong here.

+1

No, he didn't do anything wrong. If anyone did, it was my great aunt and uncle who got everyone in a panic because they were convinced he was supposed to be meeting them at the hotel when that wasn't actually the plan.

Doesn't mean that having a way to keep track of where he's at while road tripping isn't a good idea. Trying to use a cell phone is a challenge for him. He does okay with his landline by putting it on speaker phone. He doesn't know how to do that with his cell phone.

Salanis wrote:

triumph5 wrote: I think I'd sit down with him and have a google earth street view with him at the areas where he's planning on stopping each night. And I would try to get across a planned stop each night, not stop when you feel like it. BUT, if he does, he HAS to call you where he is everynight, or it's missing person's report time.

That's a good idea. I'll try to do that. His plan is to go from here, near Sacramento, to Austin, stay for a couple weeks, then go on to DC and stay for a month or so. I think him driving is the wrong plan. I think flying or train are much better ideas, but he's dead set that he wants to take the car. He'd like me to go with him, and as much as I love him, I've got to draw the line somewhere for my sanity. I could not take sharing a car with my grandfather for that long (I figure it will take him 4 days to get to Austin). I could handle sharing a plane or train with him, but with a car and sleeping in hotels, I don't have the opportunity to get away and have time to myself. Even if I were to drive with him, I'd only be able to go as far as Austin with him.

Dude, if you can swing it, go with him. One of my grandfathers was dead before I was born, and I just lost the other one early this year. I would give anything for a road trip with either of them.

This is one of those 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone' scenarios.

I get what you're saying, but I am very close to my grandfather. I visit him several times a week, and have taken a number of cross country trips with him over the years. He, my dad, and I took a week long trip together just last month.

Unfortunately, time in the car isn't quality time with my grandfather. It is nearly impossible to communicate with him. It's just travel stress. That's why I'd go with him if we were traveling some other way, but 4 days in a car would just be too much. I'd be resenting my grandfather's company, not enjoying it.

Plus, I'll probably end up coming out to visit him while he's partway along his trip. Part of the point is for him to decide where he's going to settle, and I'll most likely come out to help him get situated.