Flight 93 Memorial

While driving the last leg to Tony's in West Chester, Ohio, Matthew and I decided to stop at the memorial for Flight 93.
The memorial isn't quite complete, but what is there, is...impactful.

Still difficult to assimilate

The main building is in the background

The plane crashed near the boulder

Along the walk way, people left gifts...

The zig-zag memorial--each slab immortalized the name of a person  on the plane.

New York and Pennsylvania

Dang, it has been awhile...
Quick summary--cold days and nights, two days (and a night in the parking lot) waiting for repairs at the Mercedes Dealership, driving on blue highways through small towns in New York and Pennsylvania, and witnessing the explosion of SPRING!!!  The trees finally have leaves, and the rolling hills are in color!
Matthew and I also had a great visit with some AWESOME friends in Syracuse, New York--Nancy and Allen!!  We met them (and Jake, their dog) at Padre Island National Seashore.  One of those "immediate connection" joys.  (Nancy introduced me to the phrase "wowee kazowee"--it describes her perfectly!)  Allen is a doll.  For Mother's Day, he picked a bouquet of flowers for Nancy and me.  How much sweeter could you be?  (Hey, that rhymed--smiles!)  Allen, like my father, is a very punny man.  Nancy, Matthew, and I were thoroughly entertained by his wit and knowledge during our stay!  THANK YOU!  Matthew was able to get in more "dog time" and loved walking Jake in their neighborhood.
The last day of our stay, Nancy and I read through some volunteer options in SE Asia.  She has decided to meet Matthew and me in Cambodia (Feb 2015).  We are planning to do two volunteer experiences there--community and elephants.  Then, jumping over to Vietnam, we will work with handicapped children...Will let you know more details when we are accepted into the programs.  (I told you she was awesome!)
While with them, we--
Visited the Everson Museum of Art to watch the "paint-by-number" community event.

Participated in a walk for Tapestry--a group supporting children with mental illnesses.

Poor guy was pooped before the walk started!

Nancy, Matt, and Jake--all eyes on Jake!

AND

Enjoyed a symphony/video production.  The music was wonderful!  The videos were an interesting addition...

Allen and Matthew outside the venue.

Another family member, Joe.

Allen and Nancy--It is LOVE!

Matthew and I love you two!  Hope to see you on the dash west to Seattle!!!

New York City, NY

May 3rd--Matthew's birthday and an inspiring reconnection with Julie, Matt's cousin.   

She has "matured"a bit from the last time I saw her...Julie was only 5, I think.  It was great fun to see her again after...lets see, 29 years.  SMILES!!!  (Sorry, Julie!  However, you, my dear niece, will be beautiful at any age!)  

Oddly enough, if I had seen Julie on the street, I would have immediately recognized her as the strong young girl she was in Taiwan.  Yes, really!  Although she has added significantly to her skill-set, knowledge-base, and height, her bright eyes and smile are identical to those of her kindergarten-self.  

It was good to get to know her again and to meet her equally interesting and entertaining husband, Mike.  Thank you both for spending time with Matthew and me!  (AND, please pass on "Howdys" to your friends--Lani, Jen, Jess, and Blake.  It was fun to talk with them too!)

Matthew, Julie, and Mike 

Matthew enjoyed his birthday--hanging with his cousin, eating some delicious Chinese food, strolling (or rather navigating around people) on New York City sidewalks, and going on an architectural tour through Green-Wood Cemetery.   

The guide was knowledgable...I didn't have a clue!  (I think a person needed to be a native New Yorker to make all the name-connections.)  That being said, I did enjoy it.  (Yes, Matt too.)  The gravestones and tombs were quite impressive.  

This was one of my favorites!

Put this photo in for you, Kristen!

 I did understand that the entrance gate was a gothic design--

(Still couldn't tell you the name of the New York architectural person(s) who designed it....)

Oh, but there are some beautiful monk parakeets nesting in the highest spire.  

(I think, Sandy, we would have had to leave you and your binoculars at the entrance!) 

Matthew and I also got to enjoy spring in New York City!  The trees--gorgeous!  

After leaving NYC and West Point, Matthew and I will head back west to friends and family in the Midwest.  I hope it warms up...

Oh, and yes, Matthew says he had a WONDERFUL birthday!  Thank you to everyone who sent emails, cards, and best wishes!  

Trees, tour group, and chapel

Okay, yes, it is NOT my favorite color.  But dang, the flowers are beautiful!

Falls Church, VA and Washington D.C.

We arrived in Falls Church, VA on a Friday afternoon…

Although Matt and I were there until Tuesday morning, it was too few days!

We had a great time with Sandy, Marge, Mandy, Zahra, and Des.  (Not to forget Marge and Sandy’s fun and fabulous friends—George, Margie, Mary, and Tom.)

Jen and I met Sandy and Marge on our trip to Tanzania.  I hadn’t seen them since…I think we figured out that it was about 5 years ago. 

It was a wonderful few days!  It will NOT take me as long to visit again—a promise and a threat!  SMILES!

Our first dinner--YUM!

Matt and Mandy...sharing food

Sandy and Marge at the ponds in their backyard

Birding and walking the wetland park

Sandy and Marge

Matthew celebrating his 28the birthday with Marge, Sandy, Mandy, and me.

Unfortunately, I do not have a good photo of Mandy, Sandy and Marge's beautiful dog.  She was a huge part of Matt's joy while visiting.

On Saturday, Matthew and I went to brunch with Zahra and her significant, Des--yet another "opportunity-gift".  We don’t often see Matthew’s cousins on the paternal side, so it is an especially happy time when we do. 

Thank you both for spending your Saturday with us!  (Des, I am very pleased to have met you.  You get a “thumbs up”!)

Zahra—WOW!  You’ve grown into your brilliance and beauty.  I love you, dear niece!

Zahra and Des

The Washington Monument and ice cream trucks--smiles!

Matt and Zahra 

The "new" Martin Luther King Jr. memorial

We are now in West Point, New York…the place that spring forgot.  There are, as yet, no buds on the trees, and it is COLD (upper 30’s lower 40’s).  It hasn’t stopped raining since we drove into the campground yesterday evening (Tuesday).  Our joy this week will be seeing another of Matthew’s cousins, Julie and her husband, Mike.  (Photos to follow in the next blog.)  I cannot remember the last time I saw this wonderful niece!

However, I do have a photo…(I figure I am safe.  She doesn’t have the blog address, yet—smiles!)

Thursday morning...a waterlogged West Point, NY campground

1984

Julie is the cute young girl standing on the chair with her hands on her hips.
(She had strength even then!)
Sam, Matthew's father, is the man on the left.
Amber, Matthew's second aunt, is sitting in a chair on the far right.