Most vacations seem to go by all too quick. Jack, Judy and I got back from two weeks in the East last night at 1 am, but this time it didn’t seem short at all. Maybe that was because we tried to do a lot in a short amount of time (seven stops in four states). Or maybe it was because we had a little more drama than we wanted at times.
To begin, a connecting flight from Denver on our first day was delayed 5 hours, then cancelled. No seats were available to La Guardia on any flight the rest of the day not long after the long line of passengers queuing for other flights had even formed. That prompted a change from La Guardia to Philadelphia, which was fine--maybe even better, because that’s where we had B&B reservations and intended to stay the night. Only problem was that it meant a change in car reservations, which Hotwire doesn’t allow and wouldn’t refund. So that battle began. And, Hertz would charge an additional $500 or so. Starting any vacation potentially $1100 in the hole isn’t recommended, but sometimes you have to roll with the punches. Unfortunately, we got punched again. Frontier Airlines lost our luggage for two days. So bought a few things and never let it crimp our senses of humor. Have to say Judy was great then and great all through whatever came our way. Jack? He didn’t care. He was content with a look at the Liberty Bell, something to drink and something to eat--preferably pizza. No problem finding that in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia we met up with Judy’s father’s wife of many years Nancy, and Nancy’s colorful son Colin (and his girlfriend Ashley), a machinist and member of the National Guard. Colin couldn’t get his high riding pick-up truck in the parking garage adjacent to our Old Philadelphia B&B, but he found a spot somewhere nearby.
While in Philadelphia (I can’t say “Philly”) we did the Duckboat tour of the old city and harbor and walked a lot. Far too much for Jack’s liking, but par for the course for me. We ate our way through the city, trying several cuisines, including Cuban. I got up at 6 one day and walked a mile and a half each way for fresh baked soft-pretzels straight from the bakery. Bus service can be spotty if you don’t know the routes, I guess. I’m crazy about soft pretzels, but maybe you already guessed that.
After a couple days in Philadelphia we drove to Rome, NY with a brief stop in Williamsport, PA to see my cousin Joe Leavens’ knitting factory, Phoenix Trimworks. Phoenix makes trim fabric for the furniture and related industries. Joe gave us a tour, which was great. We also saw some upholstery fabric made by his business partner in North Carolina. Really liked those, and would love to be able to go back to his Wiliamsport factory store and buy fabric, should I want to recover or make something again.
On to Rome and an evening dinner with John at the venerable Beeches restaurant before seeing Mother the next day at Terraces, an assisted living residence. Mother lives in a secured wing for people with memory issues. She was in good spirits and happy to spend part of the day with us seeing a little countryside and having lunch at a pleasant Clinton, NY restaurant, plus a little more sightseeing later.
Had dinner Thursday night with a wonderful assortment of 13 old classmates and husbands or wives of classmates who came just to see me. I was SO surprised and expected a much smaller gathering. In fact I’d warned Judy there may only be a couple people at the dinner. I’d never made it to a reunion before, mostly because of Andrea’s health issues, so it was a wonderful evening of friendship, reminiscing and circle closing.
Such a pleasure in so many ways.
Saw Mother again the next day, The Ft, Stanwix park, a lock on the canal, Mother’s stalwart friend Georgie; did some go-kart driving with Jack, and ate more donuts. Again.
Friday was on to brother Rich and his island in the St. Lawrence River, but not before a long slow drive through farm country and a stop for lunch at a beautiful spot along the river at Alexandria Bay, NY. The river looks great at that spot under blue skies. Greenery on the islands and all around, with Boldt Castle and a gi-normous and beautiful boathouse on nearby islands dominating the view.
Rich’s island looks good despite a liberal brushing with Canada Geese poop along the shoreline. We fished, caught nothing, but caught up with Rich and saw large fish in the water. Next time maybe we’ll get one?
Masschusetts was next after a day’s drive, but first we stopped in Rome again to say goodbye to mother. After that we stopped at my boyhood home outside of Rome. Current owner John Rossi was home and showed us around all four floors (if you include walk down basement and walk-up attic. John has fixed up the crumbling old house and continues to make it more livable. He mentioned several times how happy he and his family was with the house, neighbors, school district and area. SO nice to hear. So nice.
Liz and Gabe’s home on an old farm in the hills of Western Massachusetts is pretty much unchanged and beautiful and way out in the woods. Bears are not uncommon. Wild Turkeys are, which are quite a sight to someone from Los Angeles. Speaking of sights, when it was clear we could see for miles across the hills. Also saw the International Space Station one night after reading an article in the paper about where and when it would pass in the sky overhead. Cool.
Picked lots of blueberries and raspberries at The Farm. Jack played a number of chess games with Gabe and got re-energized about chess. I’ve seen him playing many times since on the Ipad.
Still, Liz and Gabe are the main attraction, so it was great catching up. We had some great food and played Boggle for at least an hour each night. Judy was absent for a couple days visiting her son and grandson in Connecticut. Jack and I busied ourselves with a little sightseeing (dinosaur tracks nearby are preserved in mud (which became stone over many millions of years). Took in the movie “Brave” when rain threatened and generally kept local donut makers busy. The Donut Dip in Springfield claims to have 50 varieties, but we only sampled 30 or so.
After leaving Liz and Gabe (picture of the three of us was taken just before leaving) we enjoyed a leisurely drive through Connecticut, which is also beautiful. Saw Judy’s son for dinner and coffee (at a donut shop, of course). I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone with adult children, so this is all new to me. I suspect all three kids are a little wary of me, an unknown quantity, so I guess my job is just to keep silent and be patient. Eventually they will come to know that I am no threat to their relationship with Mom and treat her as well as one person can treat another. My mother attached herself so much to 2nd husband Bob that she lost her own identity somewhat, so I want to avoid that, or even the appearance. Judy’s kids can have her alone anytime, as far as I’m concerned. Her happiness over time will, I hope, win the day.
Judy had arranged for us to stay at an Inn on Long Island Sound at Westport. Loved that, but I think there were some weird spores in the room air conditioner. They attacked me at 3 in the morning and never left for the next few days. Never had an allergy in my life, so now I know what it‘s like to have a constantly running nose and sneeze through the day.
Our next stop was outside Poughkeepsie for a barbecue and a visit with Judy's old friends Debbie and Lindsay (and spouses). Jack got to shoot a BB gun and enjoyed hanging out with Lindsay’s husband. He’s a former glassblower and interested in many things. (Sound familiar?) Both the ladies and their husbands were interesting and fun to talk to.
Had a nice swim at our hotel that evening and moved on to NYC the next day. Saw Times Square and tried to rent a boat at Central Park, but for some reason the boathouse was closed. Oh, well. Rode another boat, the Staten Island Ferry, for less money and enjoyed it just as much. Plus, you can’t see the Statue of Liberty from Central Park! Went out to Coney island on a long subway trip from our hotel. The trip took almost two hours but was made shorter by some great people watching and a NY Times. Coney Island beach was great and the rides are fun, but expensive. A ride lasting 3 or 4 minutes costs $4 to $6. Jack isn’t a big ride person and was thankfully happy with just a couple rides. Judy went on the log flume ride with him, but didn’t get too wet.
More problems on the flight back home later that day: issues checking in, then had to pay more money for the flight for some reason (minor, just an annoyance) and then found out they gave Jack's and my seat to someone else. We were seated elsewhere, though, thankfully, but not after an ever-so-slightly embarassing wait on the plane. We did receive our bags at the carousel. Hallelujah! Any checked bag is “Excess baggage”, by the way, for which they charge $20. What can you do? Our flights were on time and the 6 hours or so in the air went pretty quickly, thanks to the tv in the seatback ahead of us., food and games (Jack).
Judy never lost her composure or sense of humor through the whole trip, which was lovely to see and experience. After 10 months together without an argument of any kind I pretty much knew we could travel well together, but we have never been constantly with each other 24/7 for more than a couple days. That was going to be a test, but she--and we--passed that with flying colors, I’m happy to report. Both of us are going to be overwhelmed with work in the near future. Judy recently got a promotion into a different department at Carnival/Princess/Holland America, so she feels pressure to get comfortable in that new position, as well as helping out some to keep her old department from sinking. Eventually the old department and its managers will have to survive on their own, of course. But. Knowing how much Judy puts into her work I had a hunch they would miss her Big Time, and so far I’m right.
I have a number of jobs piled up and lots more to do to get the 2nd floor finished, inspected and livable. Target date for Judy to move in is September 1st. It’s going to be a busy summer.
