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| Pat and I having breakfast at John's restaurant in downtown Hamilton, Ontario Canada |
Two weeks from this Sunday I will be making my annual trip to my northern neighbor Canada.
I am taking a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Buffalo, New York. Pat, my Canadian Travel Buddy, will take the forty-mile trip from his home in Hamilton and cross the border to Buffalo to pick me up. I fly to Buffalo because it is cheaper and a LOT LESS stressful than flying into Toronto’s Pierson airport. And now that Pat lives in Hamilton, the mileage to Buffalo to pick me up is less than if he had to drive to Toronto to pick me up.
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| Pat and I waiting for the bus to the Toronto airport last year |
This is my fourth trip to Canada to visit Pat. The first two years I visited Pat at his home in Toronto. Last year I visited Pat at his new home in downtown Hamilton. Pat sold his home in Toronto and bought a fantastic condo, with spectacular views of downtown Hamilton, at the historical Royal Connaught hotel, which is in the process of converting to luxury condos.
Pat and I get together four times a year. Every quarter.
At the end of December Pat and I meet in Philadelphia. I rent a suite at the co-op of my longtime friend and former co-worker Don McKenzie. I used to live and work in Philly and love visiting and reliving old memories. Pat loves Philly. And we both like Don very much.
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| Don, Pat and me at Marathon restaurant on Spruce Street in Philadelphia, PA |
In February Pat and I take a two-week trip to California. One week in West Hollywood where we make another try to get on “The Price is Right”. We spend a second week in Palm Springs. I’ve always wanted to punch a hole in the winter cold by spending a few weeks in warmer climes. Now that Pat and I together, I can realize this long-held dream of mine. Pat brought a condo in Palm Springs last year. He has it rented out for two years but after that rental obligation is up we may stay there in the future. I would love to spend a winter month in Palm Springs. Another dream of mine I hope to realize some day.
In the spring Pat takes a bus from Toronto to Philly. He rents a car in Philly and drives down here where I live in lower slower Delaware. We spend a couple days here, visiting Bill and our favorite restaurants in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, then we both make the trip back to Philly and that rental suite of our friend Don.
I am so happy that I can make these trips with Pat. Many years ago, when I was young and full of energy I used to make trips to Provincetown, Massachusetts. I started out one week in the summer, but when I ended going up four times during the summer. The last time I visited Provincetown for a three week stay (1986), I returned to my job to find out I was job eliminated. I haven’t been back since. I hope to return at least one time before I check out, with Pat. There are no furniture stores in Provincetown, but they have a great Tea Dance and fabulous restaurants. Now to figure out how to convince Pat to add a fifth trip to our annual adventures.