Phew! Nearly caught up now I have actually spoken into my phone for all of these blogs since I began about my Liverpool trip, 

My telephone refuses to listen to any other language but Spanish, so beneath it just keeps on saying escuchando, for listening. I am speaking English by the way! Smiling.. 

Sometimes it even thinks I'm speaking German! 

Probably because of the Duolingo I do!

These few photographs are from the Billy Joel exhibition upstairs above the Everybody Loves Raymond exhibition which is travelling around the country, so we were lucky to catch it! 

Over the weekend we went to the Bayside Clam Bar & Grill... One of my favorite places...

I realized when we were there this time why... It's home to me, it is like back home, the atmosphere, the music, it's upbeat.. it's back home on a weekend, from there I feel I could drive home back to my little house in Alhaurín.. 

Although by the beach here are deer and wild Turkeys! Not the wild boar of the Costa del Sol! 

Monday morning we headed upstate to visit with cousins.. another beautiful day with family..

Few hours at home with cousins, then we met up with more at an Italian restaurant.. Good food, and so much! Phew!! 

It took two hours to get there, we passed by my favorite uncles place .. my only uncle! Many many happy times spent there over the years...

Also passed by Mount Vernon where I got my first tattoo at Bih Jo's tattoo empire ... And Mount Disco, where mom the boys and I stayed for a few nights.. And here is me in the driver's seat!! 

And an hour back to my aunt's.. very good day ... I am grateful as always to everybody who does so much when I visit... So so much... 

I guess I have found the chip on my shoulder.. Do we all have one? Something we carry that's been a 'thing' all our lives? 

Well folks! Found mine! It's the why was I taken away from my family, why couldn't I have grown up nearer them, knowing them from being a kid... It's the lost years... 

We can't get them back, but it is why I keep coming back here,.back home.. Can't make up for time missed... But by all there is I hope I can always make it back here, my homeland, my birth land.. my family.. 

I guess it will get more difficult one day ... That'll be a sad day .. but I know I'll not know it's been the last visit... Because we never do...

And of course, I wouldn't have missed how my life has been either .. I am very very lucky, with my beautiful family and my wonderful best forever friends I could never ask for more.. they're the best.

Added here today, as of posting.. I actually thought this had been posted.. I have been bad again! Severely lacking in Blogger standards! 

M.

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

Joseph Campbell - 1904-1987 - Philosopher

Couple of random blurry in movement photographs...

I forgot to post my last Blog on my birthday! Hilarious! 

We've been busy!

We went to my aunt cards game in the morning, was a good time as always.. It can be sad too, less people are going, and less people are here to go any more ... 

Then we were home and a cousin came to take us to her mom and dads out on Long Island... 

Where we were last weekend also...

Only there a short time before we headed out to a favorite place of theirs, and mine! Bayside Clam and Grill! The very best fries, states side ever ever ever! 

There were nine of us.. Was absolutely wonderful!

On the drive there, real close to the restaurant passing deer and turkeys! 

Too late to get photographs! 

Like the following night, watching a young cousin play baseball, passed a car whose wheels were on ... Wrong!! I was so busy wondering why a woman was on her phone, two hands, neither on the steering wheel, then realized too late, she was watching the car with the crazy wheels!

This is my photograph.. it's not great, not even good! It's awful! It's the silver car on the left!

Okay, it's called a negative camber... 

I'll let you Google it! 

The baseball was wonderful, sitting on the bleachers! No wood, and not too high... The romantic in me visualized the ones I've seen on the movies... Creaking and a fire hazard!

It was fun, seeing these young players, can't believe it's the first actual game I've ever been to!

Saturday afternoon was a surprize party for a cousin! Fantastic! 

There were about seventy people, maybe a few more! A huge bouncy slide for the kids, and some of the adults! Food, lots of amazing food, and drink! No humidity and wall to wall sunshine... A beautiful day.. 

Yesterday, Sunday, back to my aunt's and some R&R... 

Same today, my last full day which is rapidly passing by..

I have a lottery card to go get changed for another one, it was a winner! As were two others I received for my birthday from cousin's, I also won the £15 Postcode lottery on my birthday and received a money present for my birthday! 

Just need a big win to buy my house! And I'm set for life! 

Going to press pause now..

M.

A poem to end

Part and parcel of wishes and dreams

Often thought and sometimes lost

Excitement, adventure and treasure 

Memories return, memories made

A poem to end where we begin

©MB

 

Okay, okay! Supermarket shelves! But couldn't resist the look of the Bubba burgers and huge spices!

I mean for a photograph, not to buy! 

Stopped twice for trains on our way out to dinner the other night..

I love the sound of the trains here... 

Above I took on the bridge taking us to Fire Island and the TWA flight 800 memorial..

Couple of random photographers taken out in the Hamptons...

I don't normally post food on my Blog, maps yes, but not here...

But! This! Was absolutely amazing! At the Bayside Clam & Grill, East Islip Marina Park! This was Pina Colada coconut shrimp! 

Just looking at it, I want it again right now! And will have to make it! And the fries! WoW, they were amazing, very different.. just the best!

On the road as we neared the marina we past deer, on both sides of the road, and turkeys!! Lols, yes! turkeys!

And now, my last evening of my last day here with my aunt ... We have eaten a lot today, she just said after we finished off bowls of peach ice-cream, that she'd eat no more today! And I can't keep staying if she eats so much and puts weight on! 

I'm checked on for my flight, and this time tomorrow will be in the air..

Already missing her.. 

M.

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.

Alan Watts - 1915-1973 - Writer