Well, I guess the summer vacation has now came and went. That sure didn't take long. So, in an effort to salvage as much remembrance as I can... here is the lowdown as best as I can recall...
BUDA/SHEFFIELD
Since the Atlanta Horwedels would be arriving the next day, and my parents only have two extra bedrooms, we brought our tent for Jane and I to sleep in. We also brought our queen-size air mattress. So the two of us slept in the tent both nights. I guess Jane didn't sleep so well, but it worked fine for me.
Sunday morning the two of us and the Feipels went to church in Kewanee. It was actually kind of nice. I enjoyed the music and the sermon. It was good to receive a challenge for a change (though ever so gracefully done).
Isaac and Ricci arrived early Sunday afternoon. We hadn't seen them since Christmas. Later in the afternoon we all then headed over to nephew/doctor Tim's in Sheffield and had a bit of a family gathering with Jane's side. Of course not everyone was there, but there were quite a few. The little kids all played, and the adults listened to one of Jane's brothers talk typical conservative midwestern "stuff."
Monday morning we all (minus my parents) headed out to Mautino State Park west of town. The grandkids like going there. We looked at nature and lakes/ponds and such and just sort of hung around together. There is apparently a pond (or lake) named after my dad, though you can't drive to it, and I was never really sure which one it was.
GALENA
Just after lunch we loaded up our vehicles - all four of them - and everyone headed to the Galena Territory in northwest Illinois (including my parents!). I drove my parents in their car, Carrie drove our car with Jane and Anna, Drew took the boys in their car, and Isaac and Ricci rode together in their car. The reason we each took our own vehicle is because the Feipels and Atlanta Horwedels were both leaving from Galena (and going separate ways), and we weren't sure how long my parents were going to be able to stay. I think we were all expecting them to leave after the first day (my mom included), but my dad actually managed to stay the entire time with just a few hiccups.
The Galena Territory is a rolling expanse of hills and trees and open land that seems to lend itself to tourism for lack of anything else. This is our second time staying in a house on the Eagle Ridge Resort. We rented a beautiful 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom house that included use of the Owner's Club with indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, game room, basketball/pickleball/volleyball courts, tennis courts, as well as the nearby lake and marina. It was perfect for the entire family.
Most of our time there was spent hanging around the house, putting puzzles together, chatting, swimming, playing games (Chronology is the best), and we all took turns visiting the interesting little town of Galena now and then. Everyone took turns cooking, so we never once ate out, and other than a couple trips to the store we didn't really spend much money.
We were at the house in Galena from 4 pm Monday until check-out time at 11 am Thursday. The time went way too fast, and I was sad to leave. After clearing out of and cleaning the house we all met at the waterfall on the property. We took some pics and tossed some rocks in the water. Then we headed back toward reality. The Feipels headed to Rockford to see where Drew's great, great, great grandfather lived. The rest of us went back down route 84 and stopped for lunch at Poopy's in Savannah, Illinois. It is known as a biker bar, but is just pretty all-around cool... and the food is pretty good too. My mom bought a coffee mug. Then Isaac and Ricci headed to her mom's house in Indy, and we went back to my parents house.
Friday Jane and I left for home mid-morning. It was a strange sort of day. While I was ready to be back "home," we'd been gone just long enough to sort of forget where home really was. In many ways it was like we no longer had one. Though in some ways it was almost like we'd become Illinoisans again. The only thing I know for sure is that we were neither one ready to go back to work!
Anyway, after heavy traffic coming home, we finally made it. The cat was even happy to see us. Everything else was pretty much the same.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever learn. I had a GREAT time on this vacation, but as usual, I stressed over all the wrong things. I wasn't all that excited about my parents being along, because I knew my dad was going to do something to ruin it for everyone. He almost did on Monday night in Galena, but my mom was able to talk him down and convince him he wasn't having another heart attack. The rest of the time I was just too preoccupied with myself to really enjoy the company of everyone else. I don't know why I do that, and I hate it when I do.
I was the jerk on Wednesday (following in the old man's footsteps). I had strange dreams all three nights in Galena. Tuesday night were some doozies, and when I woke up Wednesday I was feeling insecure and a little strung out. Then I was told everyone was going into town EXCEPT ME, and I was going to have to stay and babysit my dad! Apparently I'd been informed of this earlier and I didn't remember. That's probably true, but I can't imagine I'd have agreed to it if I was actually paying attention. So I pouted and made everyone uncomfortable, I'm sure. I had planned to run 7 miles Wednesday morning, and staying with my dad was not something I would have wanted to do anyway. So, of course, Jane ended up staying with him, and then I just felt guilty about being a jerk. Such is my life.
I ended up running the 7 miles on the treadmill at the Owners Club. It was too hot outside by the time I got around to it.
As for my dad... well, it's no secret we've never gotten along. He has never listened to me, nor really even tried or cared to. Yet, even still, it's just hard for me to see him in this state of dementia. I can't bring myself to listen to the same questions over and over and over again. He's like he's always been, only slightly more exaggerated. Yes, I am a terrible son; and a pretty terrible person in general. It becomes even worse when I realize I'm being just like him - not listening to the grandkids, or not relating to my kids the way I would like to. It makes me a combination of sad and mad and all sorts of other things... and then I just don't know what to do. So...
Well, that's about all there is to say about all that. At least for now. It was a nice vacation. I am glad and feel fortunate we could all get together. I wish I were a better person, I wish our family was closer and better able to share our feelings and all that... but it is what it is. We did it; we all survived; no one got hurt all that much.
And now it's back to reality. Vacation is over. My paycheck is missing a week's pay. Who knows when we will next be able to do anything like this again. I guess we just have to take it one day at a time...
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