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Day 7: Pottstown to Princeton
We checked out of the Quality Inn, none the worse for wear, but looking forward to some better accommodations. We had breakfast at Friendly’s again, with Barry and Linda this time. The intent was to have that chocolate pop tart concoction but it just didn’t work out. We had one last good talk with Barry and Linda, and this time remembered to take some pictures of each other, and it was time to head out of town.
But one last task. We stopped at the synagogue to try to ask about Nana’s Hebrew name (for the grave marker). But no one was there. It was Memorial Day unfortunately. There was a woman parked in the parking lot, standing outside of her car reading (the bible as it turned out). I asked her about where the office was, assuming she was a member of the congregation but she didn’t know. Odd, but ok. I came back after getting no answer at the door and she told me she just likes to be there because it’s quiet. Followed by her whole life story. Her husband was in NC visiting relatives. Turns out she’s Mormon. And has a lot of respect for ‘people of the covenant’ like me. She teaches bible study. And likes to teach the Old Testament and the new as well as the book of Mormon, it’s so great to work with the children and blah blah blah, she wouldn’t stop talking. I kept edging slowly towards our car but she wasn’t taking the hint. When I realized I was going to spend the day there, I interrupted her and told her we had to hit the road. She seemed a bit annoyed. But them’s the breaks.
Off we headed towards Princeton. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts for a drink and bathroom. Not their best location. They gave Marion a donut that appeared to have a bite taken out of it. At least it wasn’t the whole donut. They were not ‘happy in their work’ for sure. That put us off Dunkin Donuts for the rest of the trip which was a bit problematic since they apparently own the rights to all donut shops in the northeast.
We drove into the Princeton area from the turnpike through some very nice neighborhoods. It seemed like it would be a very nice place to live, especially with the University nearby and being so close to both New York and Philadelphia. But odds are pretty good it was out of our price range. And of course, when all is said and done, who wants to live in New Jersey! We kept thinking about the Saturday Night Live skits with Fred Arminsen as NY Governor Paterson. (Whenever I hear boos, I know I’m in Albany. And whenever I smell cheap cologne and raccoons, I know I’m in… New Jersey!)
Our hotel was north of town about 10 min because everything in Princeton was full for graduation/reunion weekend. A nice Marriott in the woods. We went into town and walked around campus. Marion was trying to get her bearings. It had been 30+ years after all. There’s a new Arts building being built right near her old dorm that threw her off. There were lots of people around because of graduation. There was a sea of chairs in front of Nassau Hall. And that wasn’t the only seating. There were ‘satellite’ seating areas with big screens in other places as well. It must have been quite an event. Although I suppose when you’re kid graduates from Princeton it’s kind of a big deal.
We had been to campus some years back with my Dad and it’s as pretty as I remember it. It’s really what a university should look like. Old stone buildings with ivy covered walls, big trees and open grass areas. There was a fair amount of construction that ruined the view a bit, and lots of temporary structures and detritus from graduation. But still a really pretty place.
We walked into town for some lunch. We stopped at Massimo’s across from campus. Big thick Sicilian style pizza (yay, more pizza!) that was pretty good. And a cherry italian water ice for me. That brought back memories despite not being the greatest. Or maybe water ice isn’t as good as I remember as a kid. I haven’t had much success finding any that tastes like I remember.
We went looking for the ball field to spread the rest of Dad’s ashes. The ball field he played on doesn’t exist anymore. They built a new one in the 60’s. But rather than find where the old one was, I figured he’d want to be where he could see the games now, rather than in some random geographical location.
It was a bit of a hike so we needed to drive. We found it and a nice bench overlooking the field (like at the Hill). But, the facility (a series of athletic fields) was fenced in. We had noticed a small gate that was open as we drove up, on the complete other side of the facility from where we were. So I walked back around to the entrance, then back to where we were to the bench. Luckily no one was around (graduation day was a good day to come) but I still felt exposed and made it as quick as I could. A rapid quarter mile or more walk in the heat made for a sweaty adventure, but no one bothered me. It’s a nice spot overlooking the field where he’ll be able to see games and if anyone comes to visit they’ll have a place to sit and remember him. The only thing I don’t know now (for both locations) is if I put him on the visitor’s side or the home team side. Well, either way I suppose it’s appropriate.
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