Let’s go walking by the beach tonight
And watch the sun come up on Lake Shore Drive
Then I’ll take you in my arms
And I’ll keep you from all harm
Cause I know everything is gonna be alright
And I don’t care what people say
Cause I’m gonna love you night & day
Oh baby if you still want me
Still need me, all you gotta do is let me
Just walk right up to your door
I’m makin’ my way back to Chicago
I’m makin’ my way come rain or shine
I’m gonna find true love waiting for me
I’m gonna make it all work out for good this time
– Styx
Saturday 10 June 2023
Our last day in the Midwest, always a bittersweet feeling.
After another good walk around the Gateway Arch in St Louis, we got breakfast at a diner near our Airbnb and got on the road, heading back to Glen Ellyn. We had enough time to get back to the house there, clean up, put on some washing and go via Chick-Fil-A for lunch before we went to watch Mike and Jane’s daughter Bri play softball.
We weren’t alone at the park: lots of familiar faces including Mike’s parents (Brian and Debbie), Jane’s dad (Frank), the Maguires and others. Although they don’t keep score at that age, Bri’s team seemed to have the better of the game, and we got to see Bri pitch and get one hit. Thankfully, conditions for spectators and players were better this Saturday than one week ago. A gentle breeze makes a huge difference.
Bri invited us to Dairy Queen – smoothies, slushies, smoothies and sundaes, mostly – in Wheaton after the game, with the rest of her team, which was nice. She asked a few times, so we couldn’t very well say no. I enjoyed my pineapple-mango smoothie, and it was an opportunity to keep chatting with some of the people at the game. I’ll never turn down a chance to have a chat (especially to Americans!), so it wasn’t an onerous experience. Plus, Kat got to have her first DQ.
Dinner was at Brian and Debbie’s, as is now tradition on our last night in Chicago. Unfortunately, the other regular attendees, Jamie and Will, were out of state, attending a wedding out east in Philadelphia, but it was still a fun night. Debbie made her trademark teriyaki steak (amazing, as always), with fried rice and vegetables and we provided a rectangular fruit tart for dessert that was also amazing.
Then, the final stop on our Midwest tour this year: Hale Street Cantina in downtown Wheaton where we went at 9:00pm, meeting up with Mike, Bryan, Aron, Scott and Allan for a few “farewell to the Aussies” drinks…that turned into quite a lot of drinks. We didn’t get home until nearly midnight, which is going to be interesting when my alarm goes off at 3:00am for our 7:00am flight west to San Francisco.
That said, it’s tradition now to go out with the guys on our last night in Chicago, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a 4 hour flight in my near future: I’ll sleep on that and be fine. Chicago, you’ve been amazing, as always. Maybe better than ever. See you real soon.
kitchtrips 