Thursday Thirteen about our trip

1) Last Thursday we left Lakeside, OH for Oregon, IL around 7 a.m. arriving about 2:30 at my sister's home, returning to Ohio on Tuesday.
2) We had fabulous weather the entire time, 5 days--cool mornings, sunny days. They needed rain, but it held off until we were gone.
3) On Friday I walked with my high school friend Lynne, about 4 miles, past the home where I lived and out into the country. A lovely day for a long walk.
4) Also on Friday my sister and I visited the new veterans' memorial in Forreston, where we lived when we were children.
5) We found our father's name, and talked about all the surnames we recognized, even from the Civil War era (we're really not that old, but recognized the names).
6) Touched base with my high school friend Tina (California) and her sister Valerie (Florida) at a restaurant and made plans.

7) Went to a restaurant for dinner and surprised my great niece, a college sophomore, who was working there.

8) Attended the annual Ladies' Breakfast of my high school class at the White Pines State Park.
9) Visited with neighbors of my sister who had been our neighbors in Mt. Morris.
10) Attended Saturday services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris where my sister is the organist and choir director. We had communion and enjoyed the service and Pastor Erickson.
11) Enjoyed a family dinner at my sister's home with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, great-nieces and nephew, siblings, and in-laws on Sunday afternoon. Slipped away for an hour to attend the memorial service at the cemetery for Tina and Valerie's mother.
12) Visited the site on Monday where my cousin is building a new home in the woods, getting a nice tour and update, and visited with my uncle and his wife who is in the nursing home in Mt. Morris. Had lunch at my sister's home with Tina and Jack, enjoying Sunday's left-overs on their lovely deck.
13 Attended on Monday evening a very fine 50th class reunion at the White Pines State Park.