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When we were discussing our next all-girl trip, maybe to Austin, Texas in 2023, my 19-year-old granddaughter blurted out, “No, you can’t go. It’s only for girls, ”to my son, her father. Then she added, “Girls are more fun.”
I turned to him and he said, “I am not offended. You will not see me. ”Over her additional protests he repeated calmly:“ You will not see me. ” Austin and the surrounding areas have attractions to suit all tastes.
We had just returned from a girls’ trip to Chicago with my two daughters, daughter-in-law, and seven granddaughters and had only missed one granddaughter. It was my birthday present and every detail was planned. I am happy to be “non-responsible” as I am often the planner when traveling. During the trip, we had discussed the various activities that appeal to men and women and how a girls trip is different from a couple trip where Abby’s comments were explained to her father.
The four days in Chicago were perfect. Even the weather had met us. Predicted rain fell around our planned outdoor events. Even July the temperatures were cool and all 11 seemed really happy to be together.
After a short flight from Jacksonville, Florida, a delightful Italian dinner, music in a piano bar, and a good night’s sleep, we woke up early to experience our Architectural Boat Tour, which, after all, was almost everyone’s favorite event. Chicago is a beautiful city with a mix of architectural styles that are a mess to some and exquisitely interesting to others, the latter being our description. A block of massive wall of slender, rectangular buildings butted together showed vintage, gothic and modern without interruptions. The skyline had aging buildings with shorter spiers that jutted up to interrupt the dominant, gleaming glass and steel towers that surrounded them. Our guide, a native of Chicago, not only explained the architectural styles, but also mixed in the history of the buildings.
We stopped for our Chicago deep dish pizza lunch that shouldn’t be missed. Then we drove to the Art Institute of Chicago, which, in addition to the classical masters and early artifacts, also showed the portraits of Obama and Bisa Butler’s portrait quilts. A granddaughter later explained art to her cousin, an architecture student, which made her so much more interesting. Another granddaughter, a college freshman majoring in art, and her mother, who had been her art teacher last year, had planned their tour in advance to see special attractions. We split up to serve individual interests, but we met often. Our day ended in Second City, an improvisational comedy show.
On our second full day hike, the two hour Big Bus tour left us dropped off near China Town for a Chinese dumpling lunch, followed by a bit of shopping and cake for our snack. We had dinner in a rooftop restaurant where we took photos outside with the skyline behind us. A special highlight was the fireworks on Saturday evening from a luxury catamaran that belonged to my daughter’s friend from a long time ago.
We saw a lot, ate very well, ran 10 km one day and had fun doing it. I was delighted to find that I could still keep up with them, even though I knew they were puncturing rest stops with walking. Receiving a gift that involves doing something with the family that will result in lifelong memories for everyone is the ultimate gift. Five years earlier we had celebrated my husband’s milestone birthday with a baseball trip to Fenway Park and the baseball museum in Coopers Town, which family members regularly remember in conversations. We were all gone for this trip, husband and wife.
My round birthday party is now in the books. The granddaughters are old enough to remember the trip, even if certain details may fade, but they will remember celebrating Nana’s 80th birthday in Chicago. Cherished memories are enjoyed when they happen and for years afterwards, which gives them a longer life. Memories to which we cling to give a smile and comfort in the twilight of our years and to create the most valuable of all banks: a memory bank.
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