It was Norma's 80th birthday and so we packed the car
and Ben got ready
as Suzanne's car pulled out of the way
so that Ben and Jane could board
for the ride to parking at Philly airport
were we watched tv in the waiting area
before matching hands
which amused Suzanne
so we did more hand matching
and then recorded the other hands
before boarding for this elegant meal
as Ben
Suzanne
and Jane
got off the plane and we saw the Pittsburgh super heroes
and posed Ben with them
and noted Heinz Ketchup
before Ben, Suzanne and Jane posed as a group
and then Ben
Suzanne
and Jane posed individually
before I took this self portrait
and we met Andrew Sedgewick in the rental car area
before going to space F10
and getting our PT cruiser
of this license plate
and beginning the journey to the Residence Inn where we were greeted
and given keys to our room
where there was popcorn
waiting to be popped
to accompany the newspaper
as Suzanne read
and we checked out the bed
and had the last vegetables
as Jane
and Sarah settled in
and we made Ben's bed for the night.
Saturday morning, I awoke and looked at the snow
while Suzanne
and Ben enjoyed their beds
and Ben watched this cartoon
as I took these self portraits
and noted that the weather forecast was gruesome
so we woke up Jane
and admired the new toothpaste (the original had been confiscated by the airport police).
Jane and Sarah slowly rose
so that Suzanne and Jane
and Sarah
and Ben
could be part of the pilgrimage to breakfast
where the waffle batter
cold foods,
and hot foods
were ready so that we could assemble our plates
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and banana
before returning to the room to see the pop corn leftovers
as Sarah
got her bag
we admired the pictures
and Suzanne
Ben
Jane
and Sarah
came for the excursion where we parked the car
and found our way
to the elevator
that took us to the food store
with a world of food
in the Giant Eagle
so that we could grab a cart
admire strawberries
blueberries
pineapple
watermelon
and cantaloupe
while Ben and Sarah
and then Ben, Sarah and Jane mugged for the camera
as we accumulated cut up fruit
and watched Suzanne navigate the cell phone
and the clementines
not to mention many bananas
while Ben pointed the way
to assembling a smaller bunch of bananas
to put into the cart
alongside everything else
as we admired the jelly knife
and the long aisles
on which Ben and Jane roamed
while Suzanne took another phone call
added to the cart
and then Suzanne used her cell phone to navigate the world outside
as Sarah and Ben used the bench
and we stacked the final result in the cart
and checked out the receipt
while Jane showed some wares
as we made our way to the car
and back to Norma's apartment where we were buzzed in
found our way down the hallway
to the elevator
and then into Norma's apartment
which was decorated for the event
with no mistake about her age
as we admired the decor
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and Ben modeled the shirts
and the chocolate fountain
as Kim gathered goods
and Sarah and Jane began the process of rolling shirts
while we went back to the chocolate fountain
and the breads
and signs
and the wise old man watching
as the wine waited
and we checked the video to see that it would work later
as Suzanne brought in flowers
and arranged the flowers
while reading the card
even as Sarah and Jane
and Ben
worked on the T shirt project
and I admired the candy dishes
until the shirts all seemed to be done
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take a picture of the picture
to Jane's astonishment
while Suzanne spoke
and Ben and Jane
and then Jane admired the picture of which the picture was taken
even as we found our way to Forbes and Murray and went to Rite-Aid
where Sarah found this watch
and I found this (of which alter pictures were better)
so that we could go to Uncle Sam's where the waitress had never had a customer take her picture
as we surveyed the menu
and made our way in
beyond the photos on the wall
so that I could record my new watch
as Jane gathered drinks
and Sarah and Jane waited
for the food to come
so that Sarah
Jane
Ben
and me could enjoy our meal
before the excursion to Whole Foods which didn't have dill sauce
and to Baskin Robbins
which did have the cakes
and then on the way back past the sculpture of people climbing the pole on so cold an afternoon.
Back at the apartment, the flowers brought decoration
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admired the chocolate fountain
even as Suzanne
joined Jane, Ben and Sarah
to admire all of the balloons
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when Earl and his brother (1 minute younger) arrived
with more slowers
and nuts
so that flowers could be arranged
as the kids watched
and nuts were spread out
while the vase was readied
and the plant food prepared
so that everything could be arranged
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At this point, we returned to our hotel and on the way back, we passed the Wellington
which has a fallout shelter
and then we entered the party and saw Chaim Snyder
and Adele Sternberg
as Andy made Jane laugh
and Andy and Katy posed
as did Ben and Jane
and Bobby Sauro
before Jane posed with Debbie Strauss
and then Debbie, Katy and Jane posed
as the table was set
to Eileen's amusement
as Ann Levin
and Maxine and Ann Sharon were there
and Maxine and Anne Sharon posed with Ben
then Maxine and Anne Sharon posed with Ben and Sarah
while Byron and Myrtis sat with Norma
and Andy and Debbie
and Robert Levin
and Danny Gespass
and Bobby's friend
and Marilyn and Jim Davis all posed
but the chocolate fountain
and the strawberries
that could be dipped int he chocolate fountain
to make Jane this dessert were the attraction
as I spoke with Thelma Snyder
and the champagne fountain didn't work
as Thelma and Vera Poster spoke
as did Kim and Norma
while Bobby Sauro made his way through the balloons
and Andy and Sarah
and then Sarah
and Ann Levin and Andy
and Andy, Ann and Jane
and Bobby
and Byron, Myrtis and Adele
and Andy and Georgia
all were captured on film before a few more shots
led to this family photo on the couch
and then the five of us posed with Norma
before Byron and Myrtis and Norma posed
before Sarah and Ben
and Sarah, Ben and Jane
posed and showed off their shirt backs.
The chocolate fountain was still going
when the cakes emerged
as Ben
was amused by the musician
and Katy and Jane
and Ben
watched as Norma gathered before the cake
and greetings were sung
as Norma enjoyed the cake cutting
which Bob recorded
Andy enjoyed
and Earl watched
before we adjourned to watch the video
and Debbie, Danny and Andy posed
as did Earl, Georgia, Maxine and Debbie
Suzanne and Byron
before Kim served up some cake
as ribbons flew
and the crowd on the couch
watched as Debbie, Georgia, Jane, Sarah and Ben watched Norma watch the photos
before Suzanne and Norma
watched this
as Jane, Ben and I took this self portrait
and the assembled remained on the couch
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Byron chatted
as did Andy and Bobby
and Ann, Robert and Andy
and others
as Sarah
Ben
Byron
Eileen
and E
prepared for these pictures of E and Kim
and E, Kim and Eileen which ended our night.
The next morning, I once again woke to snow outside
a cold weather forecast inside
and a sleeping family
who had to be roused for this breakfast
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Ben
Sarah
me
and Jane
ready for more breakfast
after which Jane
Suzanne
Sarah
Ben and Suzanne
Sarah and Jane
went to join the empty plates
as Jane
Sarah
Ben
me
and Suzanne
visited Norma
for some food
a self portrait of me and Suzanne
and after some darkness
another breakfast of orange juice
other drinks
and bananas in various incarnations
as we opened the licorice gift
and made our way through the many gifts
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Jane and Sarah watched
and we explored the jewelry box
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in the PT Cruiser
at the A plus which had been our haven a few nights before
and then I paid for the gas
and Ben, Jane and Suzanne posed for a few
as we marched behind Sarah
before Sarah and Ben posed
and we caught this profile of Sarah
as we made our way
and got boarding passes
to go with the rental car receipt
before we reached a gate and gathered
so that Suzanne
Sarah
and me could pose
before we got onto the plane and I captured the land below
as Suzanne
and Ben read
and I stared at my book
and the scenery
before capturing the Philadelphia skyline
and Camden
and the stadium
and the river
and the shipyard
which amused Suzanne
as we came in for a landing
and then made our way through the terminal
to be welcomed
to pay for our parking
and to head home. Happy birthday Norma!!