Visitors From Palm Springs

My friend Glenn (not the band leader) Miller and his partner Kyle T. visited us this past Monday. 

Glenn and Kyle live in Palm Springs (my ultimate destination) and were on an East Coast swing to visit Kyle's brother in Virginia. Prior to making a pit stop here in southern Delaware to visit moi, they visited New York City. Kyle showed Glenn all the usual places to visit in NYC including the World Trade Center Memorial ("very impressive" Glenn said) and St. Patrick's Cathedral. They also went to a Broadway show which both of them enjoyed immensely, "The Book of Mormon." "No holds barred" Glenn said.

I've only known Glenn from the time of Bill's stroke in January of 2021. The night I came home after Bill was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia I was beside myself because I thought I would never see Bill again. That night I saw a neatly printed envelope addressed to me in my mail. It was from Glenn. I knew of Glenn but never personally talked or communicated with him. His previous partner Mike Wilson used to follow my blog for years and always sent me a Christmas card from the both of them, Glenn's name signed too. The reason Glenn sent me the note was to inform me that his Michael had died the previous month. He was notifying everyone Michael knew to tell them that Michael has passed after a long illness, in which he (Glenn) was his caregiver. I had always wondered why Michael had stopped commenting on my blog, I thought I had written or said (I called him once to thank him for a Christmas gift he and Glenn had sent me, one of those Christmas gift baskets) something that had offended him. When Glenn told me he was ill for a long time, seriously ill, I now understood. 

Because I was bereft with the imminent loss of my Bill I needed someone to talk too. I called Glenn and we talked, for a long time. I immediately connected with Glenn and we became good friends. Since then we've been in frequent contact via Zoom and FaceTime and with Pat included (of course)! 

Glenn and Kyle were the best guests, like Pat one hardly knew they had stayed in one of our guest bedrooms. I took them on a tour of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, North Shores (near president Biden's home) and Milton. We ate at a couple of my favorite restaurant where I noticed the prices have really gone up (inflation). They only stayed for one day (the 17th) and left early on the morning of the 18th. 

The visit was a little disruptive for Bill (he hates to have his routine disrupted) but Bill is generous and wanted me to have a good time with my friends. 

Of course I took a load of pictures and videos which I will probably share in future blog posts.

It was nice to have visitors but we probably won't have anymore (except at who is family). That was Bill who said Pat was "family" by the way. 

Perhaps sometime in the future is I perchance outlive Bill there will be more visitors like Kyle and Glenn but for the time being I will savor the new memories we have created with friends. And by the way, you know what's interesting? I always thought when I was a young and foolish and self centered gay man that if I got old I would have no life. But that has never happened for me. My life is just as fulfilling but in a different way. Just goes to prove, life is what you make it. And I am indeed fortunate to have such good friends. 

Week In Philly Coming To An End

As usual, when Pat and I get together for one of our quarterly holidays, the time goes by too fast. This particular holiday in Philadelhia will end this Sunday. Pat will catch his overnight Greyhound bus to Toronto early Sunday morning. At noon my ride will pick me up here at the guest suite where we always stay during our semi-annual visits to Philadelphia. Then this fall/winter holiday will be over, all too soon. Next time we get together will be next February in California.

My visit to Philly this year was severely curtailed because of my injured toe. Each day it's a little better but still not good enough to give me free range of walking that I've been used to all my life. That is one thing I've always had, I had the freedom to walk and walk, and walk.  Not so this time folks. Very frustrating. However, I have learned the bus route which I am taking plenty advantage of. I have a senior citizen pass which enables me to ride for free.  

I managed to go out for breakfast again this morning at a newly discovered restaurant called "Green Eggs."  Our past several visits to Philly Pat and I tended to patronize the same two restaurants.  While they were fine, Philly has so many restaurants so we decided to branch out and explore. The Green Eggs Cafe was fabulous!  Not only good food at a reasonable price, they service scrapple!  Where else can you get scrapple in a restaurant?  And it was prepared properly too, not greasy and soggy.  Which reminds me, it's time for dinner. Nearby where we're staying  is a Guatemalan restaurant which serves Guatemalan "street food."  Sounds gritty and it is but delicious.

Last night we went to another movie at a small nearby theater. That's what is nice about living in center city Philly, everything is nearby.  The movie we say last night was "Bohemian Rhapsody", the story of Freddy Mercury and the rock group Queen. Interesting movie. We liked it but I was thrown/annoyed with Freddy's overbite. Little too much emphasis on it in the move I thought. The previous even we say the "Green Book."  An excellent movie! I predict this movie will win the Academy award for not only best movie but best actor and supporting actor.  Now the question is which actor gets the nod for best actor and supporting actor.

I've rambled on enough here folks.  In spite of my injured foot/big toe, this past has been fabulous.  Always a great time when my Canadian Travel Buddy is with me. Maybe not as many photos and videos as I usually take, limited somewhat because of the necessity of me using a cane but still some interesting photographic and video memories of this great city, Philadelhia PA, my former home and workplace for many years. 

Ah, I remember the times in the past when I used to weave my way down Philly's narrow streets with ease.  Now I am stooped over with arthritis and a slower gait because of my injured foot. I am no longer that young man of the 70's and 80's during my heyday. Now I am one of those old, enfeebled persons struggling to get on and off the bus.   I have a new appreciation for those people folks because I am now one of them.

I hope I have many years left to visit this wondrous, historic and beautiful city that to now so diverse. Much more diverse than when I lived and worked here. I'm glad I've lived long enough to see our society become more inclusive. 

Pat should be walking in the door soon. We'll be spending the evening "home" watching a old film on Turner Classic Movies, the only channel on our suite TV that isn't buried in commercials.

Hope to post one more time before I leave Sunday. Have a great day and evening folks!

Better Days Ahead - Christmas in Philly

Center City Philadelphia - our destination at the end of this month

While I process the latest atrocity perpetuated on innocent people by the Muslim religious extremists, I am heartened by the good in the overwhelming majority of people on this planet.

I will never understand why some people want to kill and destroy and justify their actions by some twisted religious belief.  Of course the whole history of humankind on this earth has had this scourge.  

All my life there has been this threat of destruction hanging over our heads.  I remember clearly when I was in grade school, we were told to huddle under our desks if and when the atomic bomb fell. 

Our nation has been at war with some country for the whole seventy-four years of my life.  However, with age comes maturity.  I realize that as long as I am on this earth there will be somebody who will want to destroy me and my way of life. That is a fact.  So what do I do?  What do we do?  We live.
I live.

Thus, I will share this news with you.  At the end of this month I will visit my former home in Philadelphia.  From 1969 to 1980 Bill and I lived in Philadelphia.  In many ways they were the best years of my life.  Those years were the formative years of my life.  But then came a time to move. 

As I have moved to different phases of my life I've often thought how I would like to have my friends from those phases of my life to meet each other.  Well folks, that dream will come true this November 30th.

My longtime good friend Larry M. (friend since 3rd grade!) will pick me up at my home here in southern Delaware.  After a walk on the trail at the Primehook National Wildlife Refuge, Lar will take me to Philadelphia.

In Philadelphia Larry will drop me off at my longtime good friend Don McK.  I've known Don since the early 70's, when we worked together at several banks (Girard, Mellon, and First Fidelity) in center city Philly.  Coincidentally Larry also had a career as a banker, Wilmington Trust. I will be staying the week at a suite at Don's co-operative. Thus Larry, a friend from a Previous Life, will meet my friend Don from another Previous Life.

Me and my longtime friend Don last month during my one day visit to Philadelphia

The next day my new friend, Pat F. from Toronto, will arrive at Philadelphia International Airport.  Pat will join me at the suite at Don's co-op.  

Pat, Larry and I at our annual Old Time Photo session

Pat, Don and I will have a festive week in Philly. At the end of the week Larry will pick up me and Pat and take us to a Christmas celebration near his hometown of Claymont Delaware.  Then Larry will drop Pat off at Philly International Airport.

Life goes on folks.  While threats about all around us, we're living life and demonstrating to the world goodwill and peace.