Summer's Repose

Travel plans shifted to a day earlier in June so that my brother, Clay, could meet us in Chicago and help drive the rest of the way to Colorado. This was serendipitous, because a day later, severe storms coursed through Nebraska causing heavy flooding. This also allowed us to miss the first of several hundred degree heat waves in the Mid-Atlantic. 

Since 2021, my dog Ezekiel and I have made three cross country treks. This is because it isn't exactly easy for a 72 pound German Shepherd-Husky to travel by air. This is not to say that Zeke hasn't traveled on elevators, escalators, and several gondolas. It's just complicated, if one is to avoid the inhumane cargo holds of commercial airlines, to get both dog and human to the same destination at the same time. We both do like to escape hot Baltimore for awhile, and there were three heat waves while we were gone.

Somewhere in my 20s, I declared I would never want to drive across the country again; Audible and streaming apps have changed all that, in addition to good company and having aunts, uncles and cousins to visit along the way. 

It was well worth it to get all the way out to beautiful Colorado where the air is fresh, the humidity is low, the nights are cool, the skies are blue, and the wildflowers are everywhere. As a positive outcome of the pandemic, it seems that TeleVisits are here to stay, and this has allowed for me to spend a longer time in my hometown.

It was great to reconnect with Mom, my stepdad, Clay and his girlfriend and my aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Time in nature was therapy no psychiatrist could provide, and it was good sleeping weather. My litmus test for a good summer is the experience of cold toes. 

Back in the early 1970s, my grandmother moved from the far western suburbs of Chicago to Aspen. She introduced us all to the Aspen Music Festival. This summer, the AMF is celebrating their 75th Anniversary, and it has been like fireworks the whole time. We attended concerts of world-famous classical musicians backed by orchestras tuned to perfection playing epic symphonies. Now my parents attend nearly every concert. I was able to be there for some of the best concerts this summer and imagine future generations will carry on the tradition.

Journey's end took us back to the Chicago area, land of my birth, this time with my aunt and cousin. I enjoyed a day in the city with a first visit to the amazing Art Institute of Chicago before driving on to Ohio then back to Baltimore the following day.