This weekend we had a guest staying with us. Lee was stopping in New York for a couple of days before her trip back home to England. She had been here with a special program that sends European students to “America” as camp counselors. Camp is where she met Liz, our dear friend in Indiana who mentioned that Lee was coming to New York. I then offered our home and touring services to her.

So that is how we spent our weekend. It started with her arrival Friday evening. I prepared dinner and invited our friend, Matt. Dinner was good, but the conversation was wonderful. We all laughed quite a bit.

On Saturday, my daughter and I took her for a tour of the city. My husband was nice enough and drove us. Lee wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, (gosh, I hate that name), and the Empire State Building. The weather was perfect and was noticed by several thousand other tourists who in turn were in the same places we were. That meant, sadly, that we spent a couple of hours just doing what I call the “Disney World thing”... waiting in long lines. One hour's wait to pass through security just to board the ferry to the Statue and one hour to get on the elevator up to the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building! Had it not been for the time spent in a queue, we could have taken Lee to visit Times Square and the Rockefeller Center area.

She did, however, have a hotdog from a street vendor. You cannot go to New York City and leave without having a vendor prairie dog... I mean hotdog! We also went to Lindy's and had cheesecake. Not the same, or as good as, Junior’s cheesecake, but more famous. After a full day of touring and plenty of walking, we were grateful that my husband drove back to the city to pick us up.

Sunday was malling day. I had to take Lee to “the” mall... Roosevelt Field. That is the biggest mall on Long Island so, of course, that involved more walking. I do not like shopping, but this was not really shopping.... it was touring. In other words, I had a nice time. Lee is a funny girl and had my daughter and I laughing a lot. It was a nice way to pass the time. Matt came over that evening and we again had a wonderful time talking and watching Life of Brian a Monty Python movie, and other Monty Python television episodes.

Unfortunately, her stay with us ended yesterday. I drove her to the airport. We hope she will come back for a longer visit. There are many more places to visit and foods to eat.

It is always sad having to say goodbye to someone you end up caring for. I am glad she did stay with us, even for a very short time. Since I am the official collector of memories, I came out with quite a few. We are now a bit richer for having known her and having shared happy times with her.

“Today's special moments are tomorrow's precious memories.”
~Unknown