It was to be the last visit to Ligonier before the closing a few days later, so we gathered the family and Jane got in the car at 7 minutes before wheels up time as did Suzanne so we could drive on past the expensive (and unfriendly) gas station as the people in the back and front seats remained a little out of focus as we came to this rest stop and paid these prices to pump the gas which built up my appetite for diet vanilla coke and Suzanne's for what was in this Cinnabon bag the contents of which escape me.

We drove on until we got to Ligonier and parked behind this jeep and in front of this one so that we could sample the specials at the Ligonier Tavern. We were happy to wait until Ben and Jane were seated and this self portrait caused the waiter to offer to take a picture of Suzanne but we weren't sure he could do better than I did. So, we ordered drinks for the men and for the women and my salad and Suzanne's fish Jane's salad and Ben's burger convinced our waitress that after the pasta we needed cheese cake and coffee before heading to the cabin.

Once there, I took this profile as Suzanne chatted on the phone and we admired the pin collection and the fire place (with baskets) the wreath the owl and the plates and doll seats before calling it a day.

The next morning, Jane was wondering about the Romaine label as we checked out the birds and flowers and walked past the bird bath and hearth until Ben climbed the stairs to the front door and prepared to dive before we made our way to the feeding trough and fallen basketball hoop past the cages and down the hill to the boxcar where Ben tried to enter and become one of the boxcar children even though he'd seen the posted signs on the property. Back at the cabin, Jane spoke to the owl and the owl spoke back before Bobby Sauro and Maxine arrived and Suzanne wrapped the owl and we put it into the back of the car for the journey home. Bob and Jane and Ben were having conversations in various directions before Suzanne and Milt and Norma, Jane and Ben sat down and Ben ducked out of my picture while I captured Bob and Maxine and this picture that Bob was also taking so that he could head out to the sisters for a conversation as Norma and Jane sat and Ben hid but was caught while Norma and Suzanne discussed baskets, I took this self portrait and Ben pretended to be oblivious to Jane and Milt even as Norma joined them and he tried to hide but eventually joined the picture even as the cake was unveiled by the caterer in a happy moment as the conversation continued and Ben played Game Boy in the corner.

The sisters walked around as Suzanne explored closets and the catering worked with the first guests to get the food out as Jane was amused by the cake and the sisters wanted more food from the caterer and even more came to the amusement of Suzanne and Milt as the bloody mary's passed Norma's taste test and we all waited for the next person to come as nuts were put out by the helpers and Ben paid a lot of attention to the birds

that were to come home with us.

Bob the sisters Ben and Suzanne and Jane waited as Maxine chatted with Norma and Ann Sharon Bob and Jane watched so that we knew it was time for group photos then reorganized and then with replacements and again as Sally Katie and Sam and Andy and Debbie arrived and Andy posed for a closeup as the Davis' came. Sally had something to tell Norma and Bob spoke to Suzanne as Phyllis spoke to Milt and Ann Sharon and Debbie shared Bloody Mary's as Bob amused Jane and Katy joined even as she and her brother were in the darkness that also captured Jane as Ben hid and was caught even as he made his way to the children's table so that he and Jane could eat as Herb and his brother arrived.

As Sally and Suzanne conversed Ruby arrived and spoke with Jane as conversations continued and Phyllis Davis posed while others ate as Herb and his brother and Norma made through the line and Bon Davis and Milt chatted with Herb and Norma Shapiro and Betty Lou as the men posed Sam got up close and Herb spoke to mother and daughter as Sally and the Gespass (Pittsburgh) women spoke and Jane wondered what Suzanne and the caterers would do with this food as the crowds outside looked into the darkness and Jane spoke with Haim and Norma as Debbie and Suzanne watched and Maxine photographed.

After some crowd shots and watching Bob take this picture as I took this one it was time to bring out the cake and sing happy birthday as the crowd watched from both directions and the lights went out so that the speeches could be made as the assembled watched Norma and Milt and Suzanne and Bob watched me try twice to get Ben and Jane into the same frame even as I shot over everyone's head and then got a few crowd shots as the other photographer was capturing the cake and Jane captured Ben as her feet and shadow make for a self portrait by face feet and hands while the discussion continued and Ben couldn't hide on the porch as people assembled and Haim looked like he was talking to the tree as the caterer and Bob and Ruby and Haim prepared for the family portraits while Bob took the one which also included me. After Bob loaded his car we called it a day.

Next morning, we packed the car said one last good bye as Jane got in the car and we drove to the bagel factory in Squirrel Hill before hitting the highway where everyone's legs and feet helped propel us to the rest area where the turnpike map told us where we were and Suzanne and Ben suggested where they wanted to be, as I ate my pizza and Jane her Boardwalk fries as Suzanne explored the gift shop Ben checked out the video games and all of us hoped to never eat another meal in Sbarro's.

Goodbye Ligonier.