I was talking to my daughter on the phone on October 8th, after she and her husband had trekked to downtown Chicago for his Naturalization personal interview and oral citizenship test. We normally just talk online, but I figured there would be too much to talk about to have to type it all, so I called. Denis passed his test with flying colors and was told that he would be contacted by mail to inform him of when his Oath Ceremony would take place. Just before we hung up, Meg said, "Oh...while I have you on the phone, we are planning to come down this weekend for a visit. Will you be around?"
That's a joke, right? Where else would I be? The grandchildren would have a 4-day weekend, due to some school function and Columbus Day. This was a Tuesday. I began to shift gears in my mind, figuring that they would all be down on Friday. The next day--Wednesday--I learned that they would be here Thursday night. Instead of a gear shift, I needed to fire up the after-burners! The family would have to leave on Sunday morning because the grandchildren had a soccer game in Illinois late that afternoon, and Denis had a work meeting on Monday. Our weekend would be crunched into Friday and Saturday.
Understand that the house was still messed up from when I left for Meg's in early August. The bathroom had had some work done in it and was still torn up; my bedroom was a total disaster area from the previous Christmas mess. The kitchen and bathroom floors were filthy. I needed to pick up and clean up and shop for groceries, etc. Thank God for my helper, James! He came over to assist. Mowed the lawn. Replaced a dripping faucet in the main bathroom. Washed the bathroom and kitchen floors. Vacuumed the carpets. Carted some things to storage for me. Whew! And by the time my family arrived (2:00 AM Friday early morn), the house still wasn't ready but was a whole lot better than it was!
Many times, when the family comes, we hem and haw over what to do...what restaurant to go to...blah, blah. Denis and Meg like to travel and see things. And Central Indiana is definitely a great place to be for that in October, providing the weather cooperates...which it was supposed to do. Thus, we had made a decision to go to Nashville, IN, on Friday...and do some covered bridge things on Saturday. (Some of that was planned around a tentative play date for Ryan with his local buddy, Jack. That fell through, but we didn't know it would.)
On Friday, due to time zone differences with the kids, we set out later than necessary for Nashville. It was a gorgeous day, and the drive to Nashville, even when the trees were only just beginning to turn colors, is a lovely one. We took my rollator (a walker on wheels with a built-in seat) and off we went. Found a decent place to park and set off for the main drag. After one shop, we went to The Nashville House for "linner". I have to say this: The Nashville House is touted for its fried biscuits and its (limited) country menu, but I've never been impressed. The food was good, but not $17.95 per person good, when only one of the children qualified for a child's rate!! I experienced one of my "things" whereby I got too full too fast, got breathless, and decided that I needed to go back to the car and let the family go on at their own pace. (I had brought a Sudoku puzzle book just for this purpose--just in case.) And that's what we did. At the end of their tour, they sent Ryan back to me to ask if I wanted to join them for ice cream, within sight just down the street...and again to ask if I wanted to join them for a horse-drawn carriage ride. By now it was long after dark. There are a lot of details in between. Suffice it to say that we took the enjoyable carriage ride, then drove home. Were back by 9:00 and eventually found ourselves on the patio trying to break open a geode that Meg had purchased. (No go. It wasn't hollow!)
Saturday, again a late start and again a beautiful day. My grandson and I stayed home, by choice, while Megan, Denis, and Robin headed out for Bridgeton, IN. Bridgeton is an itty-bitty town in the heart of covered bridge territory, truly off the beaten path. Its main claim to fame is a very long covered bridge over some falls--a bridge that was torched by arson a few years back and had to be rebuilt--but the town cashes in on the Covered Bridge Festival hoopla by having craft and food booths lining the streets. Ryan spent his entire day in his room on his computer, Skyping and playing an online game with a friend from home, happy as a little clam. I spent my day trying to pick up the kitchen and prepare a decent meal for the family when they eventually came home. Heh heh...they ran into a traffic jam trying to get out of Bridgeton, so our supper was late....but judging by the pictures that Meg posted, they enjoyed their day. I love that!!
I am absolutely delighted that the weekend went as well as it did. Wish it could have been longer. They all departed about 11 AM, Indiana time, on Sunday and were at the soccer fields on time. My only big regret is that our schedule conflicted with the other grandparents' schedule, and we were not able to meet up. :(
Just today, I finished up the Saturday dishes. (Don't ask!) Tomorrow, my son-in-law takes the oath to become an American citizen...and I won't be there. I'm not very happy about this. I had such plans and such hopes. I am so very proud of that young man!! This has been his dream for many years. Can't wait!
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