PA, NJ and loss

Friday September 26th started our stay with Becca and Andrew. Eddie went to Stowaway to check on Freeda. I think he was having separation anxiety!!! I finished settling in and organizing our room. 

Saturday all four of us wet out for breakfast at the Stratford diner. It was very good, and it seems like a place we will be visiting often. the waitress knew Becca and Andrew, and asked how the wedding went. Very down homey place. After breakfast, Becca, Eddie and I caught the train to Philadelphia. Andrew had errands to do. I have not ridden on many trains or used mass transit a lot in my life, so I found this to be an adventure. I am glad that we had Becca along to "teach" us the ropes. We plan on using this mode of transportation more in the future. Becca and Andrew live very close to the train station, so it is quite convenient. 

Eddie and Becca on the train to Philly

We took the train to 8th and Market streets in downtown Philadelphia. It was a two block walk to the visitors center where we got tickets to tour Independence hall. It was a nice walk. I just LOVE the cool buildings!!!!

the walk to the visitors center in downtown

cool building in Philly

Eddie at the visitors center

Once we got our tickets (which are free, so right up our budgets alley!!!), the three of us walked over to the park behind Independence hall. Becca had time to kill before her hair appointment, and we had time before our tour started. Eddie sketched in his sketch pad while Becca and I chatted. It was a gorgeous day out, and the park is SO lovely!!!! 

cobble stone road

Becca at the park

my beautiful baby and new bride

honey bunch at Independence hall park

the park

When it was time, Becca headed to her appointment, and Eddie and I headed for the tour. Our guide was not only informative, but also entertaining. It was a real fun and educational time.

Independence hall

where our country started

such history!!!!

Eddie in Independence hall

let our light shine!!!

We both had a great time walking around and soaking up the history and culture of the area. I think in another life I must have been an architect, or a wannabe one. I just LOVE the old buildings!!!!! I am impressed by the beauty of the houses and common buildings. I also like to imagine what it was like living at that time. I wonder if, at the time, the men and women who were so instrumental in creating our country realized how important they would eventually become in our history? After all, they were just ordinary people like us. They were only trying to make things better and able to live their lives as they saw fit. Meaning being able to have religious freedom and not be taxed to death. Kinda sounds like something we all strive for even today!!!!

After the tour, Eddie and I headed back outside to snap a couple more pictures, and to walk around some more. Becca was still getting her hair done. We thought about visiting the Liberty Bell, but the line was WAY to long, so we just enjoyed the scenery and people watched. Eddie did some more sketching. 

here we are, the tourist!!!

Eddie sketching

Independence Hall

Eddie and I walked back over to the visitors center to wait for Becca. She messaged us to start walking back to the PATCO (train) station where she would meet us. We hooked up and rode the train back across the Delaware river and into New Jersey. 

Eddie back on the train

mommy and daughter on the train

crossing the Delaware

Andrew met us, and the four of us went out to Maggiano's Italian restaurant in Cherry Hill, NJ. Becca had taken me there when I visited her years ago. It is a VERY tasty Italian place. We had a yummy dinner, and a great time. The real neat thing about Maggiano's is that you also get a "take home" dinner. So you get two meals for the price of one. I have noticed that other restaurants have started doing that as well. I like the idea. Makes it an all around better value. It was the best ending to a great and fun day!!!! Eddie and I want to come back and explore more of Philadelphia. It is such a neat and interesting city.

Andrew & Becca at Maggiano's

Sunday Eddie went to check on Freeda, Andrew had to work, so Becca and I went to spend some of her wedding gifts cards. We hit Target and she got a rack for the upstairs bathroom to hold things. The bathroom is VERY small, and doesn't have much cabinet space. We also hit Kohl's and Bed, bath & Beyond. We also stopped by the grocery store. One of Becca's wedding gifts is a cheese and cracker board. So we picked up some "goodies" to enjoy on it. Once we were done, we headed back to her place and she put the rack together. We decorated it all pretty and waited for the "boys" to come home and see our handy work. At first Andrew didn't seen to like the rack/shelves, but he came around. Eddie reported that all was well with Freeda, but that she looked lonely!!!!
Monday the 29th, Eddie took off to see his friend Elisa in Boston. He was to arrive today, and then return on Wednesday, but it took him a LOT longer, so he stayed on the road. While he as gone, I hung around here. I did work on trying to get some stains out of the kids carpet. I did the best I could. I am not very bendy, and there is NO way I can get on my hands and knees. But the biggest part did come out, and both Becca and Andrew were very appreciative of my efforts.
Wednesday, October the 1st marked the 10th year anniversary of my mothers passing. Time has REALLY flown by!!!! I sure do miss my mommy!!!!!!!!! There has been so many times I wish I could have talked to her and received her counsel on issue's and decisions I have had to make in my life. I do think though that she would TOTALLY be on board with the whole motor home and travel lifestyle we have adopted.
Eddie didn't end up getting back until Thursday the second of October. On his way back here, he stopped by and dropped off the heater to Bruce. As I thought, Bruce loved it!!!!! Hopefully others will see it, and we will get a commission job out of it.
Friday Eddie and I went to check out Red Bank battlefield in New Jersey. It is a Revolutionary war site on the banks of the Delaware that Eddie had read about. It isn't to far from the kids place. The day was overcast, but dry, so we went with the top down. It was a real nice drive.

Philly skyline and the Delaware river

Walt Whitman bridge over the Delaware

Eddie taking a picture

back of old farm house

walking bridge

The Delaware

Revolutionary war cannon

monument at Red Bank

front of old farm house

The widow who lived in this house refused to leave, so the American troops used it for a hospital. She tended to the wounded until the end of the war. I can understand not wanting to leave my home, but I don't think I would want to be that close to the fighting!!!!

plaque at Red Bank

Saturday was a BUSY day for us around the house. Seeing as how we may be here for awhile, we all decided to "move" us downstairs to the ground level apartment. Becca and I went down to clean up the sun room and ready the apartment. Andrew joined us and helped. Eddie was at Freeda. We got it all done and set up. So Eddie and I have our own bedroom/living room with a futon and the guest bed in it. We also have a little kitchen and a nice bathroom. Andrew is going to pick up an old TV, and Becca is going to get cable set up for us. It will be nice to have our own "space" and not be under the kids feet. In the mean time, we are going to paint and fix the guest room upstairs. There is some wall repair that needs to be done. To reward ourselves for a job well done, Becca and I set up the cheese and cracker tray with our goodies. She had a glass of wine, and I had a glass of Martenelli's sparking cider. It was all VERY, VERY yummy!!!!!

our goodies!!!!

After all of our hard work on Saturday, Becca wanted to do something fun on Sunday. So we all four drove to Heritage farms just outside Glassboro, NJ. Heritage farms is also a winery with a small animal farm, apple & pumpkin picking. It was the perfect Fall day weather wise. The sun was out, but the air had a crisp coolness to it. Eddie opted to sit in the sun while Andrew, Becca and I went "apple picking" We didn't need much, we still had apples left over from our cheese and cracker feast. It was just fun to see the animals and walk thru the apple orchard.

here chicky, chicky.

goat

one of the sheep

Andrew and the VERY large cow

moo cow, moo cow, MOOO cow!!!

Becca and her apple

a cold Andrew!!!!!

Eddie at Heritage Farms

Becca and Andrew did some wine tasting, and shopping. There was a chocolate shop next door, so we all just HAD to visit that as well!!!!! Everyone got some treats to take home. We had a very nice and enjoyable day together. This is what life is all about. Spending time with our loved ones, and seeing new places!!!! 

Becca & Andrew

The next couple of days Eddie and I settled into our new space. Becca got a cable box for us, and we picked up an old TV stand from Goodwill, so we now have our own place to watch TV. That is good because Eddie is a HUGE football fan and he REALLY likes to be able to watch without being disturbed. We also bought a inexpensive handheld shower head from Walmart. Eddie installed it, and we both  just LOVE it!!!! 

Across the street there is a handicapped parking spot. Seeing as how there is only room for two cars parked tandem in Andrew and Becca's drive, Eddie and I had parked there. The man that lives right in front apparently thinks that it is his personal spot. His father (or father in law, we aren't sure which one it is) is the handicapped one and the owner of the placard. But the son uses the placard and parks his Cadillac Escalade there all of the time. On Tuesday October the 7th, there was a knock on the door. Andrew got it. It was the Police. What the heck???? The guy across the street actually called the cops on us for parking our car legally in the the handicapped spot!!!!! The Police officer told Andrew that we are totally within our rights to use that spot. Andrew explained that the guy that does park there isn't the handicapped one, and that the older gentleman that IS the owner of the placard doesn't drive, nor does he have a car. The Officer could not site the younger man cause we were parked there at the time, and had no proof that it is indeed the un-handicapped man using the spot. The Officer just asked that we try and keep the peace. We all think it was pretty ballsy of the guy to call the police in the first place!!! The next Wednesday night, Eddie parked there. As soon as he moved the car Thursday morning, the older woman that lives there moved trash cans and lawn furniture into the parking spot. When the son got home, he moved it and parked there!!!!! Pretty sad if you ask me. We are going to try and not use it to keep the peace, but sometimes it truly is the only spot available for us to park in.

video of the lady moving stuff to block the parking spot

Durning this time we heard that the girls high school friend, Sergio Sauceda, had gotten very ill. No one really knew what was wrong. Saturday October the 11th I kept Becca company while she worked on prepping the guest room for painting. There was a wall paper boarder that needed to be removed, and holes to be patched. Seeing as how I can not reach above my head for any length of time, and my strength is Nada, Becca did most of the work. I was just there to help keep her mind of Sergio and keep her entertained. Elizabeth made plans to fly to California to see Sergio. She originally was going to go at the end of the month, but Lindsay went to visit him and told us it was "heartbreaking" and that she better come sooner. Sunday Andrew went to replace part of the heater vent, and the rest of just fell apart. It was old. So Eddie assisted him in getting the right parts and fixing it. The weather is starting to get cooler, so Andrew wanted to make sure the heater is ready for the winter. He also got the water going in kitchen sink. Things are moving along on the downstairs apartment.
Tuesday the 14th Elizabeth flew to California to see Sergio. He was in VERY bad shape!!! Elizabeth said he knew she was there, but not really able to respond verbally. I was thankful Elizabeth was staying with Lindsay and had her to lean on. I made dinner so Becca wouldn't have to worry about that. When she got home, she said she couldn't eat, but we all told her she needed to, so she did. Her heart was breaking. She just can't take the time or afford to go see Sergio. Weddings are expensive. At least Elizabeth was able to make to represent us and give Sergio our love and support. 
Wednesday we ran some errands and got Suzy groomed. She looks so CUTE!!!! Eddie said she is bald, but I thinks she looks good all trimmed up.

a groomed Suzy with a Halloween bow in her ear

 We picked up some things on the way home and made dinner again for everyone. I did spaghetti and garlic sticks, and Eddie did the salad. We all sat at the dinning room table and enjoyed a good meal together.
Thursday Eddie took care of some projects around the kids place. The dryer vent hose had ripped and was REALLY heating up the downstairs. So Eddie replaced and fixed that. He also got the stove hood put up. I cleaned said stove so we can start to use it. The kids oven has been acting up, so we needed to get the little one downstairs working to be able to have an oven. Becca texted me not to make dinner, her and Andrew were going to go out. Elizabeth and Margaret messaged us that the Doctors had pronounced Sergio brain dead, and that he was going to be moved to Hospice. Both the girls were devastated!!!!!
The next weekend we all stayed close to home and worked on the spare bedroom. Elizabeth kept us up to date on Sergio. Monday I made us all taco's for dinner. Once again we sat at the dinner table and enjoyed our family time.
Eddie, Elizabeth and I had all gone in together and ordered a stethoscope for Becca. The original plan was to wait and give it to her on her birthday. But it came in early, and we wanted to cheer her up, so we decided to give it to her now. She LOVED it!!!! It even has her name engraved on it.

okay, what did you guys do????

the nurse is in the house!!!

Tuesday Elizabeth was to fly back to Indiana. Elizabeth messaged us that Sergio had passed away at 2am that morning. Readers, sad does NOT cover how bad and awful we felt. Sergio was only 36 years old!!!!!!! Even Eddie who had only met him once or twice felt the loss. He painted a beautiful portrait of him.

Sergio

So no one would have to worry about cooking, Andrew bought and picked up some pizza for dinner. Eddie is going to do a DVD tribute for the girls and Sergio's family. Sergio just absolutely LOVED his family!!!!! His mother, brother and sister meant EVERYTHING to him. He was so proud of Keedo and Jasmine. He was always talking and bragging about them. Sergio was always the life of the party. He was also a hard worker and good friend. Sergio and I were birthday twins, and I always called him my "future son in law". It was an inside joke that we shared. My heart is full of regret for not seeing him the last time we were in the desert. Our schedules just didn't mesh, and we never hooked up. PLEASE take time to see your friends and family, and to let them know how much they mean to you. Life is WAY to short!!!!!The next week was kinda a blur. We were all feeling the stress of losing a dear friend. Eddie and I worked on the guest room as much as we could. Neither of us are in the best condition to do much, but we did our best to help. Eddie finished up his DVD tribute and we got them mailed out. Becca really loves hers, and said it was well done.
I am sorry to be leaving this on such a sad note and with sad news, but I am going to get this chapter posted. Again friends and family, love each other and take care. You are ALL special and precious to us!!!!!
Love always, Eddie, Darlanne & Suzy-Q