Missing Celia already...

How cute is she???? : )

I am back home from my ten days away...it feels like I was gone for a month!

I have a lot of blogging catching up to do....reading as well as writing.

Dave and I had a variety of experiences on this trip....Atlantic City was a step back in time for me as I lived there with relatives every summer for many years and worked in my uncle's grocery store.

I went back into the store...it seemed much smaller to me now than when I was younger! The bakery was where I had worked most of the time...it is now self serve. I have so many memories of standing behind that counter while shoppers would point to the items that they wanted by tapping on the glass front and pointing to the delicacies behind it. I also remember the smells of the warm sticky buns as they came out of the ovens. They would almost be too hot to handle at first with that warm syrup running down the doughy buns topped with walnuts or raisins. MMmmmm...sweet remembrances.

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We stayed at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in A.C. and had a good time there...although no jackpots were hit while we were gambling! I mostly played the penny and nickel slot machines while Dave lost played at black jack.The highlight of that part of the trip was the incredible dinner that we had at a restaurant called "Phillip's" at Caesar's. We shared a steamed seafood pot full of lobsters, crab legs, clams, shrimp, mussels, sweet Jersey corn and red potatoes. Oh my...it was so good.... and Dave and I finished up every bit of it with the exception of two little potatoes. *burp*

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The ending of our 10 day odyssey was a weekend visit in Maryland with my youngest son, Jeffrey and his wife, Janet...and three month old (adorable!!) Celia. I tried to teach her how to say "Grammie"...but, unfortunately, she isn't into speaking yet. But, she smiled at me countless times!!!! : ) Those smiles were worth the whole trip!

It was wonderful being with them....

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The trip back to Birmingham yesterday had a pretty special moment.

While standing in the line to board our Southwest flight an announcement was made signaling "Jim and Sally Brown" (fake names used here in that I can't remember their real names of course!) asking them to come forward. After a few moments a young couple strolling a child approached. The flight captain shook "Jim's" hand and welcomed him back home from Iraq. He said that he wanted to personally escort them onto the plane...The people waiting in line all began to applaud. The captain then let us know that "Jim" has been overseas for a year and a half and was getting to see his new baby daughter for the first time. He also let us know that "Jim's" family was on the plane awaiting their arrival for a little family reunion.

At this point, there wasn't a dry eye in the place...it was quite a moment.

Dave and I took the seats directly in front of where this family was sitting and we were very touched as people walked by and personally thanked the soldier for his service to our country.

I had a smile on my face the rest of the way home...