Real, that which I thought to be a dream.

So this is Philadelphia. It's cold and the rain hinders the visibility so that I can see to the tree line and then past it only white and gray. We are going the wrong way but we've been awake since yesterday and it only makes sense that after an 8 hour work day, a couple hour drive, and one plane ride, that the directions would start to look as hazy as the sky line. I rested my head on his shoulder during the flight like I always imagined I would- all those plane rides when I was alone and on my way to or from New York. Those were the days when I wanted to look at the person next to me and maybe brush my hand across my forehead to tell them we'd landed. Some where in Delaware we stopped for coffee and directions. An hour later we were in Allentown PA, population: one less family since the Dierkes clan moved to Florida. The streets were framed by unique row houses, there were rocking chairs and old kids toys dotting the porches and the street seemed to snake through sections of ethnic neighborhood and then revert back to Americana within feet. We drove by the old house. It's yard missing the remnants of BJ's childhood. The fence that sealed the house from the corner of the street. The two trees that once provided shade. And I think that there was a swing set but I may have made up that detail. There was neighborhood that he rode his bike in and the houses of friends long since moved on and away. There was the corner store they used to walk down to for candy and the woods that I think he once smoked in but again, I could be making it up in my mind. I imagined him as a kid and how much I would have liked him. He has these big innocent eyes and on an smaller adolescent face, they would do no less than captivate and charm. I think we would have been friends or that I would have been secretly in love with him. Next was Vesuvios Pizza, with it's long veneer counter top and hand tossed white pies, the smell of garlic and olive oil hanging in the air. A short while later I fell asleep in the passenger seat, surrendering to the weight that tugged at my eye lids. When I woke up there was a donut in a wax paper bag. It had peanuts on top with vanilla frosting and a smooth cherry jelly center. PB&J. Adorable and delicious. The best donut I have ever had. This was the Pennsylvania BJ wanted me to see and it was an adventure I was eager to embark on.