Over the Hill, and Apparently Sliding Down!

This morning there is not a spot on my body that isn't hurting!  Apparently, yesterday I crested the old age hill and have begun the very slippery slide down the other side.  Hitting every bump along the way.
Some time ago, 7 year old granddaughter Julia requested a visit to the zoo.  It has taken a while, between calendar committments and the weather, but yesterday was custom made...absolutely perfect weather and it was a special day - "Boo at the Zoo."
Julia ate dinner with us, we watched "Harry and the Hendersons" - what a great movie!  We loved it all over again, and Julia fell in love with Harry - just as was intended.

After a bit of a read, our little guest fell asleep and was fresh as a daisy in the morning.  We weren't in bad shape either.....boy did we age in one day!
Julia got dressed as a "Punk Pirate" - cute as a button, and we donned our grandparent suits and we were off.
To a nearby diner first, for breakfast.  As we entered the diner, the hostess and waitpersons went crazy over our little pirate.  One actually asked her to pose for a photo op.  Everyone eating commented as they led us to a far table....giving Julia a chance to show off her adorableness.  It was cute.

After chocolate chip pancakes and a glass of milk, the Pirate was ready to strut her stuff at the as yet unknown location.  We hadn't told her that she would be going to the zoo.

Into the car, - blue skies, gorgeous autumn leaves....sweet air.....
STOP.
Over 2 hours sitting on the Schuykill....just sitting....we'd move one car length and sit more...it's the oldest zoo in the land.....it's an old city....wouldn't you think they could get it right one of these days?  What should have been maybe a 15 minute drive took over 2 hours.
Julia was great....just sat back, never complained.....but she had to put up with her immature, infantile grandparents who were ready to choke somebody!  She had to listen to her grandmother ask "are we there yet?"  Oh, it was awful.   :)
When we finally got to the zoo, we followed "over flow" parking signs until we were back in NJ.  Well, no, not quite, but we had to hoof it over a mile back to the zoo.  Which, considering the magnificence of the day was no biggie.  After all, we'd rested for 2 hours.  Right?
Enter the zoo.
Lar went to the rest room.
Ann went to stand in line.  And stand in line.  And stand in line.  Women have been going to the rest room for as long as we've had rest rooms....not just for 200 years.  Would you think SOMEONE would get that right some time?  There were at least 30 people queing...there were about 6 booths.  And there were squirming, whining little girls - hoping not to ruin their costumes before they got their first candy.  And at least one old lady in the same condition!

But then began the magic of the country's first zoo.  What a gorgeous park!  There were new exhibits, much more relaxed appearing animals, candy stations throughout the park with little ones calling out "trick or treat" and "thank yous" and the ocassional grandparent thankfully accepting a candy too.  What a good time we had.

And then we started the quick slide into old, old, old age.....the over one mile hike back to the car.  To be sure, we didn't know how bad it was until the sounds of crispy, dry, old age muscles began in the evening.  We had a bite to eat and watched a show - and then tried to get up to go to bed.....