Chicago -- Family and Sightseeing

As we wended our way across country toward Monterey, our next stop was Chicago, to visit our daughter Karissa and her husband Dante, who is a recruit trainer at the Navy's boot camp in Great Lakes, Il. Karissa is still working in DC, is actively looking for work in the Chicago area and visits there, to be with Dante, as often as she can.

A number of Chuck's family also live in the area or in downstate Illinois. We weren't sure, though, if we could fit visits to everyone into our limited schedule. That problem was solved when Chuck's cousin, Margherita, whose son David was graduating from high school, decided to change the date of his graduation party to coincide with the Saturday we'd be in Chicago. The party, in addition to including many of David's (and sister, Francesca's) friends, Margherita's and husband Harry's friends and neighbors, turned into a family reunion.

We stayed with Karissa and Dante in Great Lakes, but had a great day on Saturday at Harry and Margherita's home in Arlington Heights, visiting with Chuck's cousin, Rea, and her family, Chuck's Aunt Violet and much of her family as well as cousin Mike Salerno.

We were able to spend one great day sightseeing in downtown Chicago with Karissa. The city has changed so drastically since Chuck knew it as his boyhood hometown -- and has become quite beautiful. It is really a great place to visit these days.




That's Margherita preparing the great food spread; Kathi and Karissa at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the fantastic Chicago skyline.

More pictures are at:


http://chuck.smugmug.com/gallery/3592381#204176513

and at:

http://chuck.smugmug.com/gallery/3592459#204181330