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June 29 - July 2 Grazing in the Windy City |
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Brian off the coast of Lake Michigan in Chicago |
While Chicago supposedly is named the Windy City after it’s politicians, our
experience upholds a more meteorological definition, as Monday night the RV seemed to
teeter on the edge of what seemed the gale force necessary to topple it onto it’s
side like a toy truck abandoned by a distracted toddler. Brian was thinking how the wind tunnel would delay his arrival into Chicago as I pondered how we would upright the thing and I was proud I had "connections" at the RV factory! We awoke still upright and rolled forward toward Brian’s hometown of Chicago. Needing to navigate around several high-traffic areas like Gary, Indiana, Brian stuck to the smallest roads he could find, including, surprise, a gravel road. I encountered sand and more sand at the Indiana Sand Dunes State Park, an interesting place with sand dunes as tall as the skyscrapers I would soon encounter. |
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Brian meandered his way ‘til he finally hit the bike path south of Chicago near the
Museum of Science. Quite a sentimental journey, as this was the furthest point he had
ridden as a teenager and as a post-graduate student. On the route he encountered
some unusual cow-shaped artwork that adorned the path and locations throughout the city.
How appropriate as "grazing" at his mother’s home
been at the front of his mind.
After laying low in the morning we prepared to go to the NAMI convention. By early afternoon, Brian and I were in a car heading to downtown Chicago to check out the exhibit booths and to receive an award at the convention. We were honored, as our parents looked on with pride, for our efforts and initiative in developing the bicycle journey and were quick to point out that it is the contributions of our friends, family and our generous sponsor, Peachtree Settlement Funding that should be honored. Once again, I believe we should invite KLEENEX to sponsor us as well, as we’ve had many occasions for use throughout the trip. It seems I’m constantly "welling up" during this emotional journey. |
Feeding Brian is one the greatest joys in the life of Dorothy (Brian’s Mom) and if he or anyone one else in the house is not continuously consuming food, she’ll read out a list of enticements in the fridge until SOMETHING is eaten. Think of it as a verbal IV as she calls out "Cherries, Grapes, Potato Chips, Carrots, Corned Beef, Cake..you like Cake, Brian, how bout some cake?" She missed her calling at the Ball-Park as a roving vendor cause everyone ends up eating, but she is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Hey, come to think of it I’m kinda a volunteer for our own Meals on Wheels, too! Rarely has Brian been happier than at his Homecoming where he was met by his Mother, myself, and my folks Hinda and Paul, who had flown in from St. Louis. We ate, rested and shared some special moments with our parents. |
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