We headed for Wisconsin this morning, caravanning with Jack and Ila, to see Uncle Gordon and his family. Uncle Gordon is Papa's brother-in-law, widower of Papa's sister Anna. We drove almost three hours through dairy country, with a few wind-farms dotting the landscape, arms rotating slowly, an enticement to any latter-day Don Quixotes cruising the interstate. After skirting Milwaukee, we arrived at Gordon's and were greeted by him and by his daughters Dauna and Melinda and Melinda's husband, Kirby, who had driven 6 hours from central Illinois for the occasion, and his daughter Dianna and her husband, Rodney. Gordon's son Brian arrived from Madison a little later and Dianna's son, Sam, made an appearance shortly before we all went to dinner at Kodiak Jack's. But first, we sat around chatting, renewing acquaintances and getting to know folks. Mike had only seen most of her cousins here once before, more than 40 years ago, and I had only met Brian twice before and Dianna once, both at the beach. At dinner, Mike and I got to know Dauna and Melinda and Kirby better and enjoyed some banter with Gordon. Bellies full once again, we headed back to Buffalo Grove, driving through downtown Milwaukee, right past Miller Stadium and, at a greater distance, the Port of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan. Now we're safe back at the Wyndham, preparing for tomorrow's drive to Carterville, Papa's hometown.
Photos, bottom to top: A wind-farm beside the interstate; Gordon; Melinda, Kirby, and Jack; Mema, Papa, and Gordon; Dianna and Rodney, with Dauna behind them; Mema and Brian; Mike and Gordon; at Kodiak Jack's, on the left, Sam, Brian, Gordon, Melinda, Kirby, and Dauna, and on the right, Rodney, Dianna, Papa, Mema, and me.
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