Carterville, Papa's hometown

We left Chicago early this morning, braving rush-hour traffic through construction and tolls. Once we cleared the city traffic, we stopped for breakfast at JN Michael's, the kind of place where an order for two eggs brings a huge plate with four eggs. We left full enough to skip lunch. After another five hours of driving through flat eastern Illinois farmscapes, we arrived at Carterville and drove directly to Papa's homeplace. Sitting on the front porch was the owner of the house, Helen Stutsman, nee Morgan, a delightfully spry 96-year-old. When Papa went to the house and identified himself, Helen welcomed him and called for the rest of us to come up. She regaled us with tales of the neighborhood, then called her younger sister, Ethel, to join the chat. Ethel walked down the street from her house and contributed her own take on the neighborhood some 70 years ago. Helen's daughter Phyllis generously offered to take us through the house and Papa and Mike immediately recognized many features of the house. From the homeplace, we went to see Sue Talley, nee McCluskey, Papa's first cousin, for another round of catching up on who is where. A discussion of the family established that Papa is the oldest living member of the McCluskeys, with Sue running a close second. From Sue's, we headed to the Hampton Inn in Marion and checked in before going just down the street to 17th Street Bar and Grill for great barbeque. I had ribs and they were as good as any I've every had. Everyone else had a gigantic pulled-pork sandwich, also very good. Mema and I had a St. Louis beer, Schafly Dry-Hopped American Pale Ale, very yummy. Finally, it was back to the hotel for a couple of games of SkipBo, which Mema and I won.

Photos, from bottom: Papa at his childhood home; Helen Morgan Stutsman regales Mema and Papa with stories of old Carterville; Helen makes a point; Helen, Ethel, and Phyllis; Mema and Papa with Sue McCluskey Talley; Mema and I winning another SkipBo game.