From early May to late June, we spent our time in the U.S. First we were in California, starting Coloma, then Lincoln/Sacramento area, then over to San Rafael and Sausalito on the coast, then to Illinois for my nephew’s wedding and downtown Chicago for a sister reunion. What a whirlwind!
Bev picking us up at the Sacramento airport when we first flew in from Puerto Vallarta
Visiting with Bev and Po, our cat that Bev has adopted, while doing yard maintenance work on our home that we have rented out
We miss Po and Bev
Terry and Thea opened their home to us and our friends for a joint wedding anniversary party
We had a lovely stay with Mom Patrinellis in San Rafael, Ca. We also had a great time staying with my sister Sharon and Tom, and Rick’s sister Linda and Rich, although we didn’t manage to get any pictures!
Neil, Elena and ally Sue at Mom’s
Rick and his cousin Manny at Mom’s
Rick and his longtime friend Brian, a dentist, who made a stay plate for my pulled tooth while I was in the States
Anna and her charming boyfriend from Sweden
We also got to visit our dock mates in Sausalito
While we were in California, I did some “medical tourism,” ironically, since that is where my insurance covers me. I had my teeth cleaned, a tooth pulled and a stay plate made; I went to an orthopedic surgeon who said my left hip was not yet ready for a replacement (good news) but had no advise for the pain I get there while walking (bad news); oh yeah, and to remove a membrane that was distorting my vision, I had eye surgery! The tooth pulling didn’t go well and I still am having some problems in the area – whatever other work I need done, it will have to be in Mexico.
We then flew to Chicago on a red eye on Frontier Airlines. Never again! The seats were actually molded plastic, like picnic chairs, with NO fabric whatsoever! It was a horrible way to spend the night! Anyway, Chicago was a ball. It started out with three nights all to ourselves in a hotel room in Palos Heights for my nephew Dan’s wedding followed by a week in downtown Chicago at my sister Kim and Pete’s pied a terre in the Near north side – very cool.
Rick having Chicago style deep dish pizza.
To the right are Dan and Stephanie Murphy, my nephew and his brand new wife, forever girlfriend
Dan and Stephanie and my brother in law Pete, Dan’s dad
My sister Bonnie’s youngest son Kevin with his wife Eliza and their new daughter Madeline
My sister Bonnie with her husband Ron
Rick drove the pontoon boat for a sister reunion tour of the Chicago River downtown
My nephew Dominic, my sister Sharon, and Dominic’s lovely significant other, Lauren
My sister Kim, mother of the groom, with her son The groom Dan
My niece, Kim’s daughter Erin
Erin’s daughter Kiara
Erin’s husband Dan on their new motorcycle
My sister Bonnie with her granddaughter Madeline
Kim and Pete hosted a BBQ at their home the day after the wedding. OMG how do they do it?
Kim and Pete’s pied a terre near downtown Chicago on Elm Street – a very exclusive part of town
Another street nearby Kim and Pete’s place in Chicago. The architecture is charming
Kim and Pete’s street near downtown Chicago, a few steps from Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue
Bob Murphy, Kim and Pete’s son, brother to Dan and Erin. So much fun!
A Chicago style hot dog; Rick insisted – and they forbid me to put catsup on it!
Kim, Cindy, Bonnie and Bonnie’s daughter Laurie on the beach off Lake Shore Drive
The building in downtown Chicago where my Dad worked until he passed away in 1967
Ron, Bonnie, Laurie, Sharon, Cindy, Rick, Pete and Kim for the sister reunion at the top of the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago
Looking North onto Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan from the top of the Hancock – Kim and Pete’s place is somewhere down there only a few blocks from the Hancock
A different view from the Hancock. Chicago is a really big city!
Our last night in Chicago
When we first arrived in the States, I was very nervous about all the things we had to do, people to see, business to take care of, etc. We somehow squeezed it all in, and had a ball seeing family and friends. But by the end, I think both Rick and I were missing our home. Our home is now our boat, Cool Change. It is nice to be back in Puerto Vallarta enjoying our little piece of paradise on our boat.