#Lily Hinrichs

[marcellusbitsandpieces]

Bits and Pieces - Post-Pandemic visit to Illinois 6/27/21

Many lessons have come from our latest pandemic. One of them is the freedom of getting to be around those we love. For some people who have family and friends close by, after the initial shut down, they could get together at a distance and with masks.

For me and others like me who have family and friends at great distances in other states (to say nothing of other countries), the separation was a different story. Phone conversations were a treasure. Zoom and Face-time took on new meanings.

As restrictions began to lift, I would hold my breath that we didn’t have another surge. Making plans to see each other felt like a lottery.

Finally, I made the plunge to go to Illinois and see everyone in one whirl-wind trip in June over Flag Day and several birthdays.

The back end of my car looked like Christmas with some luggage. Of course, the case of champagne I had been saving for Jane because it was mistakenly (!) delivered to my place last summer did take up a good share of space.

This was the first time since Thanksgiving 2019 that I would make the once common drive to Illinois.

First stop was cousin Sue’s place to unload and categorize the items for distribution. After lunch we headed for the cemetery to dedicate her mother’s DAR gravesite emblem. It was Flag Day and on that date several years ago, I had my mother’s (Bobbi’s sister’s) DAR grave stie emblem dedicated. I thought it would be appropriate to have them dedicated on the same annual date.

I had taken my collection of white gloves for the DAR ceremony. I had a pair for me, for Sue and up to two of her DAR friends. Sue thought me funny, but white gloves were a necessity in DAR ceremonies – right, Abby?!

We had dinner with her oldest (Shane). Then we planned out our week over exchanging our birthday treasures.

Sue’s granddaughters had been pestering their parents about me coming down. When is she coming? Will she still be here after our camp so we can see her?

When I got to Heather’s in Burlington, the older girls were all hugs and questions. Then the front door burst open. In ran the youngest (7 years old) and up into my arms for a big hug. It was like – What pandemic?

John’s wife, Gina, had her birthday over this trip. They had organized another special “art night” at the art studio in Geneseo. We arranged that day to see Adam and his family in the afternoon in Taylor Ridge, then to drive to Geneseo for the evening birthday bash.

Sue and I left early from Monmouth to find Adam’s place in Taylor Ridge. Thank goodness for car navigation and Adam. As I was on the way, he texted me with suggestions to find the turn offs and rural sub-division entrance. Then, there was a trick to following the serpentine road through the maze to get to his place.

Adam and Philo went from a postage stamp lot in Asheville, North Carolina to wooded acres and a log home in rural Illinois. Of course, I would have driven all this way just to see Adam and Philo and their new place, but the big draw (sorry Adam) was my new and first great niece, Lili, whom I had yet to see.

John, Adam and Philo have been wonderful sending pictures throughout her first 6 months, but I could hardly wait to see and touch her. From these pictures, I had told Adam that he needed to watch every word he said and everything he did because she appeared to be a VERY focused youngster.

When Philo brought her in from her nap, I was hooked. Grinning from ear-to-ear, I reached out my little finger for her to grab, looked her in the eyes and said, “Hello, Lili. I’m your great aunt Paula.” She focused on me and broke into a grin from her eye brows to her chin.

Sue said, “Well, that was worth the entire trip.” Yes, it was. What pandemic? All pain erased in a flash.

Philo even put her in the onesie I bought her with all the anchors on it. When I saw it in Florida, I knew that the granddaughter of a Navy vet (John) had to have “Anchors Away” gear.

Sue got a picture of us: Adam, Philo, Lili and me.

After the house tour, a wonderful visit on the deck overlooking the forest area and holding Lili, it was time to go. Lili had had her snack, being shuffled around and the center of attention. We wore her out. Sue and I had just enough time to make it to the art party.

Sunday was Father’s Day and Gina’s birthday. John did a cookout and the rest of us brought dishes to pass. Adam, Philo and Lili joined us for a brief celebration and some things on a to-do list. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful week.

Almost. I left my cooler at John’s, so I got to make another stop and see him one more time before heading back to Michigan.

I made it! I saw every relative - living and dead - in the Monmouth area of Illinois and Iowa. Sue and I even made it to the Hinrichs’ plots. I had even squeezed in a surprise visit in Galesburg to my material grandparents.

And no trip to this area can be complete without a visit to Whitey’s! It was the time of the John Deere Classic (golf), and Whitey’s again had a special flavor (ice cream) for the event. It was John Deere green and yellow – lemon custard with a swirl of lime sherbet. Sue and I ate ours in the park and watched the ducks. What pandemic?

Recently someone said that she didn’t want to return to normal as much as wanting to return to better. I say, “Don’t become too complacent and think that what we have now is what it will become.” Follow the Girls Scout rule and “Be Prepared.” I don’t think that Mother Nature is done with us yet.

[myblackmare]

Doodles of what my dream tack set would be for Lily. Decorative sidepull (baroque ish decorations), decorative reins, baroque dressage saddle (the one I drew is the "Pegasus butterfly Richard hinrichs baroque dressage saddle), reindeer pelt for saddlepad and ornate stirrups.

[skylinewriter]

The storm that began last  Sunday, January 27, as rain and sleet morphed into a blizzard on Monday, dumping six inches of snow in areas of Washington County creating whiteout conditions and closing schools for two days.

Tom Harman clears his driveway along 20th Avenue Circle on Monday afternoon in Blair

Jim Hamilton takes a break from his walk, and enjoys the view at Black Elk Neihardt Park Monday afternoon.

Jim Hamilton walks through the snow at Black Elk Neihardt Park Monday afternoon.

Cat at picture window watches house finches at bird feeders.

Caiden Brown clears the snow from Terri Brown’s driveway along 20th street Monday afternoon.

Caiden Brown and his cousin Ava Brown clear the snow from Terri Brown’s driveway along 20th street Monday afternoon.

As the wind picks up, Kim Leggot and kids Bredon and Abby clear their driveway in the Deerfield subdivision.

As the wind picks up, Kim Leggot and kids Bredon and Abby clear their driveway in the Deerfield subdivision.

Leigh Hinrichs in background launches son and daughter Theo and Lily on a ride down a gentle slope at Stemmerman Park on Tuesday. This is adventure in the snow for three year old Lily. The family recently moved to Blair from Oklahoma.

January Scrapbook: Blizzard blows through county The storm that began last  Sunday, January 27, as rain and sleet morphed into a blizzard on Monday, dumping six inches of snow in areas of Washington County creating whiteout conditions and closing schools for two days.