Playing Hooky

Yesterday was a perfect weather day. Bright sunshine, no clouds, temperatures in the mid 60’s early, and mid 70’s for the high later in the day. Rush hour was over and the open road beckoned.

At the same time my errands were done, chores finished and I had written plenty of copy for newsletters, blogs and special projects. I could focus attention on nothing and explore the out of doors freely.

So we gathered the dog (leash, portable water bowl, and assorted bags and towels), jumped in the car and took off. This was before breakfast but after the first dog walk of the day so we entered the far west suburban farmlands of Chicago in search of a good old country breakfast.

We found one in Sycamore at a place we used to frequent on our many trips to Oregon, Illinois and Galena. Fond days of traveling the back roads of Illinois. Discovering the small towns and byways of an old agricultural state provides a glimpse into the past that is still vibrant today. Oh sure, some towns seem to have seen better days, and perhaps they have. But a quiet, orderly life awaits those who have the patience to find the right village.

Before we retired we wondered if we would be happy in such small towns. We thought we would be. But I remember my in-laws and my own parents retiring to far away places. My own folks retired to Arizona, my in-laws to California. Beautiful locales and even better weather! But so very far away. I knew we would have a difficult time helping them over the rough spots of old age. And we did.

I didn’t want to do that to my kids so we kept our relocation sights more local. Still local in suburban Chicago. We are 35 miles west of downtown Chicago and that works just fine for us. Our doctors are here, so too the church. Lots of friends and meaningful connections to keep us from being bored. Of course family is nearby as well as cultural attractions so readily available in a world class megalopolis.

Yes. We are happy being retired where we are. The weather is a challenge throughout the year but then four seasons adds zest and interest to our lives. The occasional storm and fury reminds us periodically that we don’t control our environment, Mother Nature does. That alone keeps us humble. Or at least moderately so!

Our day of hooky allowed us freedom to roam farther west, north or south. Instead we angled north and soon found ourselves in familiar territory and oddly back on route toward home. The dog was restless and unhappy. She isn’t a veteran traveler, which seems odd to us who are always ready for a car ride. She seems to sense when we have reached the mid point of every ride and are on our way home. She relaxes perceptibly. Even seems happier! So even if our hope for a longer trip is disappointed, we know she is happy to be aiming in the right direction.

She knows when we approach home. I swear she knows the corners we take to get home; and when we enter our driveway she is certain where she is. She is too little to see out the windows, so we know she doesn’t know by sight that we are home. No; she knows because of feel and smell somehow.

Well we did accomplish two things: first, we broke our daily routine to take a long drive in the country; and second we maintained close contact with our favorite pooch. We really don’t like leaving her home alone thinking she is lonely. Most likely she doesn’t feel lonely at all, but supremely happy to be left alone in familiar places redolent of us. That’s all she needs for a few hours. Sleep and a reminder of us.

She’s not lonely; we are!

September 25, 2015