Ah, this is the way to travel, the train was almost completely empty for my return trip. I was able to read without being disturbed for the entire trip. I have to say that the Pittsburgh train station is rather lack luster; it really leaves something to be desired. The Philadelphia station is comparable to an airport with its shops and restaurants. Even some of the smaller stations along the way had considerably more character than the Pgh station. Winding over all the major rivers in this state, and plenty of minor tributaries, makes me want to go kayaking. The waters are all running high; the Conemaugh was looking particularly appealing. There was still heaps of snow throughout the mountains, spring is taking its time there, but the melting snow will continue to feed into the flowing waters that call to me. Throughout the return trip, I kept coming back and thinking about a common and recurring theme of discussion between Suzanne and me. That of the general difficulty people our age seem to have in finding and meeting people who are genuinely fitting to be close friends. In my work place, I'm in the middle. I don't fit in with older scientists who are not married, whose lives revolve around their work. I don't fit in with the student workers, they are quite young, their humor or idea of a good time does not coincide with what's amusing or a good time for me. I don't go to places like bars and clubs to meet people because those are exactly the sort of people I wouldn't hang out with. I hate to sound so much older, but I honestly don�t like to be around smokers or excessively loud music. It just does not appeal to me. I like to go dancing, but not club dancing, I love going Latin and standard dancing, a by product of my years of ballroom dancing and competitions, I have a talent for this type of dancing. I am left feeling much more content maintaining the well established connection of the long distance friends that I have. We both have a similar problem of having the majority of the people we care about to be scattered around the country, of being separated from the familiar. She is in new surroundings with unfamiliar faces, I am in familiar surroundings lacking friendly faces. I have my moments of loneliness, generally just missing people and feeling bored, because the friends just are not there anymore. But these sentiments pass quickly, as Mark and I create and invent new adventures, we're never bored when we're together, we entertain and amuse eachother to no end. Even if we are just in the same room together doing separate tasks, our mutual company is all I need to never feel lonely. Most of the time I am happiest and content when it is just me and Mark. Visiting Suzanne was incredibly refreshing and fun, but I think it will make me miss her even more. I miss having a girl friend I can just talk to about anything, someone who is as willing to have random silly adventures, who likes to be outside so much. Maybe that's why I've surprised myself so much by writing here as much as I do, serving as a surrogate girl friend (although, I never plan to just write about anything, I do censor and edit what I put here). Ah well, we've already made our plans for the next visit. Hopefully that will come sooner than later.