Pennsylvania

   I had stuck to my vow of trying something different at every place I stopped at and the opportunity arose while dining at a seafood restaurant. Ordering a mixed platter, among which was monk, (not that kind!!!), skate wings and calamari. The only item I would avoid again is the calamari, chewing something that resembles rubber bands is not what I am partial to.

    After a final visit to the Falls, it was time to pack again. By this time, I was giving myself gentle kicks for the shopping I had done.Getting everything back into my cases was now becoming an art. But, how could I resist the t-shirt that warned everyone to be nice to the wearer or face the fury of the "big, bad, mean grandma"....or the delicate glass angel that I knew my youngest daughter would love...or the cute little outfits for my grandchildren.. or, the toys I knew they would spend hours playing with.....or the "just one" item of clothing for my children, and of course, souvenair t-shirts for friends. All the "just one mores" were adding up to be a problem. I had stupidly thought that any shopping I did would fit in the space taken by the souvenairs that I had brought with me. It didn't work out that way as, along with the shopping I was doing, friends had been giving me gifts too.

    Time for T to catch her train home and MrMike, with Day and I going along for the ride, took T to the station. After a little tiki tour, we all had to agree that the station was not where we thought it was. Spotting a person who looked like he might be a local, I leaned out the window and asked directions. We gave up after finding that a kiwi asking a non english speaking Italian doesn't produce good results. A little more driving with everyone looking in different directions, we eventually located the station. Goodbyes were said, along with everyone promising to meet again the following year, same place, same time....I have often wondered how many of us actually thought it would be possible for us all to get together the next year.

    As I would be spending the next few days with MrMike and Bunny, my bags were stowed into their van while I would be driving with Day for part of the journey. This would enable me to keep Day company for at least some of her long drive home. Before leaving, in case we got separated, we agreed on a meeting place. MrMike just happened to know of a diner at the crossroads where Day would be turning off at....why was I not surprised at that??.....lol Going through customs on our way out of Canada was uneventful, my passport was stamped and we were on our way. Day and I were laughing when we realised that I didn't have to worry about bags being checked. I was in Day's car, my bags, containing what could be termed contraband, was in the MrMike's van. I doubted that they would do much about one bottle of alcohol, opened, and a few Beanie Babies, or would they?? Fortunately, we never found out.

    As it was lunchtime when we arrived at the meeting place, we dined before we went our separate ways, Day back to Ohio, me to Pennsylvania with MrMike and Bunny. The promise of meeting again next year was repeated, though I think everyone knew that it would depend on what happened in New Jersey as to if I would be there. Maybe I would have company next year? Driving through Pennsylvania was a reminder of home. Very green and hills!! Lots of them!! Something that I had lived with all my life, yet never thought about, until I didn't see them surrounding me.

     Mike and Bunny's children were waiting to greet us, pleased to see their parent's return. A busy household, with not only MrMike's and Bunny's children's coming and going, but also the neighbourhood children who were treated as part of the family. After introductions were completed, which included all the children present at the time, (would I ever remember all the names?), we had dinner then went to the local ice cream parlour for dessert. My love of ice cream is well known! It didn't take me long to decide on a fudge brownie sundae, another new taste treat. Though rather large, I felt confident that I would get through it. Well, I did manage this mammoth task, but I was struggling. The brownie was far richer than I had thought it would be and never did become a favourite.

    While at Mike and Bunnys, I was warned about the snakes that could be in the yard, particulary in an overgrown section of a neighbouring yard. That warning kept me close to the house. I have seen snakes once before, in a game park in Australia where I even touched them, but that is a lot different to coming across them unexpectedly. I wasn't going to take the chance of stumbling on one. I had never thought of New Zealand as being a safe country in regard to wildlife, but it certainly is. The only thing that presents a danger in NZ is a little spider, the katipo. It is found, so I have been told, on the outhouse seats! Not too many outhouses around now so the danger is almost non-existant. I don't know anyone who has ever seen one of these spiders, let alone been bitten. The next morning, the children tried wrangling time off school, wanting to join us in our activities for the day. This was in vain, and after their departure, MrMike, Bunny and I went sightseeing. A drive through some really pretty countryside led to Mike's work where Mike had a brief business matter to attend to. With work obligations out of the way, we went to the Amish community. I was intrigued with their practice of the whole community doing laundry on Mondays. Line after line of laundry, most pegged according to size, from smallest to biggest. The garments, from a distance, appeared to be similiar style and all were black. I felt I had stepped back in time when sighting a buggy approaching on the other side of the road. Mike was very informative as to their lifestyle, it certainly isn't one I would choose. No radio, no tv, I could live with that, but, I couldn't imagine life without my computer!! Browsing around the craft stores was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. My only purchase, (I still had the memories of trying to pack my bags in Niagara fresh in my mind), was a carving knife. I learnt from the handcuff's experience though, and the knife traveled in my luggage, not my carry on bag.

   One day, Mike had to work and that left Bunny and I to our own devices for the day. Doing the female thing, Bunny and I went shopping. Stopping for lunch was an experience. Our waitress was most attentitve, constantly coming to check that all was well, enquiring if we needed more coffee so many times I felt she must have a stash of it she had to get rid of. I was sure that she was angling for a large tip, but,   it wasn't working on me. I came from a country that doesn't tip and still find it difficult. The reason for the over attentativeness was revealed when the waitress appeared with the manager, telling him that she "loved" my accent and practically ordered that I say "something" to him! As the manager appeared to be unaware of why he had been brought to our table, I don't know who was more embarrassed, him or me. With still some time in hand before we had to make our way home, we returned to the stores for more browsing. I still laugh about the looks we got, from other shopper's, when we were trying on sunglasses. The fact that I was sporting a delightful pair of yellow flower shaped, child's sunglasses, and Bunny had on fish shaped ones, might have caused the looks.

    One evening, MrMike did the male thing, taking charge of the BBQ. A familiar type of meal for me, but what wasn't familiar was the sausages, very tasty but so different to what we have in NZ. After dinner, we sat outside talking and I was watching the robins, surprised at their size, much bigger than I thought they would be. The birds weren't the only distraction in our conversation, many lapses were caused by my thoughts drifting on the upcoming meeting with Mike.