Hartford CT

As sad as it was to leave New York city, it was finally time. Especially because of the night before. And don't worry folks, no SS# on my id or anything. We had a nice bus ride in, leaving from Manhattan. Peter Pan bus lines took us on an express trip to Hartford CT. We both buried our faces in the books we were reading and two hours later we arrived. A woman friend of Zoeys named Bobbie was waiting for us in a beautiful car. Seemingly over polite, smile ear to ear, she gets right to the point, asking us what we were doing in CT and what our plans for the trip were. We pulled up to her incredibly huge house and go in. We took our stuff to the bedroom we would have for the night, and decided that we were hungry. Bobbie and her husband had already made reservations at a restaurant called The Pond House at Elizabeth Gardens. The garden turns out to be the oldest public rose garden in the USA. O man what a treat. The complete opposite of



where we just were. From a town of millions of people, to a garden with millions of roses. Every kind of rose you could imagine. Quiet. Very Quiet. So nice. Dinner time came about and we met up with Bobbies Sister and Mother. The Dinner turned out to be so nice. I had the diver scallops that I would love to believe were fresh from the ocean. Although these people were well of their generosity was so moving. We all shared all of our salads, entrees, and deserts. Very kind. The conversation during dinner turned to Alex Palmer, Zoeys mother. Bobbie loved Alex so much. This conversation was kind of hard for Zoey to listen to. But she maintained well. Hearing stories about how great her Mother used to be was so great. I always assumed the way Zoey turned out she must have been so cool. Diner turned out to be great with great company. After we got home they let us get all of our laundry caught up, which was also pretty amazing. The next morning they let us take out a $4500 tandem racing bike that turned out to show Zoey and I need to work on more communication.

I guess what took me back by surprise was just how real and down to earth this family was. Yes they had a lot of money, and nice things, but they weren't snobs about it. It was so nice that they didn't fit the stereotype that I immediately put them in. Guess I have some things to work on.


Any ways thank you Bobbie Phill and thank you Hartford. What a beautiful town.