We flew across the U-S-A to Seattle to spend some time with family, explore the Emerald City, check out the beautiful botanical gardens and watch the boats (and ships, and kayaks) go in and out of the Ballard Locks.
You can't spell "sausage" without U-S-A, as Mo happily points out at Pike Place Market before we said goodbye to the Kauffs and headed down to the lovely city of Portland, OR.
Once back at home, we sent a photograph from the U-S-A to our dear friends in Ireland, and arranged for it to be presented on our behalf at their 40th birthday party. We were all bitterly disappointed to be unable to attend.
John, Joanne and I were chanting U-S-A along with the other rooters at The Port Tavern when Landon Donovan knocked in his magical goal to beat Algeria in the 91st minute. John, surveying the mid-morning packed pub: "Don't these people have jobs?" Me: "Ahem."
We hoped that all of our lucky shirts, headbands, leis, sunglasses, beads, flags and vuvuzela would assist in a favorable outcome for the U-S-A vs. Ghana, but it seems all was for naught. Margaret and Joanne did their part and joined in the Flair, but to no avail. Heartbreaking. We were delighted that Andy and Steve took the train up to the 'Port, result aside.
And here's Andy's visit to Newburyport memorialized in the Daily News -- posed in the universal soccer sign of bad news: hands-on-head as Ghana scores to put the Yanks out of the World Cup. While it's no good to wish time away, I must confess that I can't wait for 2014. U-S-A!
