Postscript to the East Coast Swing

Now that I'm back in the Valley of the Sun, I've had time to reflect on my ambitious trip back East. There were many factors involved and all in all, it was a successful trip and a disappointing one also... (but not so much disappointing).

I want to thank those friends of mine who invited me to stay with them over the course of my visit... (Loretta and Vic and Cathy and Bill) and to those friends who also invited me to stay with them anytime in the future... it really means a lot to "America's Guest" to have such thoughtful friends who will let me "invade" their homes from time to time. I know you say it's no trouble but it does upset the routine. I hope to return the favor if and when you decide to come to Arizona and be my guest...

I really want to thank my sister and her family for putting up "Uncle Jimmy" on the first leg of the trip... my sister worked her butt off earlier so that she would be able to have the time off when I visited and spending time with her is very special to me...(she also was the impetus behind my reconnection with cousin Lynn and Uncle Ray and for that I will be eternally grateful). Thanks to bro-in-law Craig for including me in his world for the visit...(I hope I provided some needed male bonding what with all the women in the house). And special thanks to my nieces, Miss V and Nat, for sitting next to me and playing games with me and making a fuss over "Uncle Jimmy"... I love you girls with all my heart and anytime I get to spend with you is a special, special time...

I want to thank my friends who I did get to see for taking time out of their busy schedules to spend it with me... your friendship means more to me now than ever. I cherish our time together and look forward to seeing you again...(wherever that might be). I apologize to the friends I was not able to visit this time around and promise that I will return to see them on future junkets to the East... I never realized how many friends I truly have...(and who actually wanted to see me!) and it sure is a good feeling to know that I have so many friends back East.
I want to thank cousin Lynn and Uncle Ray for allowing me back into their lives after so much time and treating me like it was only yesterday... playing golf with both of them meant more to me than I can ever explain... Seeing Ray (he looks so much like my Dad) brought back so many memories and emotions that I still can't believe I made it through that day without crying...(there are tears in my eyes as I write this and it feels real good). The memory of that round of golf (even though I played horribly) will last two lifetimes...

I want to thank the city of New York for remaining the most exciting and aggravating place I will ever be in... The sights, the sounds, the memories evoked by certain places and certain times of the day, make NYC a place I will always cherish and want to visit. As I meander through this thing we call life, I hope that I will be able to make many visits to the "city that never sleeps".

And last but not least, I would like to thank my friends here in Arizona who welcomed me back with open arms and said they missed me and were glad that I was back...(liars! just kidding). The friends that I have made here are true and I'm lucky to have them. They have made my transition from East to West easier to deal with...(probably because most of them aren't from here originally either).

It's Friday night and guess what East Coast? It's raining! A full fledged thunderstorm erupted about 20 minutes ago and there's still thick gray clouds overhead. I'm hoping this clears out for tomorrow and fireworks... Happy Fourth of July to you all...have a safe and wonderful holiday... Our regularly scheduled blog of events will resume shortly...