MEMORIES- Tour of Merrick Home and Kwong Ming

(2 videos)
Our day began with rain, lots of rain, so much so that we could not walk a few doors down from our hotel to the kids (indoor) playtime events to share their excitement and enjoyment with other kids their age and some very cool oversized toys and activities. We got to spend time with them later at home and get worn out running after them.

Next, we went for a tour of Merrick, where Sheryl and I grew up. We knocked on the door at 2059 Beverly Way (where we lived from 1967-1987. The owner welcomed us in and we took a detailed hour long tour of the house that “blew us away”. The house was totally updated inside and out … every room (see photos). Wow did we get to reminisce as there were significant changes to our bedrooms and baths as well as the den and the basement and attic that had never existed even for storage were now totally beautiful, useful rooms. What a treat!

Back at Sarah and Matt's house, Sheryl and I reviewed the many, many photos that Karen compiled from our childhood. How great was that for both Sheryl and I and we sent all the photos to Sheryl for her future review and enjoyment.

After a late afternoon Zoom with Judson and Michele Scruton to catch up with them too, we had a great dinner that was another throwback, Bill picked up Kwong Ming. The best Cantonese food and egg rolls any of us ever had. It still held up!!!

The day was quite relaxing and memorable but unfortunately, we got very sad news today too. Ed Solorzano, my “other father” for the past 41 years, passed away. I met Ed and Irma (and Eddie and Kathy) on my very first vacation in 1985 when we took a 3 week bus trip in Europe. We immediately bonded and have stayed close all these years although they have lived in California all this time and I lived in the NY area until 2017. We communicated all the time through email, calls and texts (not to mention you may have seen Ed’s thoughtful comments on FindPenguins) and got together in person whenever we could (a bit easier once we moved to California). Ed always addressed his messages to me, “my son", and that’s because he treated me like I was a son and he felt like a father. I will miss Ed terribly and will stay in touch with the rest of his family in order to keep his memory, which will always be a blessing, alive.Read more