Day 6: Buffalo Memories

A relaxing breakfast and we were off to reminisce and enjoy the best of Buffalo...First stop...200 Anderson Place, where Peggy spent her growing up years. The new owners, both teachers, have a schedule that affords them time to renovate. (of course, we also have a schedule that would enable renovation, but those who know me realize time is just one necessary, but not sufficient, requirement: talent, skill, interest, tools, techniques, willingness, un-jacked up knees, and whatever else, might be lacking in my repertoire....but I stray from the point.) Peggy's house looks great...

Boldly knocking on the front door produced a joyful response, as the current owners remembered her from a few years ago when she brought her sisters to see their old haunt, and let us in to see what was new.
Susie...this is for you...your old room without books, art projects and an actual floor...
Marcia and Peggy's room turned into a great sitting room with space to walk...
The living room done up in wonderful furniture with great space to talk and relax...
These guys are so excited about the house, and this is the best that Peggy could have hoped for...they know the quality and value of what they have, even if it is buried under 8 layers of wallpaper or paint.

We then drove a few blocks to the Unitarian Universalist Church where we tied the knot. Before Jesus gifting us with eternal life through faith in Him, she being Catholic, and me being culturally Jewish, this was the only church in Buffalo that would be willing to perform the ceremony.
It did have a lovely altar and interior...so 384 months and 30 days later...we stood in the sanctuary, enjoyed the moment and remembered to praise God for what He has done in our marriage!
Then after a short drive, and with a bit of searching, we found the gravestone where Peggy's mom and dead have been laid to rest. The Forest Lawn cemetery does a wonderful job of honoring the families that put their loved ones here.Hard to make a transition from visiting the cemetery to a wonderful lunch at Ted's, but here goes...there is always a line (in fact there are 2 lines, one on each side) and for good reason.

There are 6 locations in the Buffalo area, and 1 outside of NY...in Tempe Arizona where one of the grandpas retired...and then opened up another Ted's...Broadway and MacDonald seems to be the address that I remember in Tempe....check it out if you are in the area.... you won't be disappointed!
The griller is a pro, and you can ask for the dog and the bun "burnt" and they don't give you that funny look that many of you are unconsciously making right now!
The complete experience includes the dog with all the fixings including a double portion of hot, sweet and spicy sauce (pickles are a treat too), onion rings and Loganberry juice...a chocolate milk shake is the icing that perfectly completes the meal. All I can say is wow!!!
We had to walk it off, and in and around Buffalo's Art Gallery you run into this house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Another pic of Sam for her friends...as she realizes that she forgot to bring the Cotton Rag with her
Continuing a full and perfect day, we went to visit Peggy's cousin Ken and Rita Raczka, as they just yesterday returned from a cruise to Alaska...same itinerary, in fact the identical boat that we experienced on our trip with Stu and Renee...The MS Vandaam...They were extremely hospitable and we had great times with them...Ken's dad, Peggy's uncle, just passed away a few months ago just shy of his 102nd birthday...
We finished up this great ride on the memory train by having a slice at the Casa di Pizza...this is a slice of meatball (burnt...yeah baby)
and the Buffalo Wings were crisp, spicy, tasty and better than the Anchor Bar Wings (where they were invented in Buffalo...and Stu, that's Buffalo New York!)
Tomorrow we visit Peggy's other great relative, George, on our way to stay in Conneat, Ohio with Bill and Pat. Tiger is in the lead going into the final round, Sam is working on her PC and Peg is sleeping soundly...what could be better...goodnight and love you all!