Thanksgiving.

     It had been a rough night, I already figured that they would not be accompanying me to the city.  I made the mashed potatoes without saying a word.  She'd been up and down all night, my brother in law with her.

     Once the potatoes were finished I had a word with my brother in law.  I pointed out the turkey breast, cranberry sauce, rolls, he was certain they weren't going either.  So my preparations the night before weren't in vain.

     It was around 11 when the news descended to me.  I understood.  I also told her that I was giving her some time.  Last time she had begun chemo it was a last minute decision to go.  Not to be this time.  Got the pies out of the fridge, same pies I mentioned a few posts back.  I was on my way.

     Cold and blustery day, overcast.  Traffic for the most part wasn't bad.  One snarl really set me back 30 min.  Other than that it was good.  The Brooklyn bridge is becoming one of my favorite bridges.  Unlike the 59th street or Queensborough, or whatever they're calling it now.  The latter can be difficult to find.

     I arrived, parked the car in a pay lot and made my way upstairs.  Broke the news to my 2 cousins who were in attendance.  My one cousin I'm always going in and seeing him in the city.  The other?  It's been a tenuous sort of cousin-hood, new word alert.  Called my sister to tell her I arrived.  She would call back and speak to each of them for a little.  They very much understood.

     All in all it was a great time.  2 other guests that I was unaware of couldn't make it.  There was a good deal of food too.  14lb turkey, 1/4 sitting in a bag in my fridge.  Stuffing from whole foods, mashed turnips, brussellsprouts, damn my cursor when invisible again, there we go reboot and a fix.  ...mashed potatoes, 1 moldy  yam that the other cousin brought, friends had given it to her.  She'd cut off the  moldy part, it leaked in the oven as yams often do.  In the end it was thrown out.

     At one point we did venture outside, so frigid we quickly scurried back in.  Food was served.  Conversation while not worthy here, was quite good and fun.  The pies went into the oven.
  
     In case you don't remember, same post I referenced earlier, I brought an apple and a peach raspberry.  They were delicious.  The party broke up about 7.  Left overs put into bags.  And I was off.

     Car was in a good spot, I gave the guy what I hoped was a good tip.  Charged me $34 for the 6 or 7 hours I was there.  Got my stuff situated, seat belted the leftovers in the back seat.  And I was off.

     Had to do some contortions but was pleased to have found the bridge.  I even made the correct turn off, you can go right to the BQE or straight into Brooklyn.  Of course just because I made the right doesn't mean things went well.  You have read my blogs before right?

    I somehow missed a turn or took an extra turn.  I basically wound up going back of the bridge back into Manhattan and starting over.  Yup.  This is why I like my bridges free.  I'm a putz.  

     Okay it's been a bit over an hour, yeah you don't know it.  I'm back with coffee.  Back to the tale of the bridge.

     I meander down some cobble stone streets, there's one or two.  Trying to figure out where I messed up.  I could just start over but I don't want to.  Keeping my wits about me, I look for a place to pull over.  There's another pay garage, so not to deserted.  Pull over and consult Suri.  I ask her to get me to a destination well East and she obliged rather nicely.  Upon looking at the map later, I can't understand how I missed the main street.  Tilary.  Oh well.

     Once I'm on the main route and positive I can't get lost I reckon it's time for a smoke.  To celebrate a good fun evening and to take the edge off.  Well I could have thought better.

    The exit I got off at, and I should have known this, has a lot of private communities with guard shacks.  They are never willing to let you just sit for a moment and light a smoke.  So I found one without and did so and went home.

     If you celebrated Thanksgiving, hope you had a good one.  Otherwise hope you had a good Thursday.

-later