Basically, I had basically a Greek comedy/tragedy experience traveling to the East coast. Repeated delays, broken planes, pregnant seat neighbors and babies everywhere, cancellations and shuttles from one airport to another all in one day! Despite that, I had a joyous reunion with dearest friend R.
After resting for a few hours, we sat down at the table and made a "bucket list" to complete while I'm here.
Certain goals were very much for self-care, while others were quirks and/or something to enjoy.
There was a friend reunion, with someone I hadn't seen for almost twenty years! I had gotten a kick out of that he didn't recognize me! Even with hints, he couldn't figure who I was. Finally, in mercy, we told him, and he was so happy- couldn't believe that I came all over to see him! It was nice to reunite with him. There was even eye candy of an Irish Bartender working- he introduced me to a drink- I should keep this as one of favorites to order in the future- Pineapple Upside-down cake martini! It's so yummy!
One day was full of mindfulness and pampering! I got to do gentle yoga (now I have to see if we have that here!), a wonderful pedicure, with toes painted glorious purple, hugs out of the blue, staying in the present, and chatting over tea at night. Best day during the vacation!
We got to watch 'Switched at Birth", all in ASL (no voice).
"Uprising"- if you hadn't seen it, go and watch it! You are very much welcome to experience my world from the Deaf view.. :) Was wonderful watching it with R (she's Deaf, too!)
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One of my favorite spots is New Hope, PA. There is an energy there that one can soak in, warm and loving- very much like sitting front of a fireplace, cozy in your blanket- that's the energy one can find in New Hope. Meanwhile in New Hope, I got another tattoo at
Living Arts where I had my tattoo long ago, of the wolf cub to represent my miscarriage. This tattoo is of a curvy labyrinth on my calf, which I can lift to trace discreetly while sitting. I had to hold hands with R, during the applying of the tattoo, due to one area being bone. A tip to y'all who might consider getting a tattoo....get some lollipops. Don't ask me how, but they sure reduce experiencing pain to tolerable levels.
New Hope and R
We ended up at a restaurant that faced the Delaware river;
Martine's RiverHouse. OMG, the food there- so good! For the first time, I had tried duck- eating Duck Salad. I swear we could hear the ducks outside quacking while I ate the ambrosial meat! There was a sunset, causing the Lambertville bridge to shadow upon the river. Something not to forget.
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One other day, we went to New York City- in goals of checking off one sightseeing of three choices: Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, Madame Tussauds museum, or the Harry Potter exhibition at the Discovery Center- all on the Time Squares. We picked
Madame Tussauds, and I am glad we did! There were so many characters that tickled my funny bone, like Charlie Chaplin; characters that I squealed over, like Johnny Depp; and characters that touched my heart like Amelia Earhart and Marilyn Monroe. There's so many photos that I want to share, but those has to be my favorite ones.
With John Elton
R chatting with someone high above the city
After walking through the Time squares, (saw the building where they drop the ball on New Year Eve!), we then went to a restaurant,
Elmo, (yes, that's their name.) in another area of New York by subway. I sampled one of their signature drinks, Black and Blue mojito (full of blueberries and mint)- absolutely to die for!!! I met some neat-o guys, sweet friends of R, and to boot, the waiters... so cute hunks that I'd love to take home! *Giggle*
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There was pauses in time when we'd just sit down at the kitchen table or on the couch and chat for hours over coffee(me) and tea(R), and those times were precious to me. She totally knows what it is for me, in my situation, and she gets it. Not many folks could say that, you know, dear readers? That's one of thousands of pieces I love about her. There was tears, there was giggles, there was eyes-rolling, and sighs of exasperation, and there were laughter. How could one put a price on that?
To my delight, (although dismay for all other who live in NJ/NY), we even had a snow day! I was disappointed that there was not enough snow in where I live, so to wake up to a winter wonderland was something unexpected yet exciting! To R's astonishment, I walked in snow barefoot, to measure the depth of snow; by the way, that was 8 inches. Yes, I was sad that we couldn't go walk labyrinths that day as planned, but the snow made up for that! I threw snowballs, playing in snow- I had missed doing that for several years!
We had a memory lane trip when we went through R's book shelves, including talking about her collection of
Laura Ingalls Wilder books, "Misty and Chincoteague" and other books by Marguerite Henry, and Anne Rice's Vampires novels. Always loving to talk about books! Currently, I'm borrowing some books from her, including one book I hadn't known that Anne Rice wrote, so looking forward to read "
The Feast of All Saints."
So, the vacation was very much what I needed- away from everything, to focus on me only. I am Jules, just not childless and sad infertile, not therapist, not advocate only, and that was what I needed to dunk myself in, to reunite with myself, on vacation and with wonderful friends. Thank you, R- heartfelt!
By the way, I got to check some stuff off the bucket list, so I look forward to review that by end of 2013!
