🎶Our bags are packed and we’re ready to go🎶. Yeah, it is time to click my ruby red slippers and say “There is no place like home” then do the 90 minute drive back to the airport, return the rental car. Oops, forgot the fill the tank unless you want to pay double to have them do it part. Then grab our bags of dirty clothes and head for the queue to check in. Sad to see our adventure over. The breath of true spring, the roar of the Falls and getting out of the familiar rut will be missed. Hello, 2 suitcases of dirty laundry-meet you in the rut on Mother’s Day.
So, you can ask what we did on Friday…since Thursday was the snooze fest. We do what old people do. Reconnect with people we have not seen in 44 years and have possibly 2-3 hours of awkward conversation over a meal. Wow, those Pickles know how to party. Thanks to Facebook for making those opportunities available for us old people. As a person who identifies as OCD, I do not do Facebook….do I get an identifying pronoun? I saw that Rabbit Hole for what it was when it was not much more that an idea. While I follow lots of threads on the www, not a big on the social media platforms….it is a “blue” job…so, Eddie is our designated Fber. He has reconnected with people literally across the globe…to include some of his pals from JAG in Washington, DC days. (1976-1980). When we started planning this adventure, Eddie reached out to one of these pals that has a law practice in Medina, NY, about 25 miles north of Buffalo…which is the other way to get to Niagara Falls. Lance (the NY lawyer) made recommendations and where to stay, what to see, and tipped us off to staying the bulk of our time here in Niagara on the Lake. He also mentioned that he and his second wife (we knew the first from back in the day) Patty (classic, he married his secretary) would drive up and meet us for lunch. Eddie said “great, sure, love to”…as you do. So, lunch reservations for 4 at a highly rated local restaurant at 11:30 Friday it is.
Talk about performance anxiety…when I was growing up, there was an expression-don’t discuss money, religion or politics-full circle moment on that advise these days…when you get to this point in life…acceptable convos revolve around adult children, grands, travel and the dreaded medical procedures. Apparently, Lance and Patty had the same conversation in the car on the way up…by the time we were being served lunch we were laughing and chatting as if we had been friends for a long time. We even went there in the taboo subjects-same page as we are. Go figure. Guess it is why we were friends in the Navy days…birds of a feather and all. In the traditional Dick measuring department…Lance has two (without medical assistance, I might add) sets of twins (F,M,F,M) from his first wife and Patty has two (F,M) adult children-all between 35-47 years old with spouses and subsets of grands…21 of those…point Team Marks. Eddie would have trouble remembering names and ages, never mind birthdays and interests. Lance is still practicing law, Eddie has been retired for 12 years…point Pickle, depends on point of view? Both boys enjoy good food and spirits and minimal exercise. Eddie can claim a point for as he has the best blood work money (and pharma) can buy with a team of doctors and specialists on speed dial. Lance sees his GP every couple of years….hey, I told you it was a small town. Travel …it is a push. With that many children and grands from Manhattan to Seattle, they are leading in the frequent grandparent miles, so point Team Marks. However, Team Pickle scored big in seeing their grands often. It was a push for international, too-turns out they are avid cruisers also. In fact, we enjoyed lunch so much, they were sad to leave us, but they are packing for a cruise trip departing Sunday. We parted with hugs and a promise to compare cruises schedules.
Well, folks, it’s a wrap. We travel again in August, until then, stay safe out there.
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