Family Moment

 

These family photos were taken on the final day of our summer vacation at the cabin on Sweet Lake, less than a month before dropping Sam off at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities for his first year of college. It was a bittersweet respite, with Sam struggling to "be with" us while trying to stay in contact via sketchy WIFI with his friends. I was sad that I couldn't get him or Tom out to kayak with me on the lake more, a sacred ritual for me. On the water I watched the loons guiding their chick, reminded of my similar role as Sam's mother. I am conflicted by my fear of that ending while excited for his new beginning. 

Last Breaths

A sadder moment of vacation at the cabin on Sweet Lake was when this sharp-shinned hawk crashed into an upper window and broke its neck. Sam and Tom sadly witnessed it taking its last breath. We buried it in a pile of leaves in the woods. 

Hanging with the Cousins

Playing canasta with the cousins. We usually budget time for two or three games. And a follow-up night, in case Suzanne's team doesn't win. This trip, someone thought it was funny to bring these napkins. 

Chicago Adventure: Trying New Things Together

Whether eating real ramen for the first time or riding the elevated train, the best thing about our Chicago adventures was sharing them together.

Chicago Adventure: Walking From D (Dinosaurs) to W (Centennial Wheel)

We explored farther afield our second day in Chicago, walking two miles south from our hotel to the Field Museum and 1.7 miles north and east from our hotel to Navy Pier. Our 13-year-old, who has no problem running 13 miles in a half-marathon -- complained about these distances most of the way. Thankfully, he found distraction in photographing the Chicago skyline, railyards and Trump Tower, watching skateboarders in Grant Park, tipping a street musician who was playing his saxophone in a Museum Campus tunnel, and avoiding goose poop on the lake walk along Du Sable Harbor.

At the Field Museum, we were captivated by the Evolving Planet exhibit. Different this time to our visit five years ago was Sam explaining to me the parts and work of human cells, genes and DNA. We spent the majority of our time looking at the trilobites, fossils, dinosaurs, giant ground sloth and Neanderthals. We were disappointed that Sue was away but happy to learn she is receiving some scientific updates like the addition of her gastralia (breathing ribs) and re-positioning of her arms and wishbone along with a new display space.

Tom was able to join us for our Navy Pier adventure, which included viewing the Chicago Skyline from atop the Centennial Wheel and winding our way back to our hotel via a route that took us past the Chicago Tribune and -- to Sam's happy surprise -- Trump Tower. (We aren't sure why he wanted this photo, but he was able to secure it.)

Chicago Adventure: Art and More Art

Over the past 13 years, my family has explored children's museums, toy and Legos museums, science museums, air and space museums, natural history museums and zoos. We've visited a mint, an open-pit iron mine, an underground iron mine, the National Mall and even that goofy Mystery Spot in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

But we had never taken in an art museum beyond seeing the Mounties at the Tweed. So I was surprised on this trip to Chicago that one of the first things our recently turned teen wanted to see was art. Specifically, he wanted to visit Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, and Crown Fountain at Millennium Park, which he had learned about in 6th grade art class with Mrs. Hannu. But he also didn't balk, much, when I suggested, well maybe insisted, we visit the Art Institute.

We had fun interacting with and photographing the reflective bean and the enormous wall of glass bricks that projects faces of native Chicagoans. It was good to be outside. Being hearty Duluthians, the brisk wind off Lake Michigan didn't deter us. But it did keep the crowds away and make it easier to slip inside the Art Institute on the pretense of getting warm.

One hour or two? A compromise. Four exhibits or six, and a trip to the gift shop? Another compromise. Instead of standing on the stairs while I use the restroom, go look at the glass paperweights. I was beginning to think this would be a trying experience. But when I entered the hall, my son was eager to show me the paperweights he liked best.

We both were in awe of the Hall of Miniatures, European and American rooms crafted on a scale of one inch to one foot. And he was absorbed in photographing exhibits in the Hall of Medieval and Renaissance arms and armor. I sensed reluctance when we moved on to paintings, but then we happened upon some Van Goghs. We had recently watched the Dr. Who episode of "Vincent Meets the Doctor," so we had to explore that room and a few more.

I was looking forward to examining some architectural works by Frank Lloyd Wright, but I could tell he really wanted to head to the hotel for a late afternoon nap. And who wouldn't after boarding a plane at 6:30 a.m.?

We made a quick stop in the gift shop. Realizing we had missed Andy Warhol, Edward Munch, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, the Chagall windows and more, I almost headed back into the museum. But common sense prevailed. He had visited his first art museum and, for the most part, enjoyed it.

Chicago Adventure: Navigating the Big City

Navigating a big city in itself can be a grand adventure, and our first tag-along on Tom's annual MBAA International Conference was just that.

Since Tom had stayed at the hotel several times before, we relied on him to get us from Chicago O'Hare to downtown Chicago, er, The Loop. We took the L, boarding an empty train car that filled to capacity with morning commuters on the 45-minute ride.

We exited the Monroe Blue Line station on Dearborn Street, momentarily turned around, until a fellow passenger pointed us around the corner and in the right direction to our hotel. We walked down Monroe Street quickly, our bags rolling and bumping along behind us.

Hopeful the elegant and historic Palmer House Hotel would accommodate an early check-in, we passed through the glass entrance doors and made our way to the marble registration desk. They were happy to assist, and we were in our room and unpacking by 10 a.m.

After a quick brunch in an eatery linked to the hotel, Tom walked us in the direction of Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Art Institute. A brisk wind made us return to the hotel for Sam's winter coat and the address of a nearby comic book store before we set off on our own. Tom needed to prepare for his first of two presentations that afternoon.

L train cars rumbled on the tracks overhead and we caught sight of a kippah-clad jeweler behind a case of uncut diamonds on the few blocks walk to Graham Cracker Comics on Madison Street. I filed a mental note of the location of nearby Pizano's Pizza, its signs touting deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. After a half-hour perusing Graham Cracker's impressive inventory, Sam selected several comic books and most likely lost his room key when pulling out his wallet to pay for them.

At Madison and Michigan, we found ourselves across from  Millennium Park. Sam wanted to see The Bean and the wall of faces, you know, where the projected faces of Chicagoans spit water out their mouths, creating a fountain people can walk through. How did he know about these public works of art? Sixth grade art class with Mrs. Hannu. We had fun taking photos from outside and underneath the reflective bean-shaped Cloud Gate as named by the artist. Crown Fountain, however, doesn't start flowing until May, but we had its massive glass brick walls all to ourselves to explore.

The cold made it easy to convince Sam to accompany me to the Chicago Art Institute. In fact, he suggested we hurry there. We discovered many treasures unknown to us (see Chicago Adventure: Art and More Art post). On our way back to the hotel, he spied a sign for Friends Ramen, an eatery we would try the next day.

But what and where for dinner? Deep-dish Chicago pizza, was on our list. We wandered into an  Italian warehouse style restaurant across from the hotel and decided it wasn't for us. We had something a bit more homey and traditional in mind. So, onward those few blocks again to Pizano's. Our waiter, "The Chach," was a true character, calling Sam either Samuel or Minnesota and referring to Tom as Dad, and he brought us an unsolicited deep-dish cookie sundae for Samuel's "birthday" and our "anniversary." The restaurant, too, is part of a colorful history that involves step-brothers vying for claims to the best, if not original, deep-dish Chicago pizza.

Reliving my childhood summers

Our annual visit to West Virginia resembled my childhood summers in many ways:

• Riding bikes in the early morning or late evening to the John Marshall High School tennis courts (freshly resurfaced with new nets and fence this year) to play a few sets.
• Swimming or just cooling off from the hot mid-day sun in Glen Dale's municipal swimming pool.
• Biking out Little Grave Creek Road or into town. (The bike trail along the Ohio River between Glen Dale and Moundsville didn't exist back then.)
• Checking out a big stack of books from the Moundsville Public Library. (They didn't have movies on DVD back then.)
• Gathering with the cousins to play cards at my Mom's house. (We played sports and games outdoors instead of Canasta at the dining room table.)
• Reconnecting with my brother Mike and my best friend from high school Letitia.

With my mother's pronouncement that she will be ready to sell the house in two years and move to Duluth to be near me, my opportunities to "go home again" are nearing an end. Mom may change her mind several times between now and then. At 86, we all know maintaining the house and acre of land with it has become "too much" for her.

 I'll be happy to have her nearby rather than 1,000 miles away. But I will miss recreating my childhood summers for my son. We have been blessed to be able to do that for 11 years and --  hopefully -- a couple more.

Schooling for life

During our visit to West Virginia, my brother Mike gave my 11-year-old son some tips on shooting pool. He also introduced him to two-handed euchre and "Shut the Box," a traditional English pub game of dice and numbers.

I must mention that after 10 rounds of Shut the Box, Sam wanted to modify the rules to include the use of subtraction in eliminating the numbers. By the following day, he was advocating the use of algebraic formulas. None of which his Uncle Mike would allow.

Obviously, my son doesn't yet understand the importance of keeping your drinking games simple.

Sliding into summer at Sweet Lake

We spent the first couple days of Sam's summer break at Sweet Lake -- paddle-boarding, kayaking, swimming, reading in the hammock, listening to the call of the loons, watching a great blue heron glide across the lake. I'd describe this trip to the cabin as a relaxing, gentle start to summer.

DC Adventure: Which Smithsonian Museum?

We couldn't visit all of them, so we chose a few: Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum, Freer Gallery.

DC Adventure: Money

After studying currency and the economy in his GATE class last year, Sam insisted we tour the Bureau of Engraving and Printing -- where all the money is made. So we did. Picture-taking opportunities were limited.

In many ways, it was like being back in the press room at the newspaper. But the printing process is more involved, quality control is more exacting, and the security level is way higher.

DC Adventure: The Monuments Tour

We spent the morning touring the impressive monuments and memorials on the National Mall.

We liked the iconic Washington and Lincoln memorials and overwhelmingly somber Vietnam and Korean memorials best. But we had the most fun at the Roosevelt memorial.

As the sun got higher in the sky and the temperature and humidity rose to sweltering, we debated renting bikes or Segways. Alas, Sam wasn't tall enough for one or old enough for the other. Next time, perhaps.

DC Adventure: The National Zoo

Josh and Erin came down from Baltimore to have lunch with us then take in the National Zoo. I particularly liked the ways different animals coped with the heat.

DC Adventure: Arlington National Cemetery

I wasn't in the right frame of mind when we arrived at Arlington National Cemetery.

We got delayed at our subway stop and were late meeting Mike and Cathy. I was annoyed that my Mom spent so much time at the women's memorial, considering all of the other sights in Washington that Tom, Sam and I wanted to see.

We got to talk with my sister-in-law about her time in Afghanistan and Iraq. We saw President John F. Kennedy's grave. By the time we got to the Tomb of the Unknowns and watched the changing of the guard, I was able to appreciate the experience.

Summer is officially here

I'm washing a load of laundry this morning. In it are my family's smoky clothes from our first fire of the season in our backyard last night, Sam's mud-splattered shorts and race t-shirt from the Congdon Cougar Chase yesterday morning, and some mosquito repellent-laden clothing from a hike I took earlier this week in Hartley Field.

Sam, by the way, had an excellent 5K run on the Lester River trails. He ran a time of 28:14, placing 7th in his age group and 41st out of 127 runners overall. I believe he would have placed higher if the mud hadn't sucked off his shoe and sock. He crossed the finish line carrying the sock but wearing the shoe.

The shoes, now clean, are drying on the front porch in the sun.

Spring Break Adventure Day 1

Sam and his cousins shared an overnight adventure to St. Paul during spring break. Our first stop was the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

We got caught up watching a family of orangutans interact, two bison chase each other around their outdoor pen, and the polar bear swim past the viewing area window.

The warmth and humidity of the Conservatory pushed away Duluth's still-lingering cold. The boys were enthralled by the giant ferns, the koi ponds, fountains and the Japanese garden. I was delighted by the flowers in the sunken garden, the bonsai collection and the fern room.

At the cabin

Due to Tom's teaching schedule, Sam's t-ball games and swimming lessons, and my upcoming conference, we aren't able to get away for summer vacation.

So, we spent three days on Sweet Lake instead. Easy meals out on the deck...swim races to the diving platform...a gentle swim and float on the sand-bottomed Lake Owen...a canoe trip across Sweet Lake...an evening ride on Uncle Thom's pontoon boat to chase turtles and tour the sunken "ghost" ship...the adventures of a 6-year-old sleeping in a bunk bed for the first time...a quiet soak in the clawfoot bathtub...

It feels like we've been gone a month.

At the helm

We've been playing tourist since Grandma Edna's arrival.

So far, our outings have taken a maritime theme: a tour of the Duluth-Superior Harbor aboard the Vista Queen, a walk on the Lakewalk down to the Aerial Lift Bridge, and this visit to the Lake Superior Marine Museum.

The best part, so far, was looking straight up while we sailed under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out into Lake Superior.

Tours of the S.S. William A. Irvin iron ore carrier, Split Rock Lighthouse and Great Lakes Aquarium remain on our list.

Vacation kitsch

It isn't vacation if you haven't...

Posed for goofy photos with Grandma like this one at the SMART Centre Market Science and Dinosaur Store.


Played a round of minature golf with Dad at Grand Vue Park. Mom won, though each of us shot a hole-in-one.


Stopped by a tourist trap, like Sea Shell City. The store was closed, but we got to play on the pirate ship.

Perhaps next year we'll even get to the UP's famed Mystery Spot or Weird Wax Museum.