You Can Go Home Again

Mar 25th, 2009 by Marilyn

We spent our spring break in Chicago, and by that I mean Josie’s spring break; as adults, we seem to have missed the memo, the one that says technically, we no longer deserve a spring break. If you just can’t shake the feeling, I recommend acquiring a school-age child. That’s at least twelve good years of entitlement, right there.

Maybe as penance, we tend to spring-break in a seasonably unpleasant place. March has not proved a reliable month for weather: we’ve plodded near-frozen through rainy Berlin; shared a chilly, empty hike at Rocky Mountain National Park with only the yawning mountain lions; and this year, like many before it, we visited family in Chicago, where on any given day before June, you may view gray-capped hills of parking lot snow.

But not this year. I last saw Illinois in our December rearview mirror, after losing Dad in a cloud of all-gray days, and hadn’t been back since. We did not talk about this – how it would be different – but dragging luggage through my parents’ doorway, a triple-ricochet told me they knew, and that each would decide the difference alone. I watched Josie, dropping her backpack, hugging my mother, and was at once grateful for what adolescents don’t know how to say.

As it turns out we had a fine time, and were gifted with beautiful weather to help it along. No ritual went undone, starting with deep sausage-and-mushroom, ending with a river of city coffee and eating ridiculous amounts in between. There is no useful word to tell you how much my father enjoyed ridiculous amounts, and how his goofy heart spilled enjoyment just watching us enjoy.

The good news is that the only bad news lives in a chunk of residual sadness; the better news is that you can go home again, and get lucky skies, and find that you don’t have to commemorate the pizza, just eat the pizza. You’re entitled to it.

Tags: bb, Chicago, on the road, spring break, thank god for pizza

Posted in Chicagoland, family, vacation

18 Responses to “You Can Go Home Again”

on 25 Mar 2009 at 9:57 am1PVS

WELCOME BACK TO KANSAS! (where the weather is pretty unpredictable — if you don’t care for the current weather, wait a day and it’s guaranteed to change!)

I see on that sign that Gino’s delivers…..wonder how far?

We actually ate at Gino’s Pizza in Chicago before. It was YUM!
on 25 Mar 2009 at 10:09 am2Cathy-wheresmydamnanswer

We were just at Geno’s last December and it is my favorite pizza. Every time we go to Chicago a big fat cheesy pizza is on the list!!
on 25 Mar 2009 at 10:19 am3muddywaters

Welcome back! It’s good to have you back simmering again. Since I’m a somewhat regular commenter, I need to be honest with you: I’ve never been to Chicago. I need to make plans to visit. A few weeks ago I caught part of an episode of Anthony Bourdain when he visits Chicago. He “reluctantly” ate deep-dish pizza at some place called Lou Malnati’s.

I satiated my Simmer craving by reading Molly Wizenberg’s new book. It might be the most incredible book I’ve ever read.
on 25 Mar 2009 at 10:34 am4modernemama

May I suggest there’s a flaw in your spring break vacation planning strategy? You might think about heading south if you want better weather in March…. Glad it worked out this time.
It’s so nice to have you back blogging in real time… and that last is the cutest photo ever, beating even Cleo in the kitchen.
on 25 Mar 2009 at 12:02 pm5jenni

YAY!
Looks like you had a good time. You have been missed.
on 25 Mar 2009 at 12:25 pm6Carol

I used to work in the Neiman Marcus building pictured above the Gino’s East sign! Sounds like you had a great time. And welcome back!
on 25 Mar 2009 at 2:16 pm7Rechelle

Glad your back. Love the photos. Want some pizza. Now.
on 25 Mar 2009 at 3:37 pm8Karen@Mignardise

So nice to see you posting again! I’ve missed your writing.
on 25 Mar 2009 at 3:41 pm9Joyce

Great pictures, now I’m craving pizza! I’m glad you had a nice time!
on 25 Mar 2009 at 3:53 pm10Nella

Each visit home will buffer the rough edges of sadness that hit us once in a while. Welcome home. Since we are expecting yukky weather in the KC area this weekend, your two bite jam tart cookie things are in order. Pineapple preserves (Price Chopper carries a non Smuckers brand which is ever so delightful) will be the jam of choice. I’ll let you know how they turn out. Did I say welcome home? We did miss you. N
on 25 Mar 2009 at 5:54 pm11Michelle

Nice shades you two… glad to have you back!
on 25 Mar 2009 at 11:07 pm12mary

Marilyn–wow!–you are such a lovely and powerful writer. Thanks for posting this. Glad you are back.
on 26 Mar 2009 at 12:58 am13Mercedes

It is wonderful to have you back. Although it’s been fun reading the re-posts, there is nothing like a new Simmer Till Done post to brighten my day and bring me to tears or howls of laughter. Thanks for sharing you life.
on 26 Mar 2009 at 1:05 am14Jayne

Welcome back! I’ve enjoyed the reruns (especially the two I somehow missed reading first time around) but I have missed your new posts. Great photo of you & Josie.
on 27 Mar 2009 at 10:44 pm15lauren in the tundra

I have two words for you: Hot Doug’s. Please tell me you have been. If you have not I suggest you get right back on that plane at eat you some duck-fat (or phat) fries and a plethora of the most amazing sausages your heart will probably, not in the long run, thank you for (but oh your taste buds will!!). Wishing you the best, your friend in Chicago…
on 28 Mar 2009 at 4:51 pm16Renovation Therapy

Hey…look who’s bloggin’ again! That picture of you and Josie is adorable. I bought 4 jars of nutella, that should get me through a few weeks, right?
on 29 Mar 2009 at 4:42 pm17april

Yeah!!! She’s baaaaaaaack. I made scones last week and thought of you.
on 31 Mar 2009 at 12:30 pm18sandy

yes welcome back. Chicago sounds wonderful, so does the pizza!