We got back late. I thought we would get home around 3 or 4– HA! One of the reasons it took longer than expected was the security. We got checked twice. During the second search, my water was confiscated from my purse. How silly is that? It was a sealed Aquafina bottle. I could understand an open bottle or a jar filled with water but a sealed Aquafina bottle? They even had a contraption I have never seen before and I am queen of security with all my flying experience. You walked into this large box and air was blown at you. Lisa said she thought it was a hands off approach to patting a person down. I thought maybe they were X-raying our entire bodies. Lanke simply said, “It tickles!” Finally we were allowed through. It was lovely seeing the Statue of Liberty up close. Back when I was in school, it seemed like every year we were on a field trip to see ole Lady Liberty. This time we could only go so far as her feet. No more days of looking out her crown. My grandfather once told me he had gone up to her torch. Those were the days dinosaurs roamed the earth, I understand. Ellis Island was a treat. We didn’t have much time so we went through very quickly. On the memorial wall outside of the main building we found our grandparents’ names. Aunt Helen had paid for them to be etched in the memorial.

When we were finished, I said to Lanke, “Now that you’ve seen the Statue of Liberty; do you still want to go back home to Slovakia?”
“Yes, now I can go home,” Lanke replied.

We met my cousin Johnny in the Financial Center somewhere. The Tribeca Film Festival was going on and a large blow up movie screen was erected just outside, right by the river. Instead of getting free popcorn and staying for the movie, we went to eat at SWNY. It served South West-inspired cuisine. The food was good; however, I was so hungry McDonald’s would have tasted gourmet. The restaurant was terribly dusty. Johnny saw me wiping it away with my napkin. He leaned over and said, “That’s 9/11 dust!” Somehow, I still managed to eat my wrap.

The traffic wasn’t particularly backed up and we were able to get Aunt Helen back home with enough time for her to watch Desperate Housewives. Lisa was back to watch Grey’s Anatomy. I sat and watched it with her even though I don’t like the show. No one wear’s black leather outfits, no one is working to save the world, no one has secret identities, and Roy Dupuis isn’t in it– so what’s the point in watching?

In bed, I remembered Aunt Helen gave me a snickers bar. I grabbed it from my purse and ate it in bed. It tasted so sweet and chocoatey. When I finished scarfing it I got angry with myself. How could I eat a candy bar right before sleeping? When it comes to chocolate I have no control. My dreams weren’t clear but I remember a crowd of people wearing underoos.