Even with threats of impending showers a full complement of 30 + avid tourists met at the Parking lot of the Thomas Edison National Historical Site in West Orange NJ just before 10 am. This was the location specified by the Park Service to purchase admission passes to visit Edison's home in the gated community of Llewellyn park and his laboratory on Main Street in West Orange. In typical government fashion (this site is part of the National Park Service, run by the US Department of Interior) we were told our appointment was at 10 am in nearby Llewellyn Park. When we asked if we could purchase our tickets before 10 am, they said no, that wasn't possible. They also admonished us not to be late for our 10 am appointment. This seemed to be a bit of a "Catch 22": be in West Orange buying tickets and be in Llewellyn park at the same time. But that's your government in action.

In spite of government rhetoric all tourists, young and old, viewed Thomas Edison's family estate, Glenmont. This included a quick tour of the garage (three electric cars, a Brewster and a Model "T") the family home (we had the honor of being invited to descend the servant's staircase), and a self-guided tour of the greenhouse, unlike the guided tour of the house. Then it was back into our cars to return to the Laboratory on Main Street where individual talking machines (undreamt of by Edison) gave us a guided tour of the rest of the facility.

Learning is hard work, so nutrition was next on our agenda. A quick spin up the hill on NJ 10 brought us to Irving's Deli. All the cares and woes of scheduling, traffic, directions and impending storm clouds vanished after walking into Irving's. The decor (walls covered with star's photos interspersed with highlight of Coney Island) is great. But it certainly takes a back seat to the business at hand: great food. The seating was a bit tight, but as usual we made do with what was offered. After we ate the seating became a little more tight, if you catch my drift. Laudatory comments for great pastrami and corned beef abounded. There was a bowl of matzo ball soup that wanted to vie for mention in the Guinness Book of records. Gargantuan portions of mouth-watering cheese cake appeared later in the meal. Irving's gets a seal of approval from both the New Jersey Region and the Raritan River Region. Plus they have a cruise night on Wednesday nights! Who could ask for anything more.

So with storm clouds rapidly approaching a group of well fed and well educated tourists bid a sincere good bye, and tried to avoid the raindrops on the way home.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."  -- T. A. Edison

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."  -- T. A. Edison

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."   -- T. A. Edison