Hi I am sitting out of my deck on a spectacular morning here in Westmont. I get to join Mary Jo Pat Karen Marianne and Kathe for our Breakfast Club shortly but thought I would take a moment to say I am looking forward to seeing all of you next weekend and celebrating with Mary and ED.
Bonnie has asked me to reflect on the Amtrak experience and to all of you I highly recommend it. It was Stress Free and Fun. No airport hassles.Wide comfortable seats. Easy access for us who train into Union Station as that is where Amtrak is located so no hassle except to find a place to park my car in Westmont. (That story is for another day)
I would not say the diner on our short trip was much to write home about but I found myself eating a brat and having a beer all before noon and quite liking it. Fred and Beth were outrageous host and hostess as you guys already know...but each time I am blown away by the family community and energy Fred and the kids and their kids all have...I have so many more pics and I will pick a time in the future to post more photos of all that good stuff. Fred cooked HOW MANY??? filet mignons on his grill, Wendy and Brad and family and Becky and Al and family joined us for an outdoor dining experience and the weather cooperated fully on Sat night. On Friday night, as I showed in the pics, we were driven into Ann Arbor and Fred and Beth again treated Kathe and Emily and Alicia and myself to a wonderful dinner and then some leisurely walk about looking at a vintage car show. Ann Arbor is just plain exciting...a lot like a college version of Galena only better and more youth oriented.
Jo and Bob, I recommend you give it a shot coming into Chitown but then where can you catch Amtrak??? Do you have to go into downtown St L??? Mike, if you want a great time, think about Amtrak into Chicago for the wedding The train delivers you about 5 minutes from the St. Pat's Cathedral on that Saturday and the rest could be history By the way, Mike thanks for offering to pick us up on Fri We will be calling you this week before we leave town.
Of course the big news is that Brett got Schnooked out of the mountains and as Kathe said, we are having a Welcoming party for him on August 19th at her home. That has taken a big burden of worry off her shoulders and off of all of ours in fact. Christian met Brett at Bagram in Afghanistan and I guess they had some splendid time together and they were two happy campers to have each other that many thousands of miles from home.
Roseanne shared great stories about visiting her daughter Elizabeth and the children in their pics are absolutely darling esp the newest one Hunter....I hope she can share some of those photos as she learns to download her pics...She still has to master that one. I will see if I can learn how to grab and post pics she sent. She works in downtown Chicago at a big advertising firm and Tom is looking for work for a corporation of a bigger size for more job stability.
We are planning our Shower for Alicia on Sept 6th so Mj Emily Kathe and I met last week to tweak out the details.
For now though, we are excited about next weekend..Mary and Ed thanks ahead of time for making this possible to help you celebrate and bring some joy to each of us at the same time. As for Jo and Bob's BBQ, we will hopefully get final numbers and final potluck assignments to each of you probably next weekend. Mary said for those who attend Sun Mass there will be a store in that area to pick up what is needed. Kathe and I will be supplying Brats and Buns and Iced Tea nad Mary Jo is making an Iowa choc cake for the celebration as far as I know. We understand our cabain will have a deck with a grill . all from Chicago for now. The sun is peeking around on the deck and will be on me soon so plan to get inside with my laptop Until next week (We will miss you Fred and Ed and Roseanne!!) aarivedeci....whatever love m
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