We said goodbye to February while in the family room at Mercy Hospital in Portland waiting for Mom's arrival out of the operating room. The surgery went well, the care was excellent and Dad, Timmy and I had a restful night near to the hospital at a hotel in the Old Port. Mawan's first hurdle is complete! On to the rest of March:
We stole away for a night in the metropolis known as Schenectady. Mike's Dogs. Achilles Center. Playoff Hockey. This is the ECAC. 
We spent the game with a colleague of Mo's whose daughter is a freshman Dutchwoman, held our breath as the game went to overtime, and said bon voyage to Zamboni driver extraordinaire Dennis Flavin, retiring after 23 years.
Best of all, after the game we got to say hi to dear old family friend Brad, assistant coach of the victorious Colgate Raiders.
This may be one of the only times I can recall Mom drinking wine at lunch, but can you think of a better reason to toast than the news that the cancerous cells floating through her system have NOT landed in any organs or bones? Awash with relief does not begin to describe. 
Never too early to tailgate! We arrived in Foxboro nice and early for the NE Revolution home opener and got a primo spot to set up and nosh.
It was FREEZING, but we wouldn't let cold fingers get in the way of a good soccer match. Andy and James may have wished that they had warmer coats, but that's nothing that, um, cold beer bottles can't help?
We watched our first game from The Fort and it was a riot. The energy was amazing, the songs were hilarious and the enthusiasm for Charlie Davies return to the field was touching. Great time.
