The Bigger They Get

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday! I’m still catching up on my reader, but so far it sounds like, for the most part, everyone had a great time. Terrific! We saw some fireworks from the communities situated along the PA turnpike on our way home from the heartland, but it was dark and foggy on twisty, winding mountain roads, so the atmosphere was a bit more Steven King-ish than festive.

Our Chicago road trip was wonderful. And exhausting, hence this delayed posting. But Daughter has signed a lease on an apartment with an amazing roommate. The apartment is close to school and just a little more than a block from a park on the shores of Lake Michigan. Am I jealous?

HELL YES.

Darn kids.

We’ve learned that it’s a LONG way from the Philly suburbs to Chicago by car. Gads, I had NO IDEA how wide Ohio is. Apparently, maps are slenderizing. (Note to self: find map print skirt - if it works for Ohio, it might just work for my ass.)

It took us about a bazillion hours to cross Ohio so we were thrilled to reach Indiana until we realized Indiana and Ohio are Siamese twins, at least until you get to Gary when that song from The Music Man starts repeating over and over in your head and no matter what else you listen to for three days it’s still there, and then you pass through Gary again on the way home and doom yourself to another three days of mental Music Man. And Gary doesn’t look anything like you’d imagine from watching the movie with baby Opie lisping adorably throughout. In fact, it looks much more like someplace you really, really wouldn’t want to let Opie play outside after dark.

I’m sure Indiana and Ohio are fine states with lots to recommend them. In fact, both states’ rest stop information racks are packed with brochures featuring local attractions. We might have visited some attractions, but we were just too worn out from asking each other How many more miles? Huh? How many? HOW many??? Are you freaking kidding me?

Nevertheless, one brochure at an Indiana rest stop did catch my eye:

Eventually, though, we did reach Chicago, took care of Daughter’s living arrangements, and saw some of the sites including:

Wrigley Field. Why? Because Yes,Dear was with us…

…and the Birthplace of Ernest Hemingway. I’ve never enjoyed his writing (Yay! Cliff Notes!) but he came in handy when packing some jewelry to put in storage last year. I marked that particular box “Hemingway Books” so no one would bother to open it. Thanks, Papa H. (Next I want to see his place in KEY WEST. Why can’t Daughter be going to grad school in KEY WEST?? Huh?)

We also saw Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio which is incredibly beautiful as is the rest of the neighborhood because I guess in Oak Park everyone has to keep up with the Wrights. Even the Joneses.

And we visited the church that both sets of my great grandparents attended nearly 100 years ago, for which my great grandpa Carlson, the carpenter, made the altar, altar rails, etc., and where my grandparents attended Sunday School together, which is most likely where they met…

…which is why I’m half Swedish with built in Swedish Tanning Secret and usually tan pretty nicely when I’M NOT IN A CAR FOR HOURS AND HOURS DRIVING A GAJILLION MILES THROUGH OHIO AND INDIANA.

We ate well, of course. After all, we were in Chicago.

We also took Yes,Dear downtown and showed him some of the sights…

We spent some time exploring Daughter’s campus which is AMAZING and made me wish I was her. But at least I have a floor to crash on when I visit. No more Super 8 for us!

Right, Daughter?

Daughter?

DAUGHTER!?!?!?

Hellooooooo?