Hitting the road in September and returning in October did nothing to switch our blazing temps to Autumn ones. But we’re home again. A great trip, Regardless of the weather, it’s always good to be back home. (NOTE: Since beginning the blogpost a few days ago, our temps have finally dropped into a more normal autumn range. YAY!)
We packed lots of great memories into six days.
After traveling all day Thursday (including through crazy Chicago traffic), we enjoyed dinner with a very dear friend from high school and her husband. Thank you Rita and Tom for a great evening! How did we miss getting a photo? We took this one on Saturday night with another friend, too. (Left to right: Lynn, Rita, Sue)
Friday’s adventures took us into the city to visit my great grandparents home, built in 1896. It left our family’s hands decades ago. Still a lovely home in a lovely vintage neighborhood. I tried to envision my grandmother riding a penny farthing bicycle up and down the narrow street, and my great grandmother watching her children from the steps. So sad to have not gotten a photo sitting on the steps myself. (My Great-Grandmother’s story inspired the novel I’m writing).
Traveling from the city back to the suburbs, no trip to Elk Grove Village (my high school years were spent there) is complete without a trip to Jarosch Bakery. In the same location for 60 years, they serve amazing baked goods everyday.
I mentioned spending my high school years in Elk Grove Village. A zip by our family home on Victoria Lane looked exactly the same right down to the maple leaves on the shutters.
After dodging the heavy downpour late Friday morning, we enjoyed lunch at Elly’s Pancake House with my cousins, Gail and Corrine. (I’m short, but not that short – on my knees in this pic.)
A stop at the Jewel-Osco to grab a couple necessities also netted us a box of Chicago’s famous Fannie May chocolates.
Then the main reason for our travel – my 50 year class reunion for Elk Grove High School class of 1969. Really we’re not that old….. really…. LOL. Dinner at Lou Melnati’s Friday evening followed by a reception at the hotel. So much fun reconnecting with old friends. Many, many chats in the lobby, too, all weekend long. And that’s all fodder for another post. See you there.