Well, where to start? I guess where I left off on my writing on December 22 nd.

On  Friday  Dec 12 my wife and I along with  our two youngest children boarded a bus for the Big Apple . We rolled into China town NY where we were greeted by our friend P who helped collect our luggage and my transport chair. Our friends from my writing on DEC 22 are now living in Manhattan. P told us that H was home getting dinner prepared for us, that it would be a quiet night . They felt I would be tired and needed the rest. And, I did. It was nice just being with them , breaking bread and talking. It was a special time. They said that we should get some rest because they had a busy day planned for us on Saturday. P said that they had hired a car for the day to take us around so that I / We could enjoy the visit.

Well, Saturday morning came and we woke to the smell of pancakes and coffee. H. was doing her morning prayer and P had done them and was going to run the East river I guess it was. Breakfast ended and we showered got ready and off we went as we exited their building we saw the limo  waiting. I / WE were overwhelmed. You see, they realized what I did not understand. I could no longer do NY in my current physical body. I get tired and phytigued pretty quickly. Stamina is building back slowly. P and H were also concerned about my welfare with the NY crowd they are indeed fast paced, impatient and like many places are not handicapped friendly. I would have been knocked over for sure.

We all got into the car and off we went all over the city. My kids and wife jumped in and out of the car  in China town and H showed the kids how to bartar the prices. Lol.

I was content sitting in the car watching them run around from store to store. P and I just talked, It was great just being with my friend.

You see, my friends from NY when they heard of my illness treated their 4-5 hour car trip from NY to see me here like no big deal. They have bent over backwards to be a light in our life. P would come up alone and take me out to lunch. He just sat with me to allow me to talk. He and H. are angels to us a gift from God. Amen.

We had lunch at a beautiful restaurant and then off to F.A.O Swartz to check it out . My kids  wanted to see and play their huge foot piano from the movie Big with Tom Hanks 🙂 .

P. Pushed me everywhere in my transport chair, we went to the Empire State Building and had a wonderful time.

We went after that to probably one of the finest steak  houses that I had ever been to and had dinner there as well. Next we were off to see a Night on the town a wonderful play on Broadway. It was very good, I told my family when we got home the set, the sound and the lighting tricked the mind you felt like you were watching a television show it was so clear on stage.

Finally back to the car and we made our way to Times Square . It was packed beyond belief we got out and I got into the transport chair and off we went into the crush of people to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. I had H in front of me, with her hand pulling my transport chair meanwhile P was behind my chair pushing and protecting , me , my wife was to my side as were my kids. H. Yelled, hold your bags to my wife and girls this is what they want, they’ll rob you.  With that my wife heard a noise and turned around. A young lady was almost robbed and turned around and pushed a man onto the concrete.

Perhaps H’ s yell and warning to my wife and daughters to watch out for pick pocketers  helped to heighten the young lady behind my wife’s awareness just in the nick of time to keep her from being robbed.  Only God knows.

We headed home and relaxed.H and P’ s home was beautiful like them, stylish not over done or fussy. They have a beautiful city view and you look at the new freedom tower.

The next morning Sunday we woke up Helen made breakfast once again and we were off to their home parish where P. serves as a Deacon. It is a beautiful old church. The mass was beautiful and I met a couple of the women who were praying for me during my battle so how cool is that! I got to hug them and thank them. 🙂

We then went to little Italy for lunch which was amazing and before we knew it we were getting on the bus bound for Boston.

I will conclude my writing on this soon.

The song below may feel heavy but it is not to me. It touches my heart and soul on different levels. Based on my diagnosis 3 years ago it was pretty much expected for me to leave this world. But praise God on Christmas night I drove over to Arlington with my wife and kids In my new, used giloppy 🙂  It was wonderful to drive, it was even better to see my dad and family. Another Christmas  Miracle. God’s doing it his way. Amen.

We are so grateful to God for our lives, family, and friends and thankyou for all of your prayers.

And, thankyou P and H for the hospitality and sacrafice in so many ways afforded us during our NY visit.

Michael W. Smith

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=I2uIIJathUI

God Bless You,

Danny