Cousin Lynn puts up with a lot from us but she keeps opening her very comfortable home without reservations. Layne stuffed her laundry with clothes and sheets and all the impediments of a life on wheels. We soaked in long hot showers. We collected the packages she had accepted for us and stored. We raided her pantry and her fridge. She smiled and gave us her blessing.
You wouldn’t think of it as Chicago this leafy green suburb.
Rusty likes it as the mornings are cool and fresh.
And when he’s had enough he sunbathes.
Or butts in on call conversations.
We took the time to reorganize GANNET2, with Layne ordering new storage solutions and me, her inept assistant helping install them.
I made a date to have lunch with Webb Chiles who himself happens to be in the neighborhood. We ate bagels and walked and tired out Rusty in the hot afternoon sun along the Skokie River.
No indoor seating at the bagel shop.
Webb has developed a fondness for the furry little bundle of good manners. Where I fail in the social graces Rusty succeeds and wins everybody over. He is an oddly endearing dog.
I have long held the belief that if dog owners don’t get the importance of good manners no amount of reminders could convert them. This sign was cute though.
GANNET2 ends up in magical places.
And Webb it was who gives me the justification for retiring as a wandering nomad of no visible utility. “Go to the edge of human experience and send back reports.” Okay then.
This is proving to be a good tour of the US before we tackle South America and I’m enjoying the absence of deadlines but September 8th GANNET2 goes into the shop in Ohio for some overland upgrades. Until then we plan to enjoy the woods and lakes of Michigan to remind ourselves we aren’t really suburban mansion dwellers. Though I do enjoy driving by them from time to time.
I also have a date to go sailing with Webb in South Carolina, weather permitting. So yes, we do have some deadlines, even here in the center of human experience.
