Winter is a tough time for meetups with my Chicago younger daughter and her family. It's tough for them for all the obvious work/school/activities reasons and it's tough for me because at the end of a busy week, I do not find the drive there and back to be as easy as it once was. I've made that trip to the city hundreds of times since I moved to the greater Madison area in 1979. It's not at all a hard route to drive, it's more that I am less patient with the monotony of highway driving. It's more tiring than a hike up a steep mountain. Okay, perhaps not that, but in the winter it always seems strenuous.
And yet, if I want to see the grandgirls going about the business of growing up, driving down is the easiest way to do this. It's been a couple of months since I've traveled there and I almost postponed my trip yet again. It's not the ideal time to put Henry and Sadey in a kennel. She is so new to life up here with me that I hate to throw this on her, though honestly, I don't think one night at Camp K9 is going to make her or break her. And I haven't yet celebrated my daughter's birthday (which was actually in January) yet! I told Ed to mind the house. A nice place to hang out, I should think!
And after the usual doggie wake up, after the walk...
And breakfast of course - theirs and mine...
After a few last barks at the neighborhood dogs...
I load the car with my tote, with very late birthday gifts, a bag of foods for the campers, and of course, the campers themselves.
I'm thinking. -- there's no way I'll get through the drop-off at the kennel without a fuss. I'm prepared for the struggle to get them inside.
But there is no struggle! Is it because of Sadey being there at his side that, despite a slight tremor, Henry gallantly walks inside? What a relief!
The plan is for me to get to Chicago in time for lunch. Light traffic helps!
Thinking Polish thoughts, my daughter fixes a noodles with strawberries dish that has Polishness written all over it. Literally -- makaron z truskawkami. Juniper helps put it all together.
Primrose comes back from dance class in time to join us and to share in the desserts from Mindy's.
And then it's a laid back hangout time -- the best of the best for me. Six games of Uno with Primrose, all of which I lost, not for lack of trying. Summer planning. Dog stories, recalled. Lovely moments that make the trips here so very worthwhile!
We go to eat dinner at one of the neighborhood favorites -- Bar Parisienne. Such good food! Such a fine evening!
I'm tempted to linger at their home afterwards. Primrose is practicing her piano, Juniper is in a playful mood, but I am tired enough that I resist the temptation. It didn't help that last night, my pooches raised a ruckus at 12:30 a.m. because the neighbors decided to let their dog out for a post midnight run outside. Time for me to retreat to my room at the downtown hotel, where for once I dont even have a great view to distract me. A few minutes on the computer, a few more with my book, and I'm out. That's the hope!
with so much love...
