Good Gifts and a Lot of Trouble

I'm back, and I want to write again. It's still slow, but it feels good to finally put something down on the keyboard. I'd like to talk about gifts. I had another birthday since we talked. I am more than sixty now, and I have some nifty gifts, and a lot of trouble. So here's goes...

There was a celebration for my birthday and my daughter Karen's birthday. There was no time to bake a cake, so the boss ordered two cakes: one for Karen and one for me. She asked for writing on the cakes: one with 'Happy Birthday Karen' and one with 'Happy Birthday Joe'. Karen and I went to pick up the cakes. The line was very long. Finally, we approached the counter. There they were! Karen's was beautiful: Happy Birthday Karen! Mine said nothing. The cashier said that she didn't hear the second instruction, so only one cake was written on. We just wanted to get out of that bakery. We got home and the boss decided to write on the second cake. 'Happy Joe', and a exclamation point before my name! Woe is me...

My birthday has come and gone, and now I have a new hair trimmer from my son and his family - not the kind that you cut your hair with, but a little device that cleans up your nose and ear hair. SHOCK is the word that comes to mind when I turn it on and begin trimming. There is a bright light on the tip of the device that shows me everything, and it's a wasteland in there. I love my trimmer, but there is work to be done. See you in about an hour! 

I have a new gift - a tea towel with the Liberty Bell on it. I love the Liberty Bell. I hope I have a Stay-cation this year with Karen so I can see it again. I love the tea towel, too...but look at the tag! Girls Can Tell! ? I think I'm losing the tag before I lose my masculinity.

Sometimes I don't listen when someone talks. I don't mean to not listen, it just happens. I could say the strokes made me not listen, but I didn't listen before the strokes. So now, I have a gift - an appropriate new pair of socks. Selective Hearing Specialist - I have a new title, and I like it!

I love to spoil myself sometimes. It's a birthday gift to me to periodically check the cd's in Goodwill since they are a rarity these days. Sometimes I strike gold and other days its next to nothing. I found the album, 'Ray Charles - Genius Likes Company' for a dollar, and brought it to the cashier. He was pleasant enough as I put my find on the counter. Then he said, "I see you are a 'senior', so this will be eighty-five cents." You know me, and you know that I love a bargain, but you also know that I am NOT that old. I should have told him that sixty-five is the legal 'senior' age...the little dirtball!

There are many blessings coming my way. Seeing everyone gathering together makes me nostalgic. I remember the gatherings for my father on his birthday. I remember his face when we were all together. I smile. Good gifts, tangible or not, are a blessing...

...and a whole lot of trouble!

Philly Stay-cation, 2017

Jackie went to a convention in Dallas, Texas. I went Karen's house. So began Philly Stay-cation July 2017! My tenure as a flip phone owner is over. I have a new Android with a camera that takes selfies. My grandchildren were there for the first three days. My children visited. This stay-cation was different from last year's. This year Karen was off for the summer, and I didn't fix anything. I played!

The activities were plentiful. The kids painted birdhouses, and Karen was the last to finish. Brian visited that day. Jeffrey listened to music just like his Grandpop! We went to a park with floor fountains. Of course, there was a skyline in the distance. Everything was good!

We visited Spruce Street Harbor Park at Penn's Landing. There were hammocks to try, giant toys to play with, history, and beautiful scenery to look at. Across the river you could see where the 76ers practice. The USS Olympia and the Moshulu were there. Its been years since I've seen them.

Karen thought it would be fun to see a movie at City Hall. The film would be Beauty and the Beast. We got there and brought chairs and blankets and parked ourselves. After a few minutes, the heat was unbearable. After a few more minutes, there were people in front of us sitting on tall chairs. People were talking, and there was faint sound from the projector. Long story short, There would not be a movie for us. What we did was go over to the floor fountains. The kids loved it and it was cool enough to enjoy standing and seeing the lights on the trees and seeing City Hall. Everyone had a blast!

Sunday brunch was delicious. Eggs, pancakes, potatoes, bacon, and everything! The family was there! After the meal, it was time for the little munchkins to go home. It was sad to see them go, but what memories!

On Mifflin Street, there is a building called Bok. It used to be a vocational school. Now it is a bar on the top floor of the building. You can see the city and Camden from the bar. I was mesmerized looking at the skylines and the tops of the houses. It behooved me to take a selfie on my new phone!

Jackie was delayed in a layover in Chicago due to the weather. The stay-cation was supposed to end on Sunday evening. Jackie arrived Tuesday morning. A bonus Sunday evening and Monday for me! Tiring day for Jackie...

 Passyunk Avenue has been revived in parts with restaurants and stores, and the sides of the buildings beautified with murals.

It was the next morning. I got up at six o'clock and made some coffee and sat at the table and chairs on the front of the house.  Peaceful! Reading, drinking my coffee, and not ready for the day!

There is a bench and coffee table in the backyard built by Karen for me to relax after I am finished with the front! 

The fog was terrible in the morning. The skyscrapers looked like they were a smoking mess until the sun peered.

Finally, we went to Independence Mall and looked around. The Liberty Bell is one my favorite attractions. I have a new phone and it behooved me to take a selfie, again!

Where do all the hippest meet?

We finished with Independence Mall and went to South Street.

We strolled and looked at all the markets, shops, and Jim's Steaks. Huge Cheese Steaks with onions and mushrooms - the diet will have to wait. Wow! Surrounding the place were autographs of hundreds of stars that were there over the years, like Tony Bennett, Halls and Oates, Billy Joel, Peter Paul and Mary, James Taylor, and Pat Sajak. 

In 1963, the song South Street was a hit. The record and cover were on display. I remember it from that time, but I haven't been to South Street until now.

Where do all the hippest meet?

South Street, South Street!

Off South Street, there was a thrift store named Philly AIDS Thrift. There were thousands of CD's! I have to go back and look at all the CD's I haven't looked at! Evening Scrabble was a nice way to end the day and unfortunately, the Philly Stay-cation...

Family, food, selfies, pictures, music, activity.

Another Stay-cation, please!

Bittersweet

This past Sunday we had company. The kids assembled at our house to see an old neighbor and good friend visiting from California. Jackie had a volunteer duty and would be joining us for dinner. We showed our friend the changed neighborhood with the tall trees and the new homes and the changed homes. We went to Wolf's Hollows County Park and they all went walking on the trails and I started reading. I was sitting on a picnic table bench. The next thing I can remember is my kids screaming my name and hurrying to get to me. My head was resting on the table. Dad!' 'Dad!' 'Are you all right?' At first I was in a stupor. It was a wonderful nap! After a few minutes, I felt invigorated. The kids got over it and I was fine!

Sandwiched in between Minch and Wolf's Hollow Parks was a visit to the schools. Our friend had not seen the newer buildings - has it been that long? We visited the older buildings, and my daughter snapped this picture of me in front of the Elementary School. We said that we have graduated, even retired me! The next day, I received a prerecorded phone call from the Superintendent of the District. It said that I would receive an email about the staff events and the beginning of the school year.

Bittersweet...