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| Mrs. 'Boro: Decision to seize life’s opportunities paying off |
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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
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Posted: Sunday, November 8, 2009 6:49 am
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Tommy and I were fortunate to have taken a trip of the Northeast this fall.
We did it last year, in the car, and had so much fun we made a pact to do it again.
Last year we traveled through Portland, Tenn. (and splendid colors) to Cleveland, Ohio, and then to New York to visit expectant daughter and son-in-law in New York, Chris and Anne.
The colors were past their prime last year, but we still had lots to see, so much so that we repeated it this year, taking a different route.
We started in Maryland, visiting my sister and her husband and spent two whole days at the Nation’s capital. We toured a Sergeant exhibit at the Corchoran Gallery and the Eastern Market, a street market, and had a wonderful time. The ethnic foods represented in that market were amazing.
My brother in law, Brooks, said that the crab cakes there are among the best in the city. You had to stand in a long line to get one.
From there a quick four-hour drive to New York took us to grandbaby Jeanne, the highlight of the trip.
As you grandparents know, it was fun to babysit her and take her places. We enjoyed citywide “tours” (via the bus, Anne’s favorite mode of transportation). The Monet water garden exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art was a little disappointing, and I was shocked to note that at least one half of the visitors had pamphlets in German.
In my observation, New York is being inundated by the Russians, but there were mostly German-speaking visitors at MOMA.
With the exception of about four beautiful days, the weather was crummy the whole time we were gone. The leaves were breathtaking, despite lack of sun.
One of the prettiest drives was through West Virginia. The town of Hinton sits in the middle of the confluence of three rivers, and we enjoyed the quaint town.
My sister Randy insisted we visit Woodstock, Vermont and the Simon Pearce factory in Quechee. They did not disappoint.
Simon Pearce is a glassmaker of expensive wares. Watching them make glass and eat lunch overlooking a breathtaking waterfall was a memory for a lifetime.
Woodstock, Vermont, is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in the United States. As we drove into town for the first time, we saw a friend on the street from Nashville who said they stay a week a year because of its beauty.
Lake Placid, New York, offered breathtaking views of Mirror Lake and still had awe-inspiring ski lifts from the 1980 Olympics intact.
We made a quick trip across the border to Montreal and stopped back by the Thousand Islands, Canada (Kingston/Gananoque) because the children, whom we took in earlier years, wanted us to relive it again.
Despite a two and a half hour wait in the car dealership (to top off steering fluid), we rushed to North Carolina and were fortunate to attend the rehearsal dinner of good friend, Richard Johnson, and then went onto a family function in Knoxville before coming home.
I drove at least half of the 2,500 miles we trekked. Tommy spends half of his days answering emails and talking to “home.” He’s never really far away.
Almost five years ago, when I got sick, I decided to seize any opportunity available for travel, family and adventure and not look back. I feel lucky to have been able to do that.
I never take any day for granted, and feel blessed that this little girl from Knoxville has been such a long (much appreciated) way.
‘Til next week. |
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