They are all named Sean or Michael today!

Much of our day was spent on the streets of New York, watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade with half the city. We had an excellent vantage point, having to walk only about a half block to get to the route. We timed it just right, getting into position just as the parade began. And it was cold! The high today was expected to be mid-40's with sun, but that 'heat' doesn't get to the city streets until later in the day. The sky was beautiful, a rich blue, and, wouldn't you know it---left the camera in the hotel room, of all things!

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The most spectacular sight was the row upon row of policemen and fire fighters that came by. And the soldiers, oh, my, the soldiers! My hands were sore from clapping, each time an American flag went past us. The crowd loved the guys in uniform as well as the bagpipers and drum groups. I never in all my life heard that many bagpipes, or saw so many men in kilts. Quite spectacular, each clan in a different plaid. Even babies in strollers were featured in the parade as certain "counties" marched--Cork, Louth, Glenkerry, etc. I thought of Peggy Lessig when the New York fireman group went by, as her brothers are firefighters up here. We weren't able to pick out the 2 Clay County fireman that flew with us on the plane but we clapped for all the guys, hopefully they heard us!

It was hard to just stand in one place like that for two hours or so, our legs and feet complaining. Justin wanted to go to the Apple Store so we decided to walk along as best we could, keeping up with the parade as we went. It was difficult walking against the crowds lining the streets but we managed, stopping in between to rest.

Justin found plenty of things to entertain him in the state-of-the-art Apple Store and I waited most patiently for him on the benches provided for spouses and moms while their geek relatives enjoy themselves. He finagled a pair of ear buds out of me, just to say he got something from the 5th Avenue Apple store! As we slowly walked back in the direction of our hotel on Madison Avenue, we discovered a match to the Apple Store in the Sony Plaza. He had fun there as well, having to go into different towers to view all the Sony products. Even I was enticed by the tiny cameras, about the size of a cigarette pack, some in my favorite colors! Hey, I could roll the camera in my sleeve and look really cool.........

Upon leaving the Sony Plaza, we headed back toward the hotel, finding a Burger Heaven to have a late lunch. Justin and I love these hole in the wall places, even though it's on Madison Avenue! We no sooner placed our order when it was brought to the table---as if they knew what we were planning to order! This place was the United Nations of burger joints, every language being spoken around us. Several of the marchers came in for lunch, having reached the end of the line for them.

While we ate, mounted TV's showed live footage of the parade which was still going on. It was "only" forty blocks long and groups were still coming onto the route! We heard one person say the parade lasted all day and thought he was exaggerating! The live coverage ended at 4:00 p.m., starting at 11:00 a.m., and it wasn't over yet when the TV station cut away. Wow! That's a parade! No floats either, only marching groups.

It was truly a "God Bless America" day today! And Happy St. Patrick's Day, too!