In Retrospect… 12 Days On The Road

Autumn Leaves

My husband was planning a trip back East to visit his family last summer… alone! I said “Not this time! I have a feeling we’re going together and it will be work-related. Then I added, “Also, I feel it will be around the holidays.”

I don’t know how you manifest your thoughts (please let me know), but mine come from making little wishes. I really don’t expect a lot, although my goals are lofty by nature. Consequently, when you add up all your little wishes that have come true, you end up with one of magnificence. That is what happened in this case.

Within several days of this talk between husband and wife I received an invitation to attend an event in New Jersey! To boot, it was in November, close to Thanksgiving. I now want to publicly thank Tom Jeron, the producer of this Batman Expo for including me and making it possible for my husband and I to visit our family as well as reunite with our New York friends Rob and Nell and Stevie and Maureen.

During this trip I discovered Englewood, NJ where our hotel was located. A stroll into the charming downtown area proved to be enchanting. People were so friendly and the food – oh, you Italians feed my soul! I can now say I stayed in the same town where Tony Bennett lives. I still want to listen to his Duets II CD that is topping the charts. Now that I’m home, I will definitely spend an evening with Mr. Bennett and Friends.

One day for lunch we found an unbelievably great Chinese veggie place where I could swear they make their own tofu… like custard in the middle, lightly fried to a crisp on the outside, swimming in black bean sauce. Simply marvelous!

A million thanks to my fan and new friend from New Jersey, Matt, who became our personal escort for five glorious days. A big shout-out to his wife, Jeanie, and kids, Dan and Dana. Pizza tastes better with you!

Fans I met at the Expo, such as John Brown who builds Batmobiles and Irene who traveled two hours on a train from upstate NY to see Susie from the Batman episode The Joker Goes To School demonstrate the dedication these good folks have from the bottom of their lovely hearts. East Coast people are tough. They have to be to get through those cold winters and hot, humid summers. But what these people gave to me was Beauty and Joy. Red and gold leaves on sycamore and maple trees lingered as winter approached. As my husband and I traveled, the streets were lined with their magnificence.

I feel a little like Jimmy Fallon, if you follow him, thanking his Friday audiences. Thank you… for finding the little black dress at a boutique in Englewood called La Scala. Thank you… for a glass of pinot noir at Solaia Restaurant, next door to the Bergen Pac Theater. Thank you… to Matt for not getting upset when the coffee toppled over at Starbucks and drenched your jeans. Good thing you’re a diver because you didn’t complain in your ‘wet suit’. Thank you… to family and friends for sharing a bed and morning brew. With people like you I am a wealthy woman.

Happy Thanksgiving to You All

P.S. David Wild’s list of music for gift giving is worth looking over. Especially his comment from Jon Stewart.