NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: VISIT SUZIE!

After visiting Suzie many times in the city, I still had never made the trip out to Queens. But that changed today.

Even with mass transit on a holiday schedule, I found it surprisingly quick and easy to get out there. I took the R train from Union Square to 71st Avenue Forest Hills -- about a 40 minute ride. (You can also take the E, F or G trains.) I caught the M23 bus right next to the station and 15 minutes later I was in Suzie's room.

I found Park Terrace to be a surprisingly nice, clean and bright facility.

The woman who greeted me at the front desk was very friendly, as were the nurses on Suzie's floor. There is a large room on the first floor where a few of the residents were gathered around a big screen TV, and another common room on Suzie's floor. A number of the residents greeted me and wished me a happy new year.

Where I erred was in the time I chose to visit.

I got to Suzie's room at about 6:30 PM and she was fast asleep for the night, tucked in under toasty warm blankets with a little stuffed animal. Her roommate's mom Mrs. Lee reluctantly let me come in and give Suzie a little hug, and then shooed me on my way. It's nice to know that our friend his this very nice lady helping to watch over her.

Janine tells me that the weekends are a good time to visit or, if you're free on a weekday, before 11 AM or after 3:30 PM when her therapy is done for the day. She has dinner at around 5 PM and tends to turn in for the night not long after that (as I learned today).

Now that I know how easy it is to get there, I'll be going back again soon -- earlier, next time, for sure.