I've had a lot of good to great things happen this year--new job, trip to Alaska, new grandnephew, etc., but this past weekend has to be about the best thing that has happened this year. (My apologies to family members who are thinking why I didn't list something about you!)
Background: You may remember that a couple of years ago, Mom and I took a short trip to Savannah. When we returned to Mom and Dad's home, I proposed a trip to Dad. I told him that growing up I was always interested in his telling about taking the train with Uncle Jay and Uncle Ralph to Wrigley Field. He would tell about jumping on the dugout, leaning over and taking pictures of the players. I think his stories were one influence leading to my love of sports. I always wanted to go with him to Wrigley Field. "If I have a job next summer I would like you to come to MI and then we can go take in a game at Wrigley Field." He pulled out his iPad and asked if I had a date in mind that he could put on his calendar. Little did I know my comment would be prophetic and I wouldn't have a job the next summer. In fact, the next summer I was living in Texas!
Earlier this summer I was blessed with a new job, and on my visit to SC for Father's Day, I told Dad I'd like to celebrate that new job by taking him to Chicago and game at Wrigley Field.
Friday about 6:00 we met at Midway, got a rental car and headed to Penn Station East Coast Subs. We drove through LaGrange Park and on various streets that brought back a lot of memories for him. He talked about Uncle Ralph's family living around that area. We saw a Jewel grocery story and he told about Mom winning 10 large porterhouse steaks playing their bingo game. I'm pretty sure he was tasting those steaks again as he talked about them!
The next day we drove to a noon game at Wrigley. When we turned on Irving Park Dr. he said he and Mom drove that street into church every Sunday--one hour each way and no a/c in the summer. We looked for several places before the game but needed to get to the game.
Here are a few shots outside Wrigley.
About half the game was a great day for a game. Thankfully our seats were under the covering of the upper deck so we stayed dry during the two or three times it rained. The overcast weather actually made it easier to follow the ball. We were no doubt two of the very few people who kept a scorecard during the game.
The Cubs were down 7-2 to the Dodgers after losing to them 14-5 the previous night. In the 7th, the Cubs scored four runs to get to 7-5. In the 8th they scored two more runs to win 8-7! A Cubs win made a great day even better.
After the game we began our hunt for various locations. We think we found the Wilson Y where Dad rented a room during his working days in Chicago.
Then we drove to Seeley Ave. to this building. Mom lived here with several single girls before she married Dad. The girls moved elsewhere, but when Mom and Dad got married she moved back here and they had an apartment in this building.
Then we drove around the corner to this place. I'm sure quite a few of you recognize it. This is the old Chicago AC Church where Mom and Dad met. It is now a Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist Church. We don't know if they were finishing services or getting ready for a service but the minister was there with a handful of people. He was very gracious for us to walk around. I have a video of Dad on the front steps telling about walking into a Wednesday evening service and seeing Mom at the top of the stairs. Apparently as they say the rest is history and there are now four children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I'll try to upload the video. I don't take video much and it is sideways. (Showing my age when it comes to technology apparently.)
Dad thought the baptistery was downstairs and along the wall on the left. I asked if he remembered the microwaves in the kitchen!
We both flew back to our respective homes Sunday afternoon. It was a great trip. I will cherish this weekend for ever.
