But I'm Already Retired?

Yup, I got new tires today so once again, I am retired. Just in case you were wondering, I put 12,000 miles on the van...but New York is only 3,000 miles? Okay, so I took the indirect route :D

True to memory, this entire country is beautiful. Even when the people are not so much...this trip I heard more politics than ever before and less middle ground than ever. It's a sadness...

Anyway, I am gearing up for a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico where I should be for all or most of September. A combined visit with house sitting. Fluffy's favorite west coast residence, she's a bi coastal cat now you know.

Where'd She Go?

This week went by in a very curious way...the moments went by so slowly, the days so fast! Here it is Friday and all I have to report is that I did as I should have.

On Monday, I went to the examination that brought me back to California. It was the most painful medical exam I have ever had and that's saying something! It wasn't until Thursday that I could go further than ten steps in any direction...I won't bore you with the novelty of it all, I'll just say that today I did the smallest of chores and called it good. If you're looking for me, I'm on Lorraine's couch...if this is just too exciting for you, blame it on the folks that want me to report at least once a week so they know where I am. As for me, I'll be back in the swing of things soon.

Home Away from Home

Since returning to Los Angeles yesterday, it has been brought to my attention that my blog has had too many lapses and I must concur. Please allow me to explain.

In starting this blog, it was my intention to do two things: 1) to reassure those concerned of my whereabouts of my safety and 2) to provide myself with an overview of the journey that leads to the next phase of my life. I also was concerned that I not turn it into a pain report or some other drivel of the physical realities of my days. As a result, I limited myself to reports of activities that were interesting in some way, and I must confess, there were some days that I was just too busy experiencing the beauty of the world around me to whip out my computer. Then came the virus.

If you are under the impression that l lost some weight on this trip, you know exactly what I am talking about, for alas, the hospitality and generosity of my hosts has been such that no such thing has happened and as a matter of fact I have found some weight that I was not looking for, regardless of what that phantom post said.

Alas, other issues arose that I had not prepared myself for and that is the matter of days spent talking comfortably in some one's home, which leaves little to report and the reality of a necessary recovery day following each travel day, as well as the random lack of access to the internet. Later, I encountered the obstacle of being present to assist with difficulties too private for this blog. A more experienced columnist would have ready interesting tidbits or pre-written stories to fill these gaps, so my inexperience is revealed. No harm, I have learned my lesson and endeavor to correct my bad behavior as I prepare myself for the next phase of my journey to adapt.

Having said all of that, I am sitting at Lorraine and Jim's with Fluffy at my side, who has nearly forgiven me for leaving Jack and Sue's. Who can blame her? It was a cat's dream come true and Fluffy's west coast favorite. While Coco is relishing in his personal favorite - Lorraine and Jim who only spoil him a little bit...okay, a little bit more everyday. What more could a dog want?

Nearly Home

So much has happened since my last post that I hardly know where to start...so I'll start at the beginning. Alice is such an incredible hostess that I found myself there for more than a month! Knowing that I need a couple of weeks to drive west, I left NY/NJ and stopped at Mom's for a kiss goodbye and found her in distress. So, rather than an in and out, I stayed long enough to get things straightened out and left with such a heavy heart. At that moment, if I was able to stay I would have for an indefinite period of time. Nonetheless, I met Barbara and Louis at, where else, the Broadway Diner and headed off into the west.

My next stop was at my long lost cousin's, Beth Anne Gerhart, whom I haven't seen in at least thirty years. It was so wonderful to meet her and her family! What charming people, I am so glad I took the time to stop, certainly there is a closer relationship in the future.

I hopped up to Interstate 80 since I haven't taken the northern route thus far, It was so beautiful! We are certainly blessed! I drove with a mind full of wonder with little regard for time or place, this is a luxury I wish for everyone. At some point, I had to choose a route and since I was caught by surprise, I headed towards Denver. No reason, I guess it sounded good.

Of course, I swung by Aunt Joan's in Colorado Springs since I was in the neighborhood. I had stopped on my way east but she wasn't home. This time, she was. We had such an amazing visit! If you remember how funny she is, then I don't need to explain why I was so reluctant to leave after three days.

New Mexico is eight hours out of Colorado Springs, so here I am. Sue is struggling through her radiation but you couldn't tell by looking at her. She looks better than I have ever seen her! Given my need to be in LA this weekend, I will have to plan another visit when I can stay longer.

My next stop is the Wallace's in Tuscon, AZ. I don't really know how I am going to stay more than twenty minutes since their dog will eat Fluffy for breakfast and it will be too hot to leave her in the car or garage, I will at least say hello and head for the Stewart's for a belated birthday celebration.

I will be in LA for at least a week, but not much longer since I am itching to find my new place and call it home. Then again, they are quite good at keeping me entertained so we shall see...

I Always Knew There Was a Bank of Marian!

It's hard to believe that it's been two weeks since my last post! In our last episode, the family reunion was over and I was contemplating moving on, but Alice did a remarkable job of keeping me here. While reclining on her couch, I somehow managed to take a few day trips. I spent a day or so with Helen and her family. I actually got to spend Spencer and Emma's birthdays with them. It was so nice to spend some time relaxing and getting to know them a little better. Of course the hospitality was excellent and I refuse to decide which birthday cake was better :D



Alice and I took a nice trip to Georgia to see Patrick, Jodie, Ian, Devan, and Liam. En route, we found a town called Marion, Virginia, did we stop? Of course we did...it was a very quiet town. Beautiful trees and green as far as the eye could see. We drove through town and decided on a local diner. After a simple but delicious meal (at a very reasonable price, I might add) I picked up a jar of honey with a chunk of honeycomb in it. Alice got one two and we headed out. By the time we gassed up, we realized that we didn't get nearly enough honey and headed back to the diner for more, that's when Alice decided to ask what the label meant before we headed on - besides, it wouldn't do to never know why it was honey made in Teas...as it turns out we bought honey in the town of Marion that was made in the Teas area of Sugar Grove...we had to go see this, so we did. Believe it or not, Sugar Grove is pretty much all dairy farms. Could this be the place that has everything I need? It was so funny, we really got a kick out of it. Just one more thing though, there were more churches in Marion than we saw people during our entire tour of the city...and there was only one house with a for sale sign, ONE. No, I didn't take the information, that would just be too freaky.


Our visit with the Georgia Hopkins went by in a flash! I don't think I've ever gotten more hugs and kisses in my life, it was so sweet. Liam woke me up with a hug the first day, then Devan sang to me while the house came to life. The day went by too fast, and we couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more!

Of course, we enjoyed the local cuisine, namely barbecue, ribs with all the trimmings including stews and beautiful Georgia peaches. Wow, what a meal! The peaches and pecans followed us home and are still being enjoyed today.

Oh a whim, we called Andrew and Sue to see if they'd like a quick visit on our way home. Not only did they make us an amazing meal, but they did their level best to get us to stay. Alas, Alice had class on Monday so we headed back with full tummies, happy hearts and all the home grown tomatoes we could carry.

This week, I am going to see Mom again, and Gypsy Noonan is coming into town. I am considering going to a reunion for a job I held oh...thirty years ago. Then, I head to Delaware to see Uncle Paul and Aunt Joan before heading west for my return trip.

Would You Believe We're Related?

What an excellent family reunion! There was a completely different cast of characters at this affair than at Michael's on the Fourth or Andrew's in Ohio. Between the three events, I now know about ten more relatives than I did before starting this adventure. In fact, some of the people I met, I knew as a child - which hardly counts since that was a very long time ago.

During dinner, a beautiful lovebird landed on the table. We caught it and gave it food and water -which probably saved its life. Kathy Trotta's daughter took it home and is fervently praying than no one claims it. I can't blame her, before she called dibs, I was mentally adding it to my traveling family.

Meeting Herbie, Linda, Steven and family (Uncle Herbert's two sons) actually left me speechless, no exaggeration. It was remarkable to me how much Steven looks like his father, and Herbie - who I knew better than Steven growing up, did not look anything at all as I remembered him. Janice and Tommy (Ann and Al's daughter) brought the video of Aunt Ann's 8mm films including the family reunion in 1970 at Tallman State Park. I was all choked up by the end of it, after seeing Mom (so pretty) and Dad, (so young).

The quality of the video was not great, and it was sometimes difficult to identify who it was exactly. I found myself shouting out identifications, and I think I scared Janice just a little :) but, when I saw Kevin - who was maybe three, my memory opened up and well, it made the trip for me. Uncle Al, who has his own copy of the video, really enjoyed watching it with the new audience although I suspect that it was nice just to see all those images of his family again.

Meeting Janice made me sorry that I hadn't made a greater effort to see her when she was at Jean's in Culver City - certainly, I will in the future.

Now that the reunion is over, I guess I need to nail down my plans for the next month...so many choices, I am truly blessed :D

Foot Soaks $5

My family is full of gracious hosts! Some, already honored in previous posts, and some, yet to come...Alice welcomed me four days early and catered to my every need. She was four hours done with the school year and nonetheless amazing.

The thing about being back in New York is that I get to see the family in groups rather than the ones and twos that I have become accustomed to. It is amazing and overwhelming. For me, it is way too easy to blow out my foot when my heart is recording all the images/sights and sounds of life before me. These experiences are my lifeblood, and when I am far, far away I replay them to remind myself of the vast amount of love in my life and in the world. It is too easy to forget this when the news cranks out the worst of humanity twenty four hours a day...but I digress...

Michael hosted his annual Fourth of July Extravaganza, among the family members and honorary family members in town for the festivities were Patrick with his son Ian, Chris with both Conor and Ryan, Helen with Spencer and Emma, Don and Lisa with their three boys, and of course, the local contingency.

On July 3, I went to a barbecue at Kathy Trotta's (aka Foulon) and got reacquainted with some folks from way back in high school. I stopped by Michael and Terrie's on my way home which, my foot decided, was not the best idea I ever had. I had a great time, but by the time I got back to Alice's my foot bore more resemblance to a sausage than any other thing. When I woke up at eight, the situation remained and I went back to sleep.

By two o'clock, I could walk a little, and I headed out to the festivities a little crankier than I realized...oops. It was so hot that it was steamy, not my favorite weather but when Michael plopped down a gigantic bucket of cold water in front of me, "Foot Soaks Five Dollars" I would have wrestled anyone to the death for first soak. Ten minutes later, I was a new woman AND I found my smile. It was in the bucket the whole time :D Which reminds me, I owe Michael five bucks.