Two Months?

 Wow, I can't believe it's been two months since I wrote about going to Jess and Jack's wedding out in Lisle, IL. Time to make up for that, I guess.

TO Lisle, Illinois and Overland Park, Kansas in mid-November, 2024

On Monday, November 11th, Terry and I (driving different vehicles, remember?) headed west and met in Elkhart, Indiana the first night of our journey because it was fall and night comes too early for us old folks! And we were familiar with the area. We drove a couple of miles into the center of town and found a motel and a beautifully named restaurant, The Chubby Trout. Excellent food and beer in what is a sports bar/restaurant setting. A little loud and very crowded. Twas a good thing we were there early!

Next day we continued our journey to Lisle and the hotel Terry had reservations for. We were again a little early but had time to call the kids and see what was happening. Unfortunately, with both of them having tested positive for Covid (Jack's test came on that morning, Tuesday the 12th) they didn't want to take the chance of getting us sick too, so our interactions were going to be limited. 

Terry and I had dinner at The Bavarian Lodge in Lisle. It was Schnitzel for me and Sauer Braten for Terry who also had liver dumpling soup. Beer selection was eclectic, but I can never remember what I order.

We had plans for Wednesday but with the kids being ill, we just lounged around the hotel all day. (Should have packed my bathing suit!) Dinner that night was at Cooper's Hawk Winery just a short drive around the corner in Naperville. Excellent wine selection and food! (Shrimp and scallop risotto, and pretzel encrusted pork chop)

Finally, the big day arrived and we all drove over to the county courthouse for the nuptials. It turned out that there were about eight or so couples doing the same thing and it was like watching an episode of Night Court. Nearly all the brides were in wedding gowns of a variety of styles. Jess' was, perhaps, the most traditional minus the train and veil. And she wore purple sneakers to match her purple flowers. We four were the only ones wearing masks. Couples and their witnesses were called into chambers one at a time to exchange vows in front of the judge and his clerk. Jess and Jack were the last to be called because many of the others required a Spanish translator, and rather than having to call him for each couple, they did all of those one after the other. There was one Polish couple, but they needed no translator. 

One couple--yeah, the Polish couple--hadn't picked up their license the day before and the bride and groom had to hustle their butts downstairs to do so while the bridesmaid took care of the little one waiting to see his parents do the right thing.

Neither the judge nor his clerk were masked up but Terry and I played along with the kids and kept ours on. The ceremony was brief and without a sealing kiss. And the judge even took our picture afterwards.

We drove back to the kids' apartment, handed over to keys and title of the RAV4 to Jess. Terry and Jess (still in her wedding gown) then drove to the DMV to transfer the title. Jack and I stood around in the parking lot of the apartments chatting for half an hour. When Terry and Jess returned, we hugged and fist bumped, and bid adieu. Covid prevented them from enjoying a celebratory dinner at Fogo de Choa, a fantastic Brazilian style steakhouse. 

On the 15th, Terry and I departed for Lucille and Doug's home in Overland Park, Kansas. Lou had recently had brain surgery to remove a growth that impinging on her pituitary gland and Terry was naturally concerned. Laura and Joe (Lucille's daughter and husband) live nearby so we could visit everybody at once.

I had not been to either house, just as I had not seen Jess since she moved to Lisle. I think the last time I saw Laura and her kids was over eight years ago when her youngest boy, Matthew was still in a carry seat and Julia had yet to be born. That visit took place when I was on a solo journey around the country and they were still in the Napa Valley area. 

We arrived late in the afternoon at Lou's home and were given the grand tour. And "grand" it was! I thought our Aerie was more house than two people need, but Lou and Doug have double the size. Of course, they also have the three grandkids just a couple of blocks away and they can occupy lots of space when present as we found out at dinner and breakfast. 

After a very brief but happy visit, we were on our way home travelling I-70 north to I-71 north until we could get on I-80 east. Then it was PA Route 220 to Route 15 north and home with one overnight stop in Cloverdale just west of Terra Haute, Indiana

We retraced a good portion of this trip in late December but that's a tale for another day.