On Saturday morning we gathered in the breakfast room of the hotel with everyone, and we took pictures together before everyone dispersed. It was really special seeing so much family and so many friends. We enjoyed discussing AI with Rob (who said his division will shrink from 90 to 10 within a year due to AI!) and Ken, who runs a research institute on AI.
Then Clark’s family and Tom and Suzanne and us went to Pease’s to pick up some Easter candy. On the way we took pictures in front of Grandma’s house on 1609 Lowell and the house where Grandma was born and raised (on the next block). We also took pictures in front of Blessed Sacrament, where Mom attended and went to school.
Clark and Lily reminiscing about Pease’s Easter Eggs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y34g1U5AaQXvgAVs6
After Pease’s we went to Cozy Dog for lunch. I rediscovered I don’t like hot dogs, but can manage a cozy dog if it is drenched in mustard. I should have ordered the chili and if we ever go back that is what I will get. After lunch Clark, Abe and the kids went crazy on a machine where you insert quarters and try to see if the machine will push out quarters over the edge so you “win.” They must have played for thirty minutes. They started out getting $20 worth of quarters, inserting them all, and then reinserting all the quarters they “won” in the process. Everyone was enthralled except Swathi and me, who could not understand the strategy and (in my case) even grasp the basic concept of what was happening.
Quarter game: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3dtXjVYrqhguFnZZA
After Cozy Dog Tom and Suzanne drove to the airport (they might have actually left before the machine with quarters was discovered), and then Clark’s family and ours drove to Chicago. We had Ammon, Clarissa and Meera in the car and they had the most adorable conversation the entire drive up. We drove up Lakeshore Drive, which was beautiful and fun to see.
Clarissa and Meera talked like this for almost two hours in the car: https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMhnMENQDk1or3qr5
We arrived in Evanston in the evening where the kids played at Penny Park. It was cold so Abe stayed with the kids while Lydia, Clark, Swathi and I headed to the hotel. Apparently while we were warming up some 17 year olds lent the kids their laser tag guns and the kids and Abe played until almost 7pm. They had a great time.
Kids playing laser tag: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BbWpkmJ6wNguybJr6
Final showdown between Soren and Mary: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HopxLAyQSFzrAaqVA
At 7pm we walked to Lou Malnatti’s and met up with Amelia Richardson, Dean’s daughter and my friend since high school. I had not seen Amelia in probably over a decade. It was WONDERFUL to see her, visit and catch up. We had a lot of interesting conversation and it was just a generally good time. It was also fun to see where she lives–just across the street from Lou Malnatti’s in a beautiful building. What a great location.
After that we headed home and went to bed. Our hotel configuration remained the same as it had been in Springfield: Lydia, Mary and Clarissa in one room while Ammon, Abe and I were in the next door room. No one wants to share a bed with Ammon because they are all afraid he will pee on them. It was a full day!
