I wrote this post 2 weeks ago on our return from Florida, but waited for family clearance before publishing it. How funny that my last 2 posts were about that waiting period that God allows us to experience sometimes, and this post chronicles our unexpected and unwelcome delay to begin our trip.
It all began with a rocky start. Apparently, due to the severe weather on Saturday, JetBlue cancelled our Sunday flight. Just cancelled it. As in, too bad, nothing you can do about it, just cancelled, want your money back? Uh, nooooo, what I want is to fly to Florida! I could share my rant about the 2 hours on hold, the misinformation I repeatedly received, or the rude desk attendant who informed me that the other airlines - who did not cancel flights - fly in different air currents to Florida (air currents? really??), but I'll spare you. (And in the interest of full disclosure, the flight home was excellent and staffed with wonderful attendants.)
Instead, I would like to share a surprising happy experience.
Because we were delayed 24 hours, holed up in a Queens NY hotel, we decided to visit my husband's uncle who rarely gets visitors now that he's in a nursing home following knee surgery. Uncle Joey, my mother-in-law’s favorite brother, is a colorful character, and our hour-long conversation with him was like “The Godfather” meets “Abbott and Costello.”
The Panzica’s (P): Hi, Uncle Joey. So good to see you.
Uncle Joey (J): Yo. How ya doin’?
P: Good, you?
J: Menza, menz. Ey - whatcha gonna do?
J: (to AJ) Yo, you got tall. [at 5’8” AJ is never called tall, so he appreciated that!]
P: What’s new with you?
J: Nuthin’. Hey, he got tall, and I got bald.
P: So, how’s the food here?
J: Stinks! Macalacala! But whatcha gonna do?
The invisible guy in the next bed behind the curtain utters "fkejesjseucksyrdufbe" punctuated by hacking coughs.
J: So how'd ya find this place?
P: We followed the GPS.
J: What? (to AJ) Kid, you work for UPS?
AJP: No, we followed the GPS to get here. You know, satellites and maps giving directions....
J: So, you like working for UPS? Ay - he got tall. So is she.
(She being Lauren who is 5'2"!)
We call my mother-in-law so Uncle Joey can talk to her.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t have her hearing aids in.
P: Hey, ma! We’re here with Uncle Joey. I’ll put him on.
J: Yo, Nina! Gravatsa! …. Wha'? - ya don't understand me? …. Mercy mercy, mercy.
- "fkejesjseucksyrdufbe"
J: You gotta make the woochies!
(woochies are Italian fig cookies that take 2 days to make)
P: Uncle Joey, we’re gonna make woochies soon. We’ll bring you some.
J: Yeah, I want woochies. Ay - he got tall.
- “fkejesjseucksyrdufbe"
P: So, is there a good pizza place around here?
J: I dunno. Angelo opened up a place in Queens. On the highway. Ant'ny, you know Angelo?
P: I think so. What's the name of the pizza place?
J: I dunno. It don't have a name. He just opened up a pizza place - down the road - on the highway.
P: Did you ever sell pizza?
J: Oh yeah. Made pizza in my house. But Angelo, he opened up a pizza place - down the road - on the highway.
P: What else did you do?
J: I did everything, you name it. I delivered trees on 72nd to famous people. I sold firecrackers, you know, the good ones (the illegal ones). I worked for Bond Bread. For 40 years, I worked for them.
P: Did they give you a gold watch when you retired?
J: Ya know, they gave me a watch when I retired. Never worked.
P: Well, we gotta go, Uncle Joey.
J: Thanks for comin’. Ay - he got tall.
-"fkejesjseucksyrdufbe
We had been so disappointed about our delay, but because of it, we were able to visit with Uncle Joey which we had long wanted to do, but never found time for. An unexpected blessing that we would have missed if we spent our time griping and focused on our frustrating plight.
And we eventually did get to Florida, had a wonderful time with family and vacationing at the beach, even though it was 72 degrees both in Miami and in NJ!
Susan
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query florida. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query florida. Sort by date Show all posts
Spring Break
The hubby, kids and I will be traveling to Florida next week for Spring Break.
Think - a geriatric version of Where The Boys Are.
I have previously shared with you my trite observations of this lovely southern state when I visited my folks last September - Why I Don't Live In Florida. But with our summer days largely spoken for with mission trips, cross-country camp and dance training, we decided to head south for Spring Break. Frankly, I'm rather honored that my college kids have agreed to spend their spring break with their parents. We're just so cool...
We're flying out of LaGuardia, and I have been praying nonstop that there would be no geese around when we take off. I honestly have imagined our vacation spent on the wing of a plane floating in the Hudson River. I pray that our pilot is as skillful as Capt. Sully Sullenberger.
Once in sunny (and by sunny, I mean excruciatingly hot and humid) Florida, we'll be spending a few days with my folks and a few days at the beach. Please keep my dad and stepmom in prayer as he has been in and out of the hospital with prostate cancer procedures that have weakened him and stressed her.
And feel free to keep my hair in prayer. As some of you know, I have naturally curly (and by curly, I mean huge, intermittently frizzy) hair that expands with the humidity. I am powerless to fight it. And of course, I hate the way I look when it's curly. Ladies, why is that???? We straighten our curls, and curl our straights.
But the humidity foils all our efforts. Ahhh - the great mystery - the very same humidity that swells my hair makes another's straight hair flat. Just like the very same boiling water will make an egg hard, but a carrot soft. So we must conclude - it's not the humidity nor the boiling water that is the problem, it is how we react to it! Likewise, a difficult circumstance will reduce one to tears, yet cause another to fortify her reserves. And so we must conclude - it's not the circumstance that is the problem, it is how we react to it. We can't always control the circumstance, but we can control how we react to things. To carry this a little further - When in hot water, we should be more like a coffee bean than the egg or the carrot because the egg and carrot react to the hot water, but the coffee actually changes the hot water. In it's brokenness, it infuses the water with its fragrance and substance and positively affects the situation. It creates an improved environment. I'll need to remember that this week :)
And so, my friends, as we speed along towards spring, may you have a blessed week, and I'll catch up with you on the other side!
Susan
ps - Speaking of mysteries and seasons, here's a favorite - Daniel 2:19-23
During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king."
Why I don't live in Florida
Okay, it’s official. I am living in a Seinfeld episode!
Even a difficult situation has its funny moments!
Arriving at the airport, I was supposed to meet Larry, the driver. On my cellphone in the busy terminal, I heard him say, “I’ll meet you outside.” So I waited outside in the suffocating heat and humidity with the other passengers. My hair was expanding by the minute. One by one, everyone was wisked away by their ride, and no Larry. Finally, I turned around and spotted a lanky old man in shorts, jacket and hat standing alone inside the doors. Could it be Larry? I turned to go inside, the glass doors parting before me like the Red Sea, releasing a blast of frigid air. Sure enough, it was Larry standing beside the deserted baggage carousel. Evidently, he said he’d meet me by the “number five”, not “outside.” You mean I could have waited in the air conditioning? Did he not think to step outside where everyone else was waiting for transportation? Oy!
Remember the Seinfeld episodes when Jerry visited his parents in Florida? I'm living the dream!
How about the one when Elaine slept on the sofabed and needed a chiropractor in the morning? Well, my chiropractor’s back in NJ!! [Miss you, hon!] I moved to the living room couch after the 1st night. Just like Elaine, I was assured that there was extra padding on the mattress crumpled inside the soda. Hmmmm, really?
Or the one where Jerry's mom thinks it's freezing if the temperature drops below 95. I was told to "bring a jacket because it's so cold." Are you kidding me? I've been having hot flashes that last all day.
In the morning, I had to drive alone to the hospital. How do I get out of here? Every street looks exactly the same. One wrong turn, and I will be lost forever in a maze of palm trees and stucco facades. We got my dad a GPS for his anniversary last year. Where would he keep it? My search of the car revealed only a pack of tissues and a deck of cards. Well, if I get stuck in the maze, at least I can play solitare!
Asking for directions wasn’t much help either. “It’s about 4 miles [it was 6] down the road. Look for the little blue ‘H’ signs.” How about mentioning the GIANT entrance to the university directly across the street? Luckily, I tore a map out of the phone book before I left. Too bad the map only showed 9th and 14th streets, and the hospital is off of 13th behind ... a maze of palm trees and stucco facades.
These are a few of the signs I passed on the 6 mile trek to the hospital, well except for one. Can you guess which fictional development Jerry’s parents lived in?
-Boca Lakes
-Boca Gardens
-Boca Glades
-Boca Lyons
-Boca Rio
-Boca Lago
-Boca Pointe
-Boca Grande
-Oaks of Boca
-Del Boca Vista
I think I'll name one Boca Shmoca...
Last night, I had a close encounter with a gekko. I won't go into the harrowing ordeal, but he had no business being inside, and with my dad away, the extermination was left to me. Let's just say: this is not my gift. I think my bloodcurdling screams could be heard echoing beyond ... a maze of palm trees and stucco facades. And did you know that even if a palmetto bug is lying on his back in the same spot all night, he still might not be dead? Trust me on this - or you may experience the bloodcurdling screams yourself. Florida is not for the squeamish!
There's a park nearby - Palmetto Park. Why not just be honest and call it Giant Cockroach Park?
Above my dad's desk is a 'classic' guidebook "How To Be An Extremely Reform Jew" which contains such wonderful advice as:
Every doorpost in your house should have a mezuzah (a small hollow case containing a tiny scroll of parchment that typically reads 'Inspected by No. 32'), and every time you pass by one, you should touch the mezuzah gently with your fingertips and then kiss your fingertips, until everyone in the household has the same flu symptoms. You should also say: "May God protect my going out and my coming in from now and evermore," though it is common to abbreviate this to: "God, I'm late. Where is my umbrella?"
Now if I only had a pen that could write upside down in space!
Susan
ps - Thanks to all of you for storming the gates of heaven with me. Your prayer support means the world to me. I so appreciate the comments & emails, and I do feel your prayers.
Today is the first of our series of doctor's appointments. May he & we get to the cause of the problem, so it can be properly treated. Lord, a complete miraculous healing would work, too!!
Thank you and God bless you...
Even a difficult situation has its funny moments!
Arriving at the airport, I was supposed to meet Larry, the driver. On my cellphone in the busy terminal, I heard him say, “I’ll meet you outside.” So I waited outside in the suffocating heat and humidity with the other passengers. My hair was expanding by the minute. One by one, everyone was wisked away by their ride, and no Larry. Finally, I turned around and spotted a lanky old man in shorts, jacket and hat standing alone inside the doors. Could it be Larry? I turned to go inside, the glass doors parting before me like the Red Sea, releasing a blast of frigid air. Sure enough, it was Larry standing beside the deserted baggage carousel. Evidently, he said he’d meet me by the “number five”, not “outside.” You mean I could have waited in the air conditioning? Did he not think to step outside where everyone else was waiting for transportation? Oy!
Remember the Seinfeld episodes when Jerry visited his parents in Florida? I'm living the dream!
How about the one when Elaine slept on the sofabed and needed a chiropractor in the morning? Well, my chiropractor’s back in NJ!! [Miss you, hon!] I moved to the living room couch after the 1st night. Just like Elaine, I was assured that there was extra padding on the mattress crumpled inside the soda. Hmmmm, really?
Or the one where Jerry's mom thinks it's freezing if the temperature drops below 95. I was told to "bring a jacket because it's so cold." Are you kidding me? I've been having hot flashes that last all day.
In the morning, I had to drive alone to the hospital. How do I get out of here? Every street looks exactly the same. One wrong turn, and I will be lost forever in a maze of palm trees and stucco facades. We got my dad a GPS for his anniversary last year. Where would he keep it? My search of the car revealed only a pack of tissues and a deck of cards. Well, if I get stuck in the maze, at least I can play solitare!
Asking for directions wasn’t much help either. “It’s about 4 miles [it was 6] down the road. Look for the little blue ‘H’ signs.” How about mentioning the GIANT entrance to the university directly across the street? Luckily, I tore a map out of the phone book before I left. Too bad the map only showed 9th and 14th streets, and the hospital is off of 13th behind ... a maze of palm trees and stucco facades.
These are a few of the signs I passed on the 6 mile trek to the hospital, well except for one. Can you guess which fictional development Jerry’s parents lived in?
-Boca Lakes
-Boca Gardens
-Boca Glades
-Boca Lyons
-Boca Rio
-Boca Lago
-Boca Pointe
-Boca Grande
-Oaks of Boca
-Del Boca Vista
I think I'll name one Boca Shmoca...
Last night, I had a close encounter with a gekko. I won't go into the harrowing ordeal, but he had no business being inside, and with my dad away, the extermination was left to me. Let's just say: this is not my gift. I think my bloodcurdling screams could be heard echoing beyond ... a maze of palm trees and stucco facades. And did you know that even if a palmetto bug is lying on his back in the same spot all night, he still might not be dead? Trust me on this - or you may experience the bloodcurdling screams yourself. Florida is not for the squeamish!
There's a park nearby - Palmetto Park. Why not just be honest and call it Giant Cockroach Park?
Above my dad's desk is a 'classic' guidebook "How To Be An Extremely Reform Jew" which contains such wonderful advice as:
Every doorpost in your house should have a mezuzah (a small hollow case containing a tiny scroll of parchment that typically reads 'Inspected by No. 32'), and every time you pass by one, you should touch the mezuzah gently with your fingertips and then kiss your fingertips, until everyone in the household has the same flu symptoms. You should also say: "May God protect my going out and my coming in from now and evermore," though it is common to abbreviate this to: "God, I'm late. Where is my umbrella?"
Now if I only had a pen that could write upside down in space!
Susan
ps - Thanks to all of you for storming the gates of heaven with me. Your prayer support means the world to me. I so appreciate the comments & emails, and I do feel your prayers.
Today is the first of our series of doctor's appointments. May he & we get to the cause of the problem, so it can be properly treated. Lord, a complete miraculous healing would work, too!!
Thank you and God bless you...
New News
Thanks so much, sweet cybersisters, for your prayers on behalf of my family. It was a tough, but worthwhile trip to Florida. We had 5 doctor visits in 4 days. We saw the internist, kidney specialist, oncologist, a new chiropractor and back to the internist. It was a perfect storm of scheduled appointments, each one providing valuable new information. My dad came home from the hospital on Tuesday having regained strength after having his blood sugar level restored. My stepmother’s hyponatremia (salt loss) can be regulating by restricting her fluid intake and taking salt tablets. That’s the good news, but there are still several serious issues that need prayer. Both are very fatigued, and my dad is having some uncomfortable side effects from ongoing chemo treatments. It's hard being far from family, and they would like to move back to NJ, but the depressed real estate market is making it difficult for them to sell and buy a new home up north. They are both very appreciate of the prayers on their behalf.
On a different health issue:
Patrick Swayze's recent death from pancreatic cancer brings to the headlines an condition that has affected our family deeply. Almost 4 years ago, Tony's cousin, Ron Weber, passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. Then last summer, one of our favorite patients and friend, Jerry Schwartz, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer just a few months after being diagnosed. And exactly one year ago, my cousin, Allen Woolf, died within one month of being diagnosed with this same insidious disease.
On Sept 27th, my family and I are walking to support research for a cure for pancreatic cancer. The Lustgarten Foundation was extremely helpful to the Weber family during their ordeal, and they are leading the charge to finding a cure and effective treatment for this disease.
We will be walking in honor of Ron, Jerry and Allen.
If you would like to give a donation by credit card online to support this wonderful organization:
Go to: www.lustgarten.org/panzica
Click on: Sponsor Me in the upper right corner
Fill in your information
Click on: Donate Now at the bottom of the page
Susan
On a different health issue:
Patrick Swayze's recent death from pancreatic cancer brings to the headlines an condition that has affected our family deeply. Almost 4 years ago, Tony's cousin, Ron Weber, passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. Then last summer, one of our favorite patients and friend, Jerry Schwartz, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer just a few months after being diagnosed. And exactly one year ago, my cousin, Allen Woolf, died within one month of being diagnosed with this same insidious disease.
On Sept 27th, my family and I are walking to support research for a cure for pancreatic cancer. The Lustgarten Foundation was extremely helpful to the Weber family during their ordeal, and they are leading the charge to finding a cure and effective treatment for this disease.
We will be walking in honor of Ron, Jerry and Allen.
If you would like to give a donation by credit card online to support this wonderful organization:
Go to: www.lustgarten.org/panzica
Click on: Sponsor Me in the upper right corner
Fill in your information
Click on: Donate Now at the bottom of the page
Susan
Let's Storm the Gates!
I flew down to Florida today unexpectedly because my dad is in the hospital and my stepmom is facing dire health problems of her own. I'll be here until Thursday, attending doctors appointments, investigating resources and making home health care arrangements.
I'd appreciate your prayers for their health, both physically and spiritually.
I once read a story by Corrie ten Boom who was in a concentration camp during World War II. As she was being taken away by the guards, her friend ran past her and whispered, "I'm storming the gates of heaven for you." Those words made a great impact on me regarding my prayer life. Do I have the sense that I am storming the gates of heaven when I pray?
Would you storm the gates of heaven with me? And let me know what I can pray for you.
Susan
I'd appreciate your prayers for their health, both physically and spiritually.
I once read a story by Corrie ten Boom who was in a concentration camp during World War II. As she was being taken away by the guards, her friend ran past her and whispered, "I'm storming the gates of heaven for you." Those words made a great impact on me regarding my prayer life. Do I have the sense that I am storming the gates of heaven when I pray?
Would you storm the gates of heaven with me? And let me know what I can pray for you.
Susan
Jersey? Sure!
.
I am a real housewife of NJ.
.
First let me say that I have never seen Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of NJ or any of the other rubbish supposedly depicting my state. But I have seen enough on the news or the internet to know that these programs do not represent where I live and work and raise my family. Although I spent my early years in NY state, I’m a Jersey Girl through and through.
.
I love the beaches, the mountains, the 4 seasons, the diversity of ethnic foods and cultures, the 24 hour diners and convenience stores, cheap gas prices and I don't have to pump it, and of course, the people.
.
NJ is called the Garden State because its rich soil grows the best and most abundant tomatoes, eggplants, corn, cranberries and blueberries. There's nothing so sweet as blueberries in June or a fresh Jersey tomato in September.
.
I love being near NYC and Philadelphia, yet being able to go home to my quiet little abode by a lake. It's easy to take a plane, train, bus, cab, truck, or boat to just about anywhere on earth. Sure there's traffic, but lots of places have traffic, don’t they? Some say they don’t like NJ because of the NJ Turnpike, in particular the northern industrial end. I say comparing the state of NJ to the NJ Turnpike is like comparing the state of NY to the Cross Bronx Expressway. It’s just a few miles of industry providing jobs to many people.
.
As a college freshman, my daughter had to give a persuasive speech. Her topic? Why New Jersey is the best state. When she finished, her teacher said, “Now I don’t feel so bad about paying my taxes.”
.
I know people love to mock New Jersey, but too often people mock what they don't know, so I thought I'd share a little taste of my state:
.
ps- click here to check out why I don't live in Florida!
I am a real housewife of NJ.
.
First let me say that I have never seen Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of NJ or any of the other rubbish supposedly depicting my state. But I have seen enough on the news or the internet to know that these programs do not represent where I live and work and raise my family. Although I spent my early years in NY state, I’m a Jersey Girl through and through.
.
I love the beaches, the mountains, the 4 seasons, the diversity of ethnic foods and cultures, the 24 hour diners and convenience stores, cheap gas prices and I don't have to pump it, and of course, the people.
.
NJ is called the Garden State because its rich soil grows the best and most abundant tomatoes, eggplants, corn, cranberries and blueberries. There's nothing so sweet as blueberries in June or a fresh Jersey tomato in September.
.
I love being near NYC and Philadelphia, yet being able to go home to my quiet little abode by a lake. It's easy to take a plane, train, bus, cab, truck, or boat to just about anywhere on earth. Sure there's traffic, but lots of places have traffic, don’t they? Some say they don’t like NJ because of the NJ Turnpike, in particular the northern industrial end. I say comparing the state of NJ to the NJ Turnpike is like comparing the state of NY to the Cross Bronx Expressway. It’s just a few miles of industry providing jobs to many people.
.
As a college freshman, my daughter had to give a persuasive speech. Her topic? Why New Jersey is the best state. When she finished, her teacher said, “Now I don’t feel so bad about paying my taxes.”
.
I know people love to mock New Jersey, but too often people mock what they don't know, so I thought I'd share a little taste of my state:
.
ps- click here to check out why I don't live in Florida!
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