"I want to be a part of it ... New York, New York!!"

Guess where I am, if the opening statement is any indication.  Yes, I am in the Big Apple.  People have been so nice towards my Cause; I have been getting money right and left.  If I am not caeful, I just might get mugged once nightfall commences ... best to quit while I'm ahead for the day ...

New York is everything I imagined it would be ... and a whole lot more.  Buildings scraping the sky (that's why they're called "skyscrapers".  D'OH!!).  People and yellow cabs clogging the streets.  Major shopping hubs.  Friendly little mom-and-pop stores and restaurants that few people have ever heard of.  Vendors hawking their wares in a variety of languages.  The Statue of Liberty, in all her glory, guarding New York Harbor.  The home of many major networks/television shows.  Broadway.  Fifth Avenue.  Ah, yes.  Tom Whitt has taken a big bite out of the Big Apple, and I am loving every minute!  :D

I went to Washington about a month or so ago, and unfortunately, I didn't get to meet the president.  He was on vacation.  (Seems that he's always going on vacation instead of taking care of things here at home.  I was not happy.)  I was very disappointed.

I did get some exposure, so that is good, but I would have liked to have talked to President Barack Obama about why my Cause is so important to not only me, but to others who suffer from the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS).

The weather is chilly.  It feels more like the latter part of January or February than the first day of April.  I think Mother Nature is playing an April Fool's joke on me ....

Clarabelle, my wife, and our sons (Mikey and Paul-Jacques, who are five and seven) are with me; they have been enjoying the sights almost as much as I have.  And get this: my wife is pregnant with our third child!!  We found out last week, and it turned out to be a total surprise!  That means P.J. and Mikey are going to be big brothers!  (The baby will be due in December or January.  We would like a little girl, but if it is a third boy, then that will be okay, too.  Just as long as the baby is healthy ... that's all that matters!)

Guess we got more than donations in Washington, D.C. ...  LOL

After we get done here in New York City, we will head towards Boston, Massachussetts, but we may have to wait a while: New England (including Boston) is in the throes of yet another major winter storm.  Over a foot of snow is expected.  So we may have to take a detour, maybe head towards the Midwest: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio.

I will have to discuss it further with Clarabelle and the boys, to see if it's okay with them.

Well, I'm gonna order us a New York style pizza once we get back to our hotel.  I will write in here again whenever possible.  You haven't heard the last from me!  Take care and may God bless you always; keep those prayers and e-mails coming!  They are what sustain me on this Trek across the country, and hopefully, soon, there will be a cure for people like myself!  Lord, I (and they) can only hope!

~Tom.

~To be continued.~