In Chicago
Jan. 15th, 2006 12:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xiphiasSo, we're in Chicago. We got in this morning, and Lis's brother and sister-in-law picked us up. He booked rooms at a very nice hotel, Hotel 71; I'm posting this from their business center, which has free wifi.
It's within very easy walking distance of Grandma Rose's condo, so we walked over there in the early afternoon, while Josh, Missy, and Nate (who is two and adorable) took naps. We spent a good couple hours hanging out with her. Josh, Missy, and Nate had been over in the morning -- it was the first time he'd gotten to meet his great-grandma, and she him. She loves him to pieces, but as she is not strong or in good health, she could really only socialize with a toddler for an hour or so. Lis and I, however, are generally less strenuous than a toddler, so we could hang out for a couple hours.
Grandma Rose regaled us with various stories of her life, and we were struck by what an interesting and extraordinary life she's led. And I thought about how many other people I know who've led interesting and extraordinary lives, and I realize that it's fairly ordinary to have an extraordinary life. Most lives are, I suspect. Not necessarily fun, and almost certainly not EASY, but at least INTERESTING.
She's doing well. I mean, she's not mobile, and hasn't been for decades, she's in constant pain, and has been so for decades, she just got out of the hospital after breaking her hip; if she falls down, she cannot get up, and her life was saved only because she and her sister talk on the telephone at the same time every day, and when Rose missed their phone call, Paula called 911. So, when I say, "she's doing well," it's certainly a relative term.
But I honestly feel like she's in less actual DISTRESS than she was four years ago, the last time we saw her. I mean, I think she's still in the same amount of pain, but the pain seems to be bother her less.
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rebmommy, she asked after you, and expressed some regret that you weren't there -- so, if you and Dad get a chance to get out here to Chicago, you should go.
In the evening, we went out to a suburb of Chicago to see Lis's Uncle Dan and Aunt Mary, and their three kids, Ethan (12ish), Brendan (10ish), and Renee (5ish). We had SUCH a blast. The kids all loved Nathan, and Nathan loved them -- first time they met, but he had a blast and didn't get upset or stressed out or anything (unusual for a toddler) even though he was up WAY past his bedtime. In fact, the first he got upset at all was when it was time to go -- he threw a tantrum because he didn't want to leave his cousins. (Cousins once removed, if you want to be technical about it. )
When Brendan came down to greet us, he had his cockatoo on his shoulder, and Nate's face lit up. "Birdie!" he cried happily, and he was amazed to see a REAL LIVE BIRD SITTING ON SOMEONE'S SHOULDER. It was the best thing he'd ever seen. Until Ethan came down with his pet in his lap -- a hedgehog (SO CUTE!) Brendan and Ethan were almost competing just to show Nathan a good time, and they managed to spoil him rotten in just a couple hours. Of course, the fact that Josh, Missy, Lis, and I were also trying to spoil Brendan, Ethan, and Renee at the same time didn't hurt.
We had fun.
Tomorrow morning, we're going up to Milwaukee to visit a different branch of the family, then back to Skokie to visit with Paula.
Yes, I AM still bitter and sad about not being at Arisia. That said, being with the Chicago branch of Lis's family, who we haven't seen in four years, is a pretty good consolation prize. These are good folks.
It's within very easy walking distance of Grandma Rose's condo, so we walked over there in the early afternoon, while Josh, Missy, and Nate (who is two and adorable) took naps. We spent a good couple hours hanging out with her. Josh, Missy, and Nate had been over in the morning -- it was the first time he'd gotten to meet his great-grandma, and she him. She loves him to pieces, but as she is not strong or in good health, she could really only socialize with a toddler for an hour or so. Lis and I, however, are generally less strenuous than a toddler, so we could hang out for a couple hours.
Grandma Rose regaled us with various stories of her life, and we were struck by what an interesting and extraordinary life she's led. And I thought about how many other people I know who've led interesting and extraordinary lives, and I realize that it's fairly ordinary to have an extraordinary life. Most lives are, I suspect. Not necessarily fun, and almost certainly not EASY, but at least INTERESTING.
She's doing well. I mean, she's not mobile, and hasn't been for decades, she's in constant pain, and has been so for decades, she just got out of the hospital after breaking her hip; if she falls down, she cannot get up, and her life was saved only because she and her sister talk on the telephone at the same time every day, and when Rose missed their phone call, Paula called 911. So, when I say, "she's doing well," it's certainly a relative term.
But I honestly feel like she's in less actual DISTRESS than she was four years ago, the last time we saw her. I mean, I think she's still in the same amount of pain, but the pain seems to be bother her less.
rebmommy, she asked after you, and expressed some regret that you weren't there -- so, if you and Dad get a chance to get out here to Chicago, you should go.In the evening, we went out to a suburb of Chicago to see Lis's Uncle Dan and Aunt Mary, and their three kids, Ethan (12ish), Brendan (10ish), and Renee (5ish). We had SUCH a blast. The kids all loved Nathan, and Nathan loved them -- first time they met, but he had a blast and didn't get upset or stressed out or anything (unusual for a toddler) even though he was up WAY past his bedtime. In fact, the first he got upset at all was when it was time to go -- he threw a tantrum because he didn't want to leave his cousins. (Cousins once removed, if you want to be technical about it. )
When Brendan came down to greet us, he had his cockatoo on his shoulder, and Nate's face lit up. "Birdie!" he cried happily, and he was amazed to see a REAL LIVE BIRD SITTING ON SOMEONE'S SHOULDER. It was the best thing he'd ever seen. Until Ethan came down with his pet in his lap -- a hedgehog (SO CUTE!) Brendan and Ethan were almost competing just to show Nathan a good time, and they managed to spoil him rotten in just a couple hours. Of course, the fact that Josh, Missy, Lis, and I were also trying to spoil Brendan, Ethan, and Renee at the same time didn't hurt.
We had fun.
Tomorrow morning, we're going up to Milwaukee to visit a different branch of the family, then back to Skokie to visit with Paula.
Yes, I AM still bitter and sad about not being at Arisia. That said, being with the Chicago branch of Lis's family, who we haven't seen in four years, is a pretty good consolation prize. These are good folks.