Back in Sweet Home Chicago

I just returned to Texas after a trip to my childhood home north of 

Chicago.  My earliest years were spent in an idyllic village on the 

North Shore.  I never imagined or wanted to live anywhere else,

yet I did leave and I did live in other cities and in other countries.

No matter how far I roamed, nor how great the sights I saw, in

my heart the North Shore of Chicago would always be home.

Last Saturday morning, I arrived in Austin and took a jet to fly

home once more.  I was so excited.  Not only would I be

once again be treading on much loved ground, but I would

also be seeing old and dear friends once more.  

When I arrived at my gate, I soon saw the sign for the Chicago Cubs.

I had tears in my eyes.  Home sweet home once again.  All was now

right with the world.

There is something you must know about me.  I am an extremely

sentimental person.  I inherited that characteristic from my Daddy.

Home means everything to me, and my childhood home means the

most of all.  

After I picked up my luggage and entered my taxi, my world was

full of sights and sounds from my past.  I talked the driver's ear off

explaining how I was going home once again and in a short time I

would be seeing friends who for years, only lived in my memory.

I could hardly contain my excitement.  In a few hours I would be

attending a party with so many people from my past.

The first person I saw was my best friend from my teens.  Chris and I

shared every secret.  We applauded one another's triumphs and eased

each other over the bumpy road of adolescence.  Although we have

been in touch over the years, we have not actually seen one another for many,

many years.  Suddenly, we spotted one another and the distance and the

days just melted away.  

We chatted with others and shared long ago memories.  It was such

fun to reconnect with the past and to know that others held that same

past as dear as I did.  It was a great party!

On Sunday, Chris drove me to Lake Forest, where later that day I would be

checking into the Deerpath Inn.  More about the inn later.  It was Chris' birthday

and we celebrated at a charming restaurant where we talked for hours both

during and following lunch.  It was as though the years in between just vanished,

and we were the same young girls once again.  A truly memorable afternoon.

Chris drove me over to the inn.  My room number was 306, the Wallington room.  

All of the rooms have names and every inch of the inn is as British as it can be.

The beverage bar in the entry.

The spacious and cozy room.

The walk-in marble shower.

That evening, my cousins drove up from the city to have dinner with me.

We chatted and laughed for several hours.  So great to see them once again.

I had a very full couple of days, but there was more to come because my

college roommate would be arriving from Michigan the next morning.

I have no idea how I slept that night, but I did ....

and I had lots of happy dreams!  More tomorrow.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley