Our family is used to summer road trips, usually to Wisconsin and Indiana to visit family. This summer has led us in an entirely different direction. Ellen and I drove from Dallas to southern California to visit Scott in Pasadena, where he's a grad student at Caltech. And, different from our usual long hauls on the Interstate Highways, we took our time getting there.
I've always known that my ancestors emigrated to America from Europe in the 1800s. The Gambskys from Poland and the Millers from Denmark. The Jacobs from somewhere in Germany and the Stegers from Bavaria. Only the Stegers came here recently enough for me to have personal contact with any of the immigrants. My grandfather Frank Xavier Steger, Jr., was a toddler when his parents left Germany for America. All I ever knew was that they were from a village near Nuremberg and sailed to America in the early 1890s.
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| From 200905 Chicago |
Ellen and I took advantage of the Memorial Day holiday to make a 10-day weekend of it, going to Appleton and Evanston and Chicago, with even a trip to Stevens Point for lunch tossed in. In Wisconsin, we visited family, in Evanston we visited John at Northwestern University, and everywhere we played tourist, but no place as much as in Chicago, where we visited Navy Pier, adding its Ferris Wheel to the Texas Star, the London Eye and Vienna's historic Riesenrad to our lifetime Ferris Wheel rides; we took a boat ride on the Chicago River; we went down in the coal mine in the Museum of Science and Industry; we celebrated the opening of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago; we marvelled at the reflection of the city skyline in "The Bean" in Millennium Park; we strolled through Grant Park and up the "Magnificent Mile" that is Michigan Avenue; and more. Photos from all our stops can be seen here:
Ellen and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with an 11-day Caribbean cruise. The time went by as fast as our first 25 years of marriage.
Ellen and I occasionally get to dog sit for our neighbors Dave and Deb's dog when they are out of town. Prince is getting on in years, entirely deaf, maybe a little lame, and easily tired on walks. He's as little trouble as a dog can be, except for something our neighbors say they don't see. It's his tendency to go just a little crazy now and then. Call it the secret side of Prince.
Ellen and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a quiet dinner for two at a local fancy restaurant, the Silver Fox Steakhouse. You know the type: "an atmosphere of intimate dining surrounded by mahogany and marble, which sets the tone for an exquisite experience." 8 oz. petite filets, $36.95. With Bearnaise Sauce, add $3.95. The proprietor came to our table and introduced himself and gave us his business card.
Everything was perfect, except for the lack of a candle on our table. Not to worry. After a quick Google image search on my Internet-enabled smart phone, voila, the romantic anniversary dinner was complete. Ellen and I plan a Caribbean cruise in a few weeks for a second celebration. It had better have everything. I won't have cell phone service at sea.