Duck Boots, Snakes, and Whitby

A day that could have turned out to be a very sad, difficult day to manage, was made more than tolerable by many laughs provided by Lisa.  My trips to Philadelphia always seem to be eventful and this trip did not disappoint.  After getting dumped ten inches of snow, Philly was looking a little soggy and dreary when we stepped out of 30th street station and requested 52nd and Whitby.  We were about to embark on a day full of tears, both happy and sad. Our first stop was at my dear friend Valerie's funeral.  Being both Lisa and my first experience of a baptist funeral, it left us speechless.  What a celebration of life we had witnessed.  Following the huge ceremony, we called a cab to grab a bite before heading on our way.  After waiting an hour and forty-five minutes, I got impatient and decided I was walking back to center city (20 blocks) in a not so inviting neighborhood.  Unfortunately the west part of the city had been completely neglected of plowed streets and shoveled sidewalks, so for a grueling two hours we hiked our way back into town whining of the cold and slipping on the ice.  Throughout the two hour trek Lisa entertained me with stories of her duck boots and snake charming.  Two brief hand and toe warming stops later and we had finally made it back.  Thanks for such a memorable day.