We packed up the car in Okoboji this morning. Then Marina and I went for a bike ride and we all went for a swim. We said our goodbyes and left before lunch.
The ride through western Iowa and into Nebraska was pretty easy though it was hot. We met Suzanne at the zoo, at her suggestion, at 4pm and spent some time at the indoor, air-conditioned exhibits, mainly the aquarium and the jungle house. When we got back to the car, the temperature gauge said that it was 113, a new high for us! We came back to the house, had a swim in the community pool and a lovely shabbos dinner. We’re all tired, go figure, but have a beautiful place to stay for a night.
I think that we’re almost done with the heat, though, and perhaps through the worst of it after tonight.
I defer to the Freedmans for Nebraska music, but I’ll make a few modest suggestions. We’ll have to start with Big Joe Williams. Bright Eyes is supposed to be great, but despite efforts, I never got really into them (him?). This song is pretty good. I hear that Rilo Kiley spent some time in Omaha.
Wikipedia says that the Chevrons were an Omaha band. Their lead singer was Terry Cashman. Cashman later was half of a duo who made this record which my parents owned when I was a kid. I loved that record, especially this song. My parents will tell you that I used to cry when listening to it. In my defense, I was a small child. Full disclosure: I still get a little weepy. But I’m very embarrassed about that. Baseball lovers of course know Cashman for this novelty song which has nothing at all to do with Nebraska (or the College World Series).
We just got to Aunt Suzanne’s house. We went swimming. For dinner we had corn, steak, and salad. Dinner was yummy. It is 105 degrees out here. And Aunt Suzanne gave us balloons for when we get to California.
We’re packing up here in Okoboji, readying ourselves for the short (3.5 hour) drive to Omaha where we’ll see Emily’s Aunt Suzanne. It has been a well-needed, well-enjoyed break from our forward progress, not to mention a great time for all of us to recharge our friendships. Yesterday, the kids all enjoyed watching the videos of themselves playing with each other as very little kids here and here (real player needed). Last night, Ludo and Cleo showed us their flash mob dance (from their fifth grade graduation) and Marina showed them her dance to Word Up (from her spring recital). It’s nice for the kids to have friends across the country, reminders that not living in the same town with your friends doesn’t mean that you lose them.
A quick bike ride, now, with Marina and then a dip in the lake and we’re off.