June 11

The primary frustration of the day was the United States Postal Service. Somewhere between Philadelphia and New York, it dawned on me that we did not have passports to get into Canada where our hotel reservations are for Niagara Falls. In the old days, it was no issue to cross into Canada without a passport but since 9/11, no more. You cannot get in without a passport. I called Erika and she overnighted them to us to our hotel in New York. In spite of the fact that they were guaranteed overnight, they did not arrive on Wednesday when they were scheduled or Thursday when we were still there. I spent many hours on the phone and finally, we left New York, not knowing where the package was nor when it would arrive.

I decided it was a moment for growth and would let the chips fall where they may. We met Rick, David's cousin for breakfast and then we said good-bye to New York. We loved it there but were not sad to leave. Too many people. Too many. The drive was beautiful. We stopped at an amazing deli in Meriden, Connecticut and had lunch. Another really lucky guess. Everything, including the most amazing cookies, was made there. Delicious. We also stopped at 21 Hoyt Ave in Darien, Connecticut. This is the home where I lived the first 18 months of my life. I have no memory of it and I had not been there since leaving at 18 months. It was interesting to see it.

We finally arrived in Boston, Massachusetts and settled in to the most beautiful hotel of the trip. Wow oh wow. We have paid extraordinary amounts for every hotel we have stayed at on this trip but this one was the most expensive and it is very beautiful. We went out and found an OK spot to eat dinner. I love these shirtsleeve evenings and will miss them when I return to Alameda where you are looking for a jacket the second the sun goes down. Afterwards, we watched the Warriors trounce the Cavaliers. We are nearing the end of this sight-seeing marathon. Great experience but I will be ready to be home.