November 23-25, 2021

November 23-25, 2021

We are making one of our now rare returns to Chicago in the winter. Aimee’s Godmother passed away after a long illness. Since the Thanksgiving holidays are at hand, it will by necessity be a whirlwind trip. Surprisingly most of the flight across the Midwest was clear and sunny, something rare in a Midwest winter. Travelling along the Illinois River, I was surprised to see so many limestone quarries, all sited along the river. Most of these deep permanent gashes in the earth are all but invisible from the ground. When we arrived and felt the sudden cold ‘Windy City’, we remembered why we left Chicago.

We spent the next twenty-hours re-engaging with Aimee’s relatives and memorializing her very sweet and kind aunt. The family reunion is the one bright side of a funeral. Humorously Irish brogues still dominate her family!

Our return flight Thursday morning was one of only two delayed at O'Hare. We had clear skies the whole way, but the last hour had the most continuous turbulence we have experienced. Thankfully, we arrived in time for turkey dinner with friends.