Thanksgiving well-spent

Gary and I spent Thanksgiving Day, Friday, and Saturday in Chicago with my dear friend, Ann, and her two children, Sara and Christian. Sara and Christian are my godchildren. We ate and drank and talked and walked.

The children, as children do, have grown into fine adults. Sara is now 24 and Christian is 22.

We took the train down on Thursday. The train is such a lovely way to travel. When we are in England or Europe, we always try to take the train. It is so stress-free. You can sleep or read comfortably. I have never been able to read in a car so traveling by train is aways a treat.

My persistence with Orbitz landed us rooms at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for under $100 a night. We ended up with adjoining rooms, allowing us to talk even more.

Ann had brought a watercolor that David had done for me a long, long time ago. (David has been dead now for four years.) She had found it looking through some of his things for something entirely different. I took it to Michael's on Sunday and picked out a very nice frame and matting.

While in Chicago, we did get to all three museums of note: The Art Institute, the Field's Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. We didn't get any shopping done, except for those few items that we purchased in the museums gift shops. I had planned to go to Macy's or Bloomingdales, but simply ran out of time.

It was good to spend time with friends you see infrequently. It was good to be thankful for the opportunity to travel, to eat well, and be with people you love and who love you.