Redefining the meaning of vacation photos

                                                    Snowstorm in JFK airport on Day One

I'm back home in London. I'm not sure what day, time, place it is yet. I feel jet-lagged and shell-shocked as a result of the last few days.  I was thinking about how to write about my past week and I thought I would simply post a photo gallery of this 'vacation'.

Airports:  Out of a total of 260 hours, I calculate that I've spent about 0ver 66 hours travelling to and from airports, in lounges, on planes and generally waiting.

Waiting in the UK to leave, waiting on the tarmac to take off, waiting in NY during a snowstorm, waiting on the tarmac again, arriving in Florida and waiting to fly to Connecticut and finally, waiting to board a Greyhound bus to NY and then waiting for an airport bus and finally, finally waiting at JFK to take off for London.

As I have said before, I have become a master of waiting. I no longer feel that gnawing foot-tapping hurry up driver that made me pretty crazy.  This is real progress for me and will stand me in good stead in future, I hope.

Florida - land of cold, rain, elderly people and flea markets.
The wheelchairs were my first sight of Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida, though my cousins live in a beautiful house and the sun shone for one whole day. 

I did have a terrific time with my cousin and we spent a very rainy morning at a hangar sized flea market.  We bought handbags, costume jewelry, ate pizza and I loved the neon signs everywhere.


Connecticut - to see my dad and stay with my brother and sister-in-law.  As it turned out we spent pretty much all our time first in the ER and then visiting my dad in the hospital.  For me this felt too much like deja vu for comfort. 

Travelling back and forth every day and sitting in coffee shops, waiting for diagnosis, consulting Dr.. Google a few times a day - been there, done that and don't want to do it again.

We did have a short respite and drove to Queens in NY for Uncle Solly's 87th birthday party. I got to see my beautiful niece and nephew and my adorable great-niece.  This was such a welcome break and a really nice afternoon.  All too short and we drove back to the hospital in Hartford.

My sister-in-law drove me through some of the smaller streets in Hartford so I could have a look at something other than motorways.  Some of the older partsof the city looked interesting. Some day I might have time to get out of a car and explore.

My father was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  His bleeding was stopped and for now seems to be better.  We spent Monday evening at the hospital with him and he was in fine form, singing, laughing and feeling better. I finally felt I could go home.  

 
Greyhound bus to New York - I caught a bus in Hartford and enjoyed an uneventful journey to Manhattan (as compared to last year's journey when a passenger pulled a knife on the driver!).

I love looking out the windows of buses and seeing the city pass me by.  This was the closest I was going to get to NYC this trip. On another Greyhound bus to the airport and finally flying back to the UK.

Manhattan temptingly flew by through my bus windows - safe and ready for my next visit.

It's been quite a vacation. I guess I should have clicked my heels three times. Can't wait till the next time!