My cousin's surprise party brought me to Philly, my home town.

When my cousin's wife, Fran called to tell me that she was giving her hubby a surprise party, my response was "yes, I'll be there".

So last week, my friend and I flew from Hollywood, Florida to Philadelphia, my home town. Well, I was born there, and lived on Old York Road, my grandparents were there, but I really don't remember much about it. So, it was an adventure for me.

 We managed to wend our way through the traffic in the city, and past the exit for the Philadelphia Zoo (which was a client of ours for several years). The city seemed familiar, when we passed the art museum, as I remember my grandmother lived across the street from there at 2601 Parkway. My Aunt lives nearby there now. We were a little confused about directions as we drove toward Elkins Park.

  Later that day, my cousin took us for a ride and passed the home where I was born, and my grandmother's house just a few blocks away. As I child, I remember our houses appearing like huge palaces with hundreds of rooms. They seemed small now, and burned out and not cared for. My Mom used to polish the wooden floors in our home until they shone like a mirror. Now, the windows were shattered, and the home looked sad to me.

  I wondered why the new owners didn't at least try to clean it up, board a window. I'm glad my Mom didn't live to see her precious home in its current shape.

   Then we went to my cousin's home in Elkins Park. It is really lovely with a huge well-kept garden of about an acre, and my favorite part, a serenity pool with a small waterfall. I was delighted to see my "spot", as I'd sat there on the day they were married with my "cousin-in-law" Franny and we talked about all the preparations for the wedding that day and they were married right there in that gorgeous setting in a bright sunny day.

    Now, the home is on the market, and it has been for a while. They need a smaller place, one easier to maintain. And, this home is really big. We stayed upstairs on the third floor and there is a big bedroom and bath up there that feels like you're in a cottage all to yourself in the woods.

    That home is so much more than its stone walls, and spacious kitchen because as I walked through there, I remembered so many stories of good times and sad ones. If the walls could talk they'd probably rejoice about two people finding each other later in life and falling so much in love.

   I wonder if the people viewing that home today can feel the magic in that home.

Come visit me at my new blog at http://loisgeller.com