I remember the signs

"Where's the apartment, Daisy?"

"Near the Mass. General."

"On the way to the airport, like?"

"Near the Mass. General." Daisy didn't want to admit it was on the way to the airport.

"What do you like best about it?"

Daisy shut her eyes and paused, relishing her favorite part. "The sign."

"What does the sign say?"

"'If you lived here, you'd be home now.'" She clenched her hands with excitement, "See, every day people will drive past and read that sign and think, 'Yeah, if I lived here I'd be home now,' and I will be home. Motherfuckers." (35)

Kasen, Susanna. "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now". Girl, Interrupted.  Turtle Bay Books. 1993.

I miss the Storrow Drive (Charles River Park) apartment signs. I remember them "from my youth" and always thought it was the weirdest thing to see. Why were these signs right on this main road into the tunnel? Why were they telling me I'd be "home now"?  I never fully understood the gravity of the situation until much later in my life, when all the chaos and confusion would resonate into something totally different. Even when I had to read Girl, Interrupted in one of my English Lit classes for college, the phrasing seemed to follow me. I was brought back to memories of sitting in the back seat of an Oldsmobile (followed by a Chrysler), watching traffic pass us by, as we slowly approached the city. There are times; even now, decades later, when I jokingly use that phrasing of being home, and no one seems to understand the reference. Slim pickings, my friends, slim pickings. 

For every trip back and forth, in and out of Boston these days, I am reminded of what "home" really means. We take for granted a lot of things and it's true when they say "you don't realize what you have until it's gone". I was back in Massachusetts and Connecticut this weekend for a wedding, and flying into Logan made me think about every little trip that was taken into the city and how oddly magical and fascinating it all was. The geek moment of arrival: seeing The Gas tank on the way out of Boston (taking the Logan Express to Braintree). 

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN WITH AN iPhone 6s. WYSIWYG FOR EDITING PURPOSES. 

Yes, yes, tell me I'm stupid. But how many landmarks can you actually say are "too out there" to not notice? Hell, even WBZ radio mentions it when they do their traffic reports. Don't judge me. 

When I got to the (Braintree) Logan Express, I got out, got a couple photos, and was taken to Legals across the street (because what's a trip home without Legal Seafood? Come on).

As we whirlwind ourselves through Massachusetts and into Connecticut, times were had by all, in which the only pictures I took were actually at a bonfire in New London on Saturday night. I didn't bring my Canon with me, for fear something disastrous would happen to it. You know how it goes... pizza and sand don't mix with good electronics. Or something you want to keep dry. 

The day after the party, I was given a to do list from a cousin. What was involved? Setting up an Echo Dot. It's a couple videos strung together, including what happens when you ask for a reminder.

From the beginning to the end, it was a crazy trip, including the moment when it was announced one of my cousins had a book published: Collaboration is King: How Game-Changers Create Marketing Partnerships That Build Brands and Grow Businesses. It's a feel good moment when your cousin makes that jump into author territory. I'm really happy for you, Brady! Way to kill it. I just hope your sister wasn't too pissed the announcement was made during her (wedding) rehearsal dinner. It's okay Marla, we still love you. 😉 

Back to the airport we go, after celebrating hard and making new memories. One last look at Boston from the air, and then smooth flying back to Florida...

Cheers;

See Also (aka what Alexa is playing):

Billy Joel: We Didn't Start the Fire

Hall & Oates: She's Gone

See Also (aka books):

Girl, Interrupted by Susana Kaysen