Okay, y'all.....

I arrived back home from my 10 day holiday to Pennsylvania to visit daughter
#2 to find a ton of posts. As I skimmed down the thread list, I realized I
had to read all of them in order to catch up. I've just finished and I've
been home since last Sunday afternoon and worked 55 hours from Monday to
Friday. Good thing I'm a fast reader.

Rather than reply to each post that struck a chord in me, I'll summarize:

Ben - So glad to hear that you survived your heart attack. Take care of
yourself and take it slow.

Lisa - Happiest of 40th birthdays to you. When I first 'met' you, you were
barely 30!

N'awlins food - wish I was there with you, Molesy...

Depression - yes, I's got it...but I also have a handle on it...my doc says
mine is a product of having multiple physical conditions that are chronic
and lifestyle changing. I've found I have to just find joy in the things I
can do and not bemoan those that I can no longer do--i.e., mountain climbing
is no longer an option.

On my second last day with my daughter and her husband (May 16), we took a
drive to New York City. It was pouring rain most of the two hour drive from
Wilkes-Barre. After we parked at the Port Authority bus terminal, we walked
to the subway to take the train to South Ferry. When we arrived at our
destination we discovered that there were several school groups waiting to
take the boat to the island and we'd have to wait at least an hour and a
half for a boat. So, we went out on the dock and I got a couple of pictures
of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island from a distance through the mist and
clouds.

Then we walked back uptown to the World Trade Center site as I wanted to see
it in person. Unfortunately, it is surrounded by fences as they are in
process of constructing the permanent memorial. I took a picture of the
fence and the cranes from across the street. From there we hopped on the
subway back uptown to 34th Street.

We walked through town getting wetter and wetter to the Empire State
Building. There were no lines as the staff were telling everyone that there
was zero visibility at the top. We paid our fare and went up anyway. At the
observation deck we went outside into 50 mph winds and clouds completely
covering any view. However, we could see down (sort of) so I took a few
pictures looking over the edge, afraid that the wind was going to blow my
camera out of my hands. We retreated back inside and found the restrooms
where we used the hand drying machines to 'blow dry' our hair. Then down to
the souvenir stand to purchase a few mementos and then to the street leve to
hang out in the Heartland Brewery pub. While there I phoned my dad in
Seattle and he said it was sunny and 80