Vicksburg, Mississippi

I left Georgia and headed west on Easter Sunday morning, not sure how far or where I would end the day.  I was ready to put in a full day of driving towards Texas.  I had a reservation to stay in Jackson, Mississippi - and thought it was a good destination or goal for the day - but when I pulled in to the hotel around 5:30 in the evening there was nothing in the area that I thought I would enjoy seeing.  I took a quick look at a map and saw that Vicksburg, MS was a short additional 30 miles to the west away and I decided to change my hotel reservation to Vicksburg.  What a great decision that was!  Vicksburg turned out to be a historical town along the Mississippi River.  

Pulling off the interstate, I immediately noticed the historical homes and signs pointing me to the Vicksburg National Military Park. I decided while it was still daylight I'd venture to the middle of town.  This town was a treat to see, very quaint and very historical.  

This particular house reminded me of New Orleans.

This is a view down Main Street.  The town is MUCH smaller than New Orleans but had that same french, old south feel.

I drove down to see the Mississippi River.  Train tracks ran along the edge and there was a beautiful mural all along a section of the waterfront.

Vicksburg's riverfront murals are located on the foldaways on Levee Street, which is the entrance to the downtown riverfront.  Artist Robert Dafford painted 32 life-like pictorial murals depicting periods of history of Vicksburg.  

Four casinos line the waterfront.

This is Ameristar Casino Hotel.  The hotel claims to have the largest "live" poker room in the market, three on-site dining venues and two entertainment venues.

Driving thru town on Sunday evening was the perfect time, as I had the roads all to myself around town and I could get wander up and down the streets at my own pace.

This is definitely on my list of places to go back and to spend more time!  There were tons of things to see:  The Jacqueline House Museum (Vicksburg's only museum for the exclusive study of history and culture of people of African descent) The Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum (explores what life is like to live along the river) the Old Court House Museum (circa 1858-1860), a Southern Heritage Air Museum, Yesterday's Children Antique Doll and  a Toy Museum.  There are historical churches and cemeteries, several southern mansions and homes that offer tours, casinos, art galleries, theaters, day spas, parks, and bed and breakfast inns.  Vicksburg has two scenic tours to drive, The Blue Scenic Tour and Red Scenic Tour and lots of shopping.  Check out their annual events calendar on their web site, www.visitvicksburg.com

First thing in the morning I visited the Visitor's Center at the Vicksburg National Military Park.  The have a 20 minute film the recounts the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg in 1863.  This was a critical battle that the Union won - giving them the South in the Civil War.   Following my visit in the visitor's center, I drove thru the park.

I was so taken with the greenery, I pulled off the road and snapped this picture.  

It wasn't hard to picture the battle on these fields.  They were peaceful, green and beautiful now...but at one time death and destruction took place on these hills.

This dome or tent, houses the USS Cairo Museum.  This was a Union ironclad commanded by Thomas O. Selfridge, named for Cairo, Illinois and commissioned in 1862.  In December of that year in the Yazoo River north of Vicksburg, Cairo was struck by two underwater torpedoes (today called mines) sinking in less than 12 minutes with no loss of life.  It sat in the bottom of the Yazoo River for 102 years, preserved by mud and silt.  It was raised in 1964, and later restored.  The ironclad, the last remaining of its kind, is now on display here at the park.

I LOVED this visit to Vicksburg!

Sea Lions...the best part of Pier 39

Grandpa Bill and Aunt Pat meet Baby Elle

When I planned my drive across to Rhode Island, I planned on driving as far as my niece, Nikki's home, in Pennsylvania.  I wanted to stop and visit with her and see her home and meet her newborn baby girl.

My sister Robin and her husband Bill heard my plans and decided to drive from NJ to Pennsylvania to meet me there and enjoy a visit as well.  I was thrilled when I heard that they would also be there.  We arranged a room at the local Holiday Inn.

Bill hadn't met Elle Jane yet so this would be a first meet for him.   I arrived in time for dinner and had fun sitting with Jack putting together a puzzle.

Sunday morning we all met for breakfast before I was going to continue my drive east to Rhode Island.

What a fun breakfast and fun visit with my sister and Bill.  Bill and Jack took a little walk around the restaurant.

Important People In Our Lives...

This is my friend, Ken.  He was in my life for a short time - but I have a forever connection to him because he stepped up and helped me when I needed help and was alone.

Ken lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina now.  We met thru motorcycle riding friends, Walt and Laurie Ingstrup.  They live in Glenview next door to Ken's brother.  Ken lived in New Jersey, another thing we have in common.  A New Jersey connection.  He bought a motorcycle and rode to Illinois to visit his brother after his divorce.  He met and became friends with Walt and Laurie (who lived next door to Ken's brother) and they introduced me to Ken.  I've been friends with Walt and Laurie for a long time.

In July of 2009, actually on Thursday evening, July 16th, Ken was visiting me in Palatine, we had dinner in my home and I left after dinner to attend a Volunteer meeting for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.    I decided to ride my Valkyrie Interstate Tourer motorcycle.

That's when I had my accident, on my way to the meeting.  When the paramedics arrived they asked me where they could find my cell phone.  I told them, and asked them NOT to call my sons - who all lived out of state - because they would be too worried about me.  I asked them to call Ken.

They called Ken and told him where they were taking me - to the hospital - and he met me there.  I don't remember the ride in the ambulance, and I vaguely remember Ken arriving in the ER while I was there...but I don't remember much else.

Ken reached out to my sons...I don't remember much else for those first few days in ICU and the hospital.  But I know Ken stayed close to me.

I'll always love Ken as my special friend and Angel in my life!  It was fun to visit with him in Chapel Hill and he treated me to a delicious barbecue dinner.  Afterwards we drove out to Maple View Farm, and we indulged in some fresh dairy ice cream!

Black Swift Road

This is 3009 Black Swift Road.  This is Michael's first home.  I was only 23 years old, married, and living in a four bedroom, two story "colonial" home in Pennsylvania.  Michael was four years old when we sold this home and moved to our next home in Pennsylvania, in 1978.

I remember being absolutely thrilled to pieces that I had a home to bring my baby to.  I remember being so absolutely thrilled to be a mother and wife.  We painted the bedroom blue.  We hung blue striped wallpaper on the wall.   There were many, many good days in this home - our first home as a married couple.  We lived in this home for almost five years.  The two windows on the second floor were windows in the master bedroom.  The next window on the left or middle, was Michael's room.

Michael was four years old, going on five and we decided we needed to move to a different school district for him to start kindergarten.  We started house shopping and found this house.  It was only a mile or so away from where we were living previously.  We had wonderful friends and neighbors on Black Swift Road in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Here is the home that became our second home.  Both these pictures were taken almost 35 years later, in March of 2015.

Water Street Road in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

The Birthday Punch

Waking up on my birthday in San Francisco was a treat!  It was wonderful to be in such a beautiful place - with my son Tim.

My plans included meeting some folks from my ankle replacement support page on Facebook that live in the SF area.  Don Bradner is one of the administrators of the page, and lives north in Eureka.  His one year follow up appointment was scheduled for the 13th and he said he would meet me for breakfast.  Another person on the Facebook page, Stephanie, lives north in Marin County and she was willing to meet us as well.

Tim found a nearby cafe as a meeting place for breakfast for us, Just for You Cafe, and I got a Lyft ride at 9 am to the restaurant.  I arrived first,  Then Don, then Stephanie.  We had a nice chat about our ankle surgeries and recovery.

Don and I enjoyed talking and meeting a little longer and I had some questions for him about his RV and travels.  It was getting close to his appointment time, so we went to his car and he drove over to UCSF, where we said our goodbyes and I called another Lyft ride to take me to the Apple store downtown.

Apple sent an invite to me in an email to try on the new Apple watch.  I've been curious about it and made a reservation for 12 noon.  Tim sent me a text and asked if he could join me - so we met at the Apple store.  It was fun to try on the new watch and hear a little about the different styles and price ranges.  I had no intention of ordering one or buying one - yet.

After the watch preview Tim had to get back to work.  It was a gorgeous day and there was a cable car line nearby - Powell and Hyde St.  I decided it would be fun to hop on a cable car and take a ride around the city.

This car took me all the way down to Fisherman's Wharf, where the ride ended.  I got off and there was a coffee shop, so I stopped in and had a chai tea.  After a little rest I went back out and got in line again to take another cable car ride back downtown.

  

I decided to get off before the end of the line, at Union Square.  Union Square is a beautiful block that has been made into a park.  There are lots of park benches, tables with umbrellas where you could bring a picnic lunch, a statue in the middle and a restaurant or two around the outside that serves food.  It was sunny and warm.

As I was sitting in the sun, my phone rang and it was Emma and Will - singing Happy Birthday to me!

After an hour or so Tim sent me a message asking if I wanted to meet him for dinner at a very fancy smanshee restaurant, The Top of the Mark.  So I needed to get my ride home and change clothes and meet him.  We were meeting about 5:30 for early dinner before his class.

I walked a block away from Union Square and stopped next to a building to send a message to Lyft for a ride back to Tim's apartment.  All of a sudden I could hear a car's brakes squeal, and I could see a man running across the street, in front of a car.  

The man almost got hit, and he had an angry look on his face, and was yelling at the driver, who was yelling back.  

He ran up the curb and towards me and PUNCHED me in the hand - the hand that was holding my phone.  My fingers were tight around the phone, so it did not go flying - and the "bad" man kept walking away from me.  Two other men were nearby and they yelled IDIOT at him - as the bad man kept walking away from us.  

I was so shocked, and this happened so fast!  

My Lyft car arrived, I got in and was happy to be on my way back to Tim's.  My hand was a little bruised and sore for a couple of days.  

Saturday excitement - I'm leaving Illinois! March 14, 2015

Saturday morning I woke before the alarm…about 6:15 am. Wide awake realizing the day finally came - I was driving across the country! 

The night before I pulled my bags together and put almost everything in the car. I didn’t pack a suitcase because I need to have “soft” bags to squeeze in the backseat or in the trunk area. When I get to warm weather I’d like to be able to put the top down - and my trunk space is limited. The car is a hard top convertible, so I just push a button and the top pops up and nests in trunk space. 

Also, I need warm clothes while in Rhode Island and NJ….and then clothes for much warmer weather. I’ll leave my warm clothes at my son’s in Rhode Island.

Having put most things in the car the night before, I got right out of bed at 6:15 am and put my clothes on and headed to the car. I was on the road about 6:40 am! Dawn was breaking, there were clouds on the horizon and I could tell the sun was behind them, but it was a welcome sight as I was headed east and the sun was not glaring at me. 

My decision to go thru the city and on to Indiana was a good one. It was Saturday morning in Chicagoland. The city was going to turn the river green for St. Patty’s day and there was the usual St. Pat’s day parade. Mother nature was cooperating with temps going as high as 60. For the local folks…it doesn’t get better than that for a St. Pat’s weekend in Chicago!

I headed to 94 and before I knew it the beautiful skyline of Chicago was in the distance. I was wishing I could pull over and take a picture…but the tollway is always busy. I tried snapping a picture in front of me…but it didn’t do justice to the beautiful skyline I saw. Traffic was light and I was thankful - and within about 35 minutes I was approaching the Skyway. 

Up and over the bridge I went, and I had flashbacks of motorcycle trips I had taken and excursions to Michigan on back roads in previous years. Since this stretch wasn’t real familiar to me I was watching closely for the directions to make certain I was headed to Indiana - not Michigan. I had my car GPS set with my niece’s address in Williamsport, Pa. 

I left the house with no breakfast and no coffee….anxious to get on the road. I was ready to make the first stop for a tall cup of coffee as soon as I saw a good stop. It was still cloudy but bright, I didn’t need my sunglasses and it was very comfortable following the road. 

Within a few minutes I saw a sign for Gloria Jean’s coffee and gas. YES!!! A quick stop with a muffin and coffee and back in the car! I slipped over to the gas pumps, I was only half empty but I thought I’d fill up and go further before I needed a stop again. (in the back of my mind I knew a bathroom stop would be needed before gas - thanks to the large coffee I was enjoying).

Next is the interesting part of the Indiana ride. After paying for gas I pulled away from the pump and stopped to check messages. I set the phone down and started to look side to side before I took off and out of the blue a gorgeous spanking new (I think) white Porsche made a fast approach in my direction to get on the ramp. I quickly hit the breaks, his hands went up in the air and I could tell he was not happy to see me and there were some words he was saying - but window was closed. I gave him the big “go ahead” motion…and he quickly pulled off and on the ramp and tollway. I followed him at my own pace.

Within a short time I found myself behind him. Hmmm. I thought. You could be going a whole lot faster in THAT car, I said to myself. But I was happily cruising at 70 mph and wanted to just leave it at that. So for a few miles I was simply following him. Not on purpose - it’s where my cruise control was set.

A few more miles and we both were following a semi - and I hit off my cruise cause we were now going a little slower. I got impatient with this and made the decision to just pull around and pass both of them, the semi and him.  I thought maybe he was talking on the phone or doing some other distracted driving and not wanting to drive faster.

After I passed him and the truck, I pulled back right and reset my cruise at 70. I looked in my mirror and there he was coming around the truck and instead of pulling in behind me, he gunned it in high gear and zoomed ahead. At the same time we were approaching an overhead and guess who was sitting there checking out traffic? Yup.

My gorgeous porch was in high gear….and as we both passed the patrol car, him speeding and me at 70, my eyes started focusing on my rear view mirror to see if the patrol car pulled out.

Sure enough. Here comes Mr. Policeman. Now, we’re both about a mile down the road…but the police car is coming up fast. Lights are not on yet…so I’m not sure who he’s after but I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA. Now Mr. Porsche slows down (of course) and he’s directly in front of me. And I see the patrol car come up alongside me, put his lights on and I give him space and he pulls in behind Mr. Porsche with the lights on…and they pull over. As I went by, I waved to Mr. Porsche and said - bye-bye!!

I didn’t see Mr. Porsche again across the rest of Indiana.

The roads in Indiana and across Ohio were so familiar to me. I was very comfortable taking phone calls and spent most of the morning and early afternoon catching up with friends about my plans. Indiana and Ohio restaurants are not very appealing but I knew there was a Panera Bread on the eastern side of Ohio and I set that as my next stop. 

After Panera my sights were set on Williamsport, Pa, my niece Nikki’s house. We were going to dinner, the four of them, Robin and Bill and me. But the drive took longer than I thought and as 6 pm got close and I was still on the road, I called them and they decided to order take out food. I arrived about 6:45. Jack was cute as a button. I brought a puzzle for him to do and he sat at the kitchen table with me and we put the puzzle together. 

Baby Elle Jane McNett

Jack, 3 years old!

After dinner Robin, Bill and I said good night and headed for the Holiday Inn. The room was very comfy and we all slept well. We were up and enjoying coffee by 7:30 am…and then off to Perkins Pancake house for breakfast with Nikki and family. 

Next I wanted to see my brother Mark but I realized when looking at the map that he was too far away. At 10:30 am I headed out of the Holiday Inn parking lot and on to Rt. 80 again.

At about 12:30 I made a lunch stop at an Outlet center … too chilly to walk around so I had lunch at the Food Court and back in the car.

It was a long ride thru Western PA, Northern NJ, over the Tappan Zee Bridge, NY thruway, CT, and finally I crossed the RI line at 5:19pm. I was in the car for 7 hours! A very long drive.

So glad to be in RI, and so sad…because I thought I would be taking Barb Newton to lunch this week…and she died suddenly on Saturday. Very sad time for Shelagh and Mike and Will and Emma.

Final Work Day in Illinois - March 13, 2015

Well, here's the office gang ~

And the cake ~

It's been an interesting 1.5 years with Corporate Compliance and Risk.  My buddy during this time was Toni McDonnell.  She'd been working with Peggy King for many years.  Harry Jones, pictured on the right, was my immediate manager.  On the extreme left, Marilyn Tarrant, worked for Harry and I supported her as well.

Sitting behind me were auditors Dora Sirakova, Nadine Walker, Bo Sirakova, Kay Rovner, and Leonila Reyes.  Sitting across from me was Risk Manager, Jen Halliday.  Next to Jen was Michelle Odigie.  On the other side of the office sat auditors Lynn Banks, Elisha Juhiaz, Para legal Megan Gibson, Risk Director, Joe Anderson,  auditor April Calamese, and program manager Paulina Velasco.

We had a lovely gathering about 2 pm with cake and many well wishes!  I turned in my badge and key and walked out the door about 3:15.  Good byes are always sad...but I was very excited to be moving on.