Dear Susan,
Well, I lived in Philly from 1997 through 2001, and loved the city, particularly the mass transit system. The first year I was there, I had an apartment in a high rise downtown at 22nd and Ben Franklin Parkway.
To learn the area, I used to invent these corny exercises such as: Visit every Acme grocery store in Philly, or ride every one of the 132 SEPTA bus routes. Never did that one, but did ride at least half of them. This made learning the busses and trains a breeze. Then, once I made some friends, I’d go and visit them, everywhere from Bristol to Kennett Square.
Walking is fun too. We’d plan these 15-mile hikes. And to make them really challenging, we did them in August, when daytime temps ran in the upper 90s. Once, we strolled from the Falls Bridge In west Philly all the way up to Roosevelt Blvd. And Byberry Road (about 16 miles).
I really miss that place and hope to be back there soon. Will be there as soon as I can afford a single, detached home in Ardmore, Haverford, Jenkintown, Glenside, Hatboro, or Doylestown. 
I have several short stories to sell and two books in the making. This January, I hope to have twenty stories done and so. will find an agent and begin circulating them to publishers. If that all goes well, the return to your side of the state shouldn’t be too far away. In the meantime, I visit there often.
What about you? What keeps you passionate about life anyhow?
Tom Hesley
