Thursday night after we arrived at the hotel I gave Dave the box containing the 40th Anniversary quilt blocks. Actually I only finished
38 blocks but he didn't count so didn't miss the last two. He was very touched. Each block was labeled with the name of the block and we discussed what each name meant to us. It was really nice because we talked about a lot of things as we looked at the blocks. I promised that I would finish the quilt by our 50th Anniversary. Hopefully it will be finished within 6 months because I want to enter it into a show. Many thanks to those from this group who encouraged me and kept me on task to finish the blocks.
Mom survived the weekend under the care of my good friend Mary Jane. Each evening Mom would get worried that I wasn't there. Mary Jane would remind her that Dave and I were spending a few days in Chicago. Mom seemed to understand and settled down. Mary Jane loves to cook so Mom enjoyed much better food than usual. My sister came late Friday evening and stayed until Tuesday afternoon. Because of her own health problems she isn't much help with Mom's care but she can sit and talk with Mom.
A few highlights of our weekend: Fancy hotel, different ethnic restaurants, Beethoven's 9th Symphony in Millennium Park, architectural tour via the Chicago River, Julie and Julia movie, Sunday morning worship service at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Cavalia (produced by the originators of Cirque du Soleil), arriving home to a clean kitchen.
Mary Jane is such a dear and offered to return again later in the year to give us another opportunity for some time away. She helped me care for Mom the first year Mom was living with us but moved to Florida in May. Fortunately her son works for the airlines and she can fly free. Since she has several grandchildren in our area she is happy to return several times a year.
Now it is back to reality but with a few happy memories.
Susan Price