Road Trip By the Numbers

Day 18 and my last freeloading night with my wonderful high school friend Karen Brown in Providence, Rhode Island. I have had the best day visiting with her and walking her city. It was my shortest day of driving between friends so we had plenty of time to explore and talk, talk, talk. Since I had never been to Providence I had no idea it was so hilly. Karen and I got 14,503 steps today, but luckily we divided those up by stoping for lunch and dinner.  

We lunched in a cute Swedish cafe and splint a sandwich. Since I was wearing my Northeastern t-shirt the nice young man behind the counter was extra good to us because he is going there in the fall as a freshman. He asked what my connection was to Northeastern and I told him my daughter was going in the fall too, but don’t worry Carter I did not embarrass you by telling him your name. For dinner we walked to a place called Red Stripe where we split an appetizer, salad and main course. After dinner we came back to Karen’s where we discussed my trip by the numbers.  
I have been on the road for 18 days. Tomorrow will hopefully be the last at 19 if I can drive the 12 hours home to Durham. In total I drove about 39 hours and went about 2,000 miles. I walked 174,841 steps in the last 18 days which I never would have done without the kindness of friends willing to walk with me. On the other hand we will not speak of the calories eaten.
I visited 34 friends; nine from Dickinson College, 7 from the Ethel Walker School years, 4 family relations, 3 Boston Friends, and 11 people who are family members of my friends, who I now also consider friends.
I have 10 thank you notes to write to all the kind people who put me up, fed me meals, took me out and entertained me. And now the awards:
For the most items cooked for meals she served me the award goes to Nancy Mack Von Euler. There were at least 15 different items cooked just for one salad.
For the person who had me cook the most, the winner is Warren Erickson, who could not be beaten in this category since I spent the most time at his house.
For the most games played with me the winners are the Suzanne Worden, Steve and Jack Farley for twos night of bridge, that made me crave playing bridge again.

The award for making her husband have lunch with me on his birthday, even though he didn’t know me, goes to Julie Williams Wagner and her husband “Larry Chip.”

For the most collaborative puzzle partner the winner is Janet Nathenson Del Valle who could always find the hammer piece when I was looking for it.

The award for the person who met me the furthest from home goes to Rena Ronson for meeting me in NYC from LA.

The cutest baby hands down goes to Sawyer Ryan and the best new parents are Cory and Eric.
The best sneaky way to pick up the check at every meal goes to Stori Stockwell Cadigan.
The meal splitter award goes to Karen Appel Brown who allowed me to taste more yummy things without guilt.

Person who came the longest distance to take a walk on the hosptest day goes to Karen Polcer Bdera.

Best political discussion goes to Jamie Kyte Sapoch who always knows how to phrase things in kindness.
Best fast draw at picking up the check goes to Steve Kohn, who always takes me and Wendy to French Bistros so we can pretend we are still in France together.
Best Broadway musical companion was Wendy Yazusian who can still sing better than most broadway performers.
Finally to best family members who are storing Carter’s college stuff until she can get to Boston in January, the award goes to Andrea and Micheal Lange.
All in all it has been a most fun trip getting to catch up, visit, play, eat and talk with so many old friends. Total years I have known all these people is 912 years and that is in people years. I have to count myself as one lucky person to call them my friends.