Best Fourth of July EVER. Actually it was the third of July but you understand....
On Saturday morning we headed up to the Indiana Dunes to visit our friend Jim, whom we'd reconnected with recently (my blog has given me some lovely gifts, of which this is one). We were supposed to leave the house by 6 a.m. which means 6:30. Well....we made it by 7 and got just a few minutes onto the road (doughnuts purchased and onto the highway) when we'd realized we'd forgotten the box of organic macaroni and cheese which is one of the few foods Leo eats. Sigh. The boys didn't want to turn around so I suggested to Leo that we could pick up some Kraft macaroni and cheese for him. He stared at me in shock so we turned around. FINALLY got on the road and managed to make it to their house just in time to leave for the parade.
You gotta love a parade in which somebody reads the Declaration of Independence before it starts and then most of the town marches in it. We traipsed along as part of the kazoo band. Might I note that Owen took took to the kazoo like the proverbial duck to water. Anyone surprised? Here's our beloved Jim.
The rest of the day was spent on the beach, lounging in the water and on the sand...relaxing in the backyard of Jim and Jean's house, wondering if Owen was STILL on the slip and slide, drinking wine, eating dinner and reveling in being part of their extended family. We had never met Jim's wife Jean---they hadn't been married when we knew Jim previously. All I can say is good LORD but he did good....she is absolutely lovely. Of course, to be be fair, she did damned well herself! Their house was full of their family---siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews....it was just wonderful. At one point Ernie looked at me, smiled, and quietly said, "I want to be part of this." I knew exactly what he meant. I'm at the point in my life----a combination of age and life experience---that I am jealous of large families, particularly of those that are close enough for regular gatherings. They were just lovely people----all of them. The day really felt like a gift. The last few years have had some incredible moments for us----and many joys. They haven't been the easiest of years though and we kind of have this feeling of coming out of the tunnel these days....as though we're still blinking a bit against the light. And this day felt like we were really in the light.
We finished the day (after dragging Owen off the slip and slide at long last) with fireworks on the beach and then we tumbled off to the hotel they'd gotten for us (so kind) and barely made it to the beds before dropping into the hardest of sleeps. I don't think the four of us moved all night long.
We had planned to stop by the next morning for breakfast and to say goodbye (and I had wanted to get a good picture of Jean and Jim whom I imagine are a very photogenic couple) but yours truly had idiotically gotten an absolutely horrendous sunburn and I was pathetic and not capable of clothing myself presentably so we begged off.
Yes. I am in idiot. When we were leaving for beach Jean had asked me if I wanted a hat. What did I say? "Oh, no I'm o.k. thanks." I had forgotten the sunscreen we'd meant to bring (I do have good intentions) so I borrowed some but did a rather half ass job of putting it on because I felt bad stealing someone else's....oh, and also because...well, I'm an idiot. Oh, and I also used a lot of their bug spray and stole someone's hair tie. What a guest! Anyway....I never used to burn. I don't remember ever being sunburned as a kid. The first time I remember getting sunburnt was when Ernie and I saw Bill Monroe in Grant Park on a sunny day with a cool lake breeze. There were a bunch of bands----Emmylou, Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe and we were there for hours. We came home with glowing faces and I was absolutely shocked. I must have been about 30 something then. And I have gotten a couple of sunburns in Maine recently so you think I would know better but somehow I'm still in denial---you know....well, I didn't get sunburns as a kid, so why would I now? Well....no more denial. As I said to Leo when we went back in the water in early evening so I could cool my burning shoulders, "well, we do learn from our mistakes" and he nodded seriously and said, "yes, we do Mom." God I love that boy. I know he kind of wanted to go back to the beach but he kindly stayed in the water with me (putting up with my periodic hugs) until the sun went down over the water because he knew it was making me really happy.
So the whole family feels relaxed and happy. The boys thought the place was just MAGICAL and loved it. My sweet Leo even has asked what we can do for Jim and Jean as a thank you. And Owen, well Owen....the one with the sore stomach muscles from his hours on the slip and slide? ....well, he obviously adored it. So thanks from our family to Jim and Jean and their family. It was a special day for us.