Road Trip 2009: The Reunion and Tripping Down Memory Lane

Jim at Lake Street Beach / Below Kite surfers with Chicago in the background.

The 50th Reunion festivities began last night with a reception that lasted well past its designated time. Everyone was having a great time refreshing memories and comparing life stories.

There were the expected photos of children, grand children and great grand children being passed around, name guessing as some people traded name tags and general conversation.

Jim loved it. Memories flowed and laughter and conversation sparked the evening. I enjoyed seeing him so happy and having so much fun.

Entrance to the Steel Mill where Jim worked for 8 years.

Somewhere along the way a friend convinced Jim that Abby should join the fun so she was released into the banquet room to "find Jean". A white flash came zigging through the room and found me at the far end.

Once found, I was old news and Abby started back through the room trying to make friends and greet everyone. The facility management thought some stray had gotten into the building and were trying to shoo her out into the thunder, lightning and rain while Jim was somewhere avoiding the confusion. cute

Abby returning from showing all the windsurfers and kitesurfers her stick. Steel mills in the background.

At the entrance to the Warren Avenue Beach

We slept late and then went to explore some of Jim's childhood haunts - mostly the Miller area and the beaches. We started with lunch at Johnson's Fish & Shrimp in Lake City, Indiana. Jim had his first shrimp at the roadside establishment well over 50 years ago and hasn't been there for at least 45 years. The small low building looked exactly the same and is still operated by family. The woman Jim remembered just passed on last year at 101 years of age. The food was wonderful and we feasted on shrimp and Lake Perch (of course) in a nearby park where Abby could run.

For Abby, a beach is a beach is a beach, although she found the fresh water a bonus.

We visited a couple of Jim's beaches; one just a couple houses from where he lived during his Miller years, and the others just to the north and to the south of there. Abby loved the wide sandy beaches with fresh water to swim in.

Back in the room we will soon get ready for the more formal dinner tonight, a few speaches and a DJ and 50's music until midnight. I'm hoping some of the energy wore off last night; midnight is late for me but I am sure Jim will go strong to the end.