Dear Boston, You Are Loved: The Conclusion
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 3:19PM Mrs. G. Mrs. G. decided to wrap the last couple of days of the Boston trip up in glossy paper and a pretty pink bow and deliver it to you in one final post. She's been home from the trip for over a week and if she doesn't start writing about what's been happening now, she will forget the now and have to rely too heavily YouTube videos and the objectification of men. Plus, she's starting to feel like she's dragging you down into her goldenrod, shag carpeted basement to watch vacation slides while snacking on Bugles and Tang.
Day Four started with a tour trolley. It was a pretty great deal because the trolley drops you off at historic points, like Quincy Market and Paul Revere's house, where you can hang out for a while and grab another trolley when you are ready to move on.
The trolley drivers are worthy of their own story. They vary in enthusiasm, temperment and historical accuracy, though a couple of the drivers were ace and taught Mrs. G. more history than she learned in four years of high school.
Mrs. G. can't not tell you about a driver named Ben, who pulled the trolley up to a random, not historic corner to have a four minute, full volume conversation with a co-worker named Kelly who was pissed at their boss, Leo. Ben had a full trolley of paying customers but seemed perfectly at ease with just pulling over to shoot the shit. As if that wasn't nonstandard enough, Ben said goodbye to Kelly, pulled out into traffic and nonchalantly reported the following on microphone to all the folks on the trolley:
Well, there you have it folks. Some people in Boston, like our boss, Leo, are liars. Leo takes advantage of people who don't speak English and overbooks these tours all the time. Kelly was just blowing off some steam. I just don't get it.
Mrs. G. tipped Ben well because she was blown away by his inappropriate honesty and feared for his future on every level.
Next up was the Boston Duck Harbor Tour. It was cheesy, good fun.
Especially with these two crusty, salty, exceptionally funny captains. They were a hoot.
Dear Boston, has Mrs. G. mention you are loved?
One of Mrs. G's favorite spots was Boston's Old North Church, built in 1723.
This is a memorial garden for the fallen men and women who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
The number of dog tags was a stunning reminder of of what some of us (Mrs. G. included) seem to forget, take for granted as we hurry, hurry, hurry through our days. It was good to stop and think, to thank.
A pack of wild women beneath the Midnight Rider.
The Declaration of Independence was read from this balcony.
On Wednesday night, Mrs. G. and her mom went to the North End to have dinner with two fellow bloggers and derfs.
Deb Finch...
and Erika, both such lovely women with outstanding hair.
Janet, you were missed.
The Italian food was good, but the conversation was better. As always, meeting other derfs feels like hooking up with old friends to Mrs. G.
Deb was kind enough to bring four cannolis from this famous, apparently always packed joint (Deb told Mrs. G. to be sure and share a cannoli later with Miss G, but she didn't...she and her mom have no further comment on this matter).
Erika was kind enough to drive Mrs. G. and her mom back to their hotel and have a drink.
Meeting these two was a highlight of the trip. Many of you can meet them on the derf road trip in a few weeks. Deb has generously offered up her cabin for a get together.
On the final day, Mrs. G. and her daughter wandered off (Mrs. G's mom got back on the trolley and undoubtedly schooled the drivers on the Civil War. Do not ever challenge Mrs. G's mom on the yellow pie in Trivial Pursuit. The woman knows her history.) to have a little time together. They sat on Miss G's apartment deck, had lunch at Zaftigs Delicatessen in Brighton and...
headed back to the North End for some gelato and people watching.
Dear Boston, you are loved.
Because you don't just have mangos, you have fancy mangos. And so many other things.
Reader Comments (18)
Mrs. G-
I love Boston too.
Your photos are gorgeous and it looks like you had some pretty epic weather! Wow!
Thanks for sharing - loving the stories about your mom.
What a lovely time you had! You are good people, Mrs. G., thinking of that young man's future.
Now wasn't there a story you promised to tell us...?
Failed to say: I want to go to that memorial with the dog tags.
Plus your photos are lovely!
That looks like so much fun. A well-earned excursion after 20+ years of mothering your daughter - isn't it great to see her so independent? Grown-up children are awesome!
When we visited Boston, long ago, with all the kids, we had a Vietnamese-born tour guide on the Freedom Trail who knew way more American history than the rest of us did. It was humbling.
Susan B, I should have given my daughter credit for many of the photos taken. The close up of the dog tags is one of my favorites and she took that with her phone.
I can't wait until July. And in the meantime, I will have to visit that memorial park-- it's been too long since I explored the North End. Some things aren't only for tourists. (Hugs.)
You met Erika! Sigh.
Yes, both women were sighs.
personally....i like Bugles and Tang.
and mangos for a buck? get OUT of here!! fancy ones at that! wow.
i've loved your photos and looking at things through your eyes.
such fun.
thanks, luv.
What a great trip! It was like I was there minus the tastings and sore feet!
Erika - memorial - North End - photo ops? Mrs. G, three smart chicks in one place, I'd've been sooo intimidated :-) But ... that's the story of my life LMAO!
Thank you for letting me visit Boston without having to rearrange my entire life. Your pictures and stories are wonderful!!!!!
The three of you really had a grand tour of Boston didn't you? What fun your daughter must have had showing you around.
Darla
What fun to read your Boston posts! We're moving from here to Oregon in the next month, and one thing I'll miss is the annual 4th of July reading of the Declaration of Independence from that same balcony.
This seals it. I HAVE TO GO THERE. If only for a trolley ride.
I am now making a restaurant list for my future trip to Boston.
Mrs G tells it like it was..wonderful....me and MsG were along for the ride...it was like a magical tour because it was our 1st 3G trip to Boston...we just sucked up the history and all that took up a lot of brain space..I slept like a baby there..and now I am sleepless in Camas...hope the 2 G women in my life are snoring...I also "filch" their pix and use them on FB and another forum..Erica and Deb were great dinner guests (we all went dutch)...I think Frank Sinatra sang "It was a wonderful time" (maybe not about Boston but those Beantown people swear they are 1st in everything & I agree that for 7 days I couldnt have agreed more...Spring had sprung..it is trying to Spring here..so much more sun in April...March was a frog-choker...better head to the bed..I made a brilliant new cocktail tonight..I call it a CJtini...patron (1 shot), a pretty good splash of pinot grigiot, a little lemon juce & ice..stirred - no salt....it's almost as good as the Dark & Stormy's shared by 3 magical women in Boston in mid April..I am tired..2:55 am here...maybe a tv series will be made about my town which is actually like walking back in time, Vantucky could compete w/ Portlandia..they have cashmere, walk their dogs..you cant tell if they are just fashionable or perhaps a dog walker fashionista..once I saw a woman outside Nordstroms Rack (I was puffing while the person I was with shopped) w/ a dog w/ a litter of puppies...she had a cup in her hand saying Pls help me and if you cant..pls buy a puppy...I just looked away...PacNW is magical..so is all those towns I just mentioned...Portland just isnt as pretty and shiny as I remember but that was in the early 80's..my first trip out...Mrs G's also...this time has been rainy and wet but you can always go home again...per Mr Wolfe....xxoo cj jones aka ms g's mother...night yall
Can't tell you how many times I wanted to blow off work and take a jaunt down to Boston to see if I could "bump into you". Really felt like that might seem creepy and stalker-ish though. The weather took a nosedive after you left. Glad you got to see Boston at its Springtime best!