Hello everybody! It’s been an eventful week to say the least. I’m actually writing this entry as Chad and I drive back to Iowa. It’s a beautiful balmy evening and the sun is just setting now. Chad and I were supposed to get back to Iowa yesterday, but we extended our stay in Wisconsin due to a bit of an emergency in Appleton. We drove to Wisconsin last Friday, with plans to stay with my parents that night, and then continue on to Door County for our 5th anniversary celebration. As we turned onto my parents’ street after five hours on the road, we noticed a fire truck and ambulance parked in front of their house. As we got closer, I saw that their front door was propped open and I ordered Chad to stop the car and I bounded out, sprinting inside the house, my imagination running wild. Luckily the scene inside wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but my dad was about to be put on a stretcher, getting ready to go to the hospital. It turns out he had a minor heart attack, and he was just discharged from the hospital today, after a weekend of some not very fun procedures. He’ll be okay, but he has a fair amount of healing to do. As awful as this all is, I’m so thankful that I was not only in the country, but actually in town! My mom is being a great caretaker, and both she and dad pretty much insisted that Chad and I still take our two-night trip to Door County. I wonder if they just wanted to make sure we picked up our specially ordered wedding/anniversary cake (pictured below) from the Door County Bakery! I kid, I kid!
So on Saturday late afternoon, Chad and I drove up to Baileys Harbor, Door County to check into the Blacksmith Inn, which is where we spent our honeymoon. It was our fifth stay at the inn, and needless to say, we love it there! It’s on the shores of Lake Michigan, and is a very relaxing environment. I didn’t let Chad touch his law school homework while we were there, although I’m not sure if that relaxed him, or stressed him out even more! We ate some delicious food, including Swedish pancakes at Al Johnson’s where our rehearsal dinner was held, and lucked out with beautiful weather. We took a long hike through Peninsula State Park, and I made Chad face his fears yet again by climbing to the top of the Eagle Tower. I am such a cruel wife. Before we left Door County on Monday we stopped at Cave Point County Park to enjoy the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. Cave Point is at its best when it’s windy, and we were lucky to have a gusty day, even if it was too brisk for us to enjoy it for long!
An amazingly beautiful morning at Cave Point.
Once back in Appleton, Chad pretty much had to buckle down and study, so he packed up and went to a coffee shop, and I hung out with my dad for the night, who seemed much better than he had two days earlier! I’m really thankful that Chad (and his professors!) were so accommodating in giving me some more time with my dad. I’m glad I got to hang out until he was settled in back at home.
As Chad mentioned in the last blog entry, I took a one night trip to Chicago to see some friends perform at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. They did an awesome job, and it was fun to see the theater again. I forgot how huge that hall is!! Such a beautiful theater, and I’m sure it’s pretty intimidating to look out at the sea of people! I got to see an old friend of mine, who took me to a delicious vegetarian restaurant (yay!) and also to a great cafe in the Logan Square neighborhood. It made me think that Chicago might be a nice place to end up some day! :-) We’ll see...
Well, Chad and I are nearing Iowa City, so I shall finish up! Let’s hope this coming week doesn’t bring any more family emergencies! Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!
