>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°F at 1:00 PM there. Bah!
>
>Following that we walked to Times Square (still getting pelted by rain) to
>do some shopping. Everywhere we went people were apologizing to me about the
>weather. I assured them that although I was wet up to my knees and my
>sweatshirt I was wearing was soggy, I was having the best time. And I was!
>
>We had dinner in a restaurant on Times Square with a sidewalk view from our
>table. It was all fabulous and I have so many memories of "What I didn't see
>in New York" to keep me laughing for years to come.