After a LONG trip (Perth – Sydney – Dallas – Chicago), Mom and Nick picked me up at O’Hare with a big “Welcome Home Trisha” sign! I saw them first before they saw me. We headed straight out for Crandon (about a 5 hour drive with no traffic), and stopped at the “halfway” point of Manitowoc, WI at an Applebee’s. I really didn’t care where we ate, and you can’t get much more “American” than an Applebee’s I suppose! (Actually, my first meal back in the USA was at a rib joint in DFW airport (my brother in law Craig would be proud-ish)).
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| The sign my mom and Nick held up at the airport - a nice welcome home!! |
We pulled into my home-sweet-home of Crandon, WI at 2am, making my round trip about 35 hours – not too shabby. Of course then I was wide awake and didn’t sleep until 5am. And so begins the hard 3 days of trying to get your body into a new sleep schedule which is exactly opposite to what you’re accustomed (there is a 13-14 hour time difference with Perth depending on the time of year). To spend some active time together, and I think a ploy to keep me awake, Nick, mom, and I played 9 holes at Nicolet (where I spent a summer being a beer girl!). I was still up until 5am that second night as well, but I knew it was just a matter of time before I got straightened out (usually right before coming back and having to adjust all over again)!
I spent the entire first week in Crandon, basically spending time with family and friends, hanging out on the lake on the boat, and of course EATING all my favorite food! This was a theme that ran through the entire month.
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| Lake Metonga, Crandon, Wisconsin |
The Fourth of July period is probably my favourite time of year in Crandon – I always made the trip home from Chicago. Terry and Sue have a really cool party at their house on Metonga and shoot off a bunch of fireworks over the lake. Then of course there are the “festivities” on Main Street of Crandon. It’s hard to explain to people not from a small town (Crandon is population 2,000). There’s a parade, and everyone from town lines the street to watch, have a few cocktails (our group takes turns bringing bloody mary’s, and Nick and I just this year switched to margaritas), and the kids try to snatch up all the candy from the floats. There’s a street closed down where they set up a big beer tent, and there are activities for the kids AND adults all morning (a 5K, bed races, a dunk tank, crowning the “Queen” of Crandon, etc.) After the parade, we usually float around on the lake drinking and eating snacks. Then at night there’s a live band in the tent and then the best firework show around at Palmer Park (in my opinion Crandon does better fireworks than just about anywhere!). I absolutely love it. I am Crandon down to my very core. (This usually surprises people since I left when I was 18 and have never lived there since – but it’s more complicated than that. No place will ever be as “home” to me as Crandon).
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| Main Street in Crandon getting ready for the parade (still early! the streets will be full very soon!) |
I really enjoyed hanging out with friends and family. And just to make Australians jealous – one night I ordered a round of drinks in a bar (of which we have plenty in Crandon - it’s mostly bars and churches). One Bacardi & Coke, one vodka and cranberry, and one Miller Lite (3 drinks)…..for $8!!!!
I was having a great time in Crandon, but I had SO much more to do and people to see! So off I went on a 2 week trip to my dad’s, then Chicago (where I got my MBA and lived/worked for 7 years), then Madison (where I went to undergrad, played in the marching band, and lived for 7 years), before finally coming back to Crandon for my last week. My other destinations deserve another blog – or is it that Crandon really deserves its own? – so I will write a separate one for them.
The hardest part for me when in Crandon is that I get confused about who I want to be. This is part of who I am, WHY I am the way I am, and this is without a doubt, “home.” I want to do the picnics on the lake, take the kids camping or skiing, have Holidays in the snow, and bring my kids to “Gramma Bobbi and Papa Nick’s” for the day. I want to do things like be in golf league (more likely volleyball or softball since I suck at golf!), get involved with the community or the school. I want all those things now. I didn’t understand why I had to be so different than my friends and NOT want them before, but I want them now. But then when I'm in Chicago or now my life in Perth, and that fits too. It’s also part of my life to go to things like the symphony, travel all over the world (for fun and for work), go to networking events and live a “corporate” life. I still like that stuff and better yet, I’m good at it. How I’m going to be able to bring those two things together, I have no idea. Does anyone have it figured out though?
Anyway, back to Crandon. After an exhausting trip all over Wisconsin and Chicago to see fun people and do fun things, I came back to Crandon for my final week. The BEST part of the last week was that my sister (Tracey), her hubbie (Craig) and my two adorable nephews (Grant (3) and Jackson (1)) flew up from Dallas!! As soon as I arrived, Grant ran out to see me and give me a hug. Now, I hadn’t seen Grant for about 18 months and I knew he didn’t really remember me, and that Tracey and Craig probably bribed him out to hug me. But it was still adorable. And for the first time, I met my 2nd nephew and Godson, Jackson. It makes me sad that I’m not around them more, but let’s face the truth, with me in Chicago and them in Dallas, it wouldn’t be that different. Now I can be the “cool Auntie who lives in Australia”. Within 15 minutes of arriving home, I was already camped inside the “Thomas the Tank” tent with Grant and I had a friend for life (or at least for the next week). We even had some family photos taken while we were all home since it’s a pretty rare occurrence.
The rest of the week I spent some time on the boat, watched the waterski show (I think this must be a Midwestern thing), threw some horseshoes with Nick in his league, ate lots of food and drank lots of beer. I saw several really good friends, and we also took Grant to see “Brave” in 3D (the closest movie theatre is 30 miles away!). He looked SO CUTE in his 3D glasses! My dad and Robin also came over from Rice Lake so they could spend some time with the boys and also with me. I went up to my Gram’s nearly every day for coffee in the morning, it just kind of was “our thing” (plus my mom’s coffee machine sucks since neither of them drink it). And my mom made Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin’s because I wouldn’t be there for actual Turkey Day!! She’s a sweetheart :)
The day Tracey and Craig left (a few days before I was to leave) was one of the worst goodbyes EVER. I didn’t cry when I left for Australia because I was too excited (even saying goodbye to mom, dad, or anyone else). It was really hard to see them drive away. Mom, Grandma, and I all stood outside and cried. I just kept thinking that Jackson would be Grant’s age the next time I saw them, and I would have missed a whole bunch of stuff. So, I made myself really busy to get over it – I got mom and new laptop and set her all up, helped her with Facebook and Skype, and did the same for my Grandma. Everyone is now on Skype!
One of my last missions before I left was to return my dad’s car to him. He generously lent me his Navigator for my time home so I didn’t have to rent a car (more on this later….I didn’t return it in exactly the same condition). My friend Joanne followed me to meet him and my stepmom Robin halfway between Crandon and Rice Lake, where we all had dinner and then came the time to say another hard goodbye. Leaving my dad was difficult, and I was crying in the car with Joanne on the way back. She gave me a few minutes but then was like “get it together girl!” We got Long Island Iced Teas at Boondock’s on the way home and that made it all….well, fuzzy, if not better.
My last day in Crandon, my grandma made venison, biscuits and gravy for breakfast. My grandma is an excellent cook. This would be my last meal on earth if I had a choice. Then later that night, mom and Nick made me sweet corn and burgers on the grill. Let’s just say that I came back heavier than when I left. Why oh why must I love food so much. We REALLY know how to enjoy our food and beverage in Sconnie!
My mom and Nick drove me all the way back to Chicago for my flight. (I can’t thank them enough). The goodbyes are much harder this time, I think because it isn’t as exciting as it was the first time, and now I know I’m not moving back anytime soon. My flight in Chicago was delayed, and I ended up missing my flight to Brisbane….which left me stranded overnight in…..DALLAS! Where my sister lives!! Craig so kindly picked me up at the airport with very little notice, my sister gave me PJs, and the next day I awoke to the sounds of two little boys laughing, playing and generally bothering their daddy. We spent the hot day playing in the pool and it was really fun. For some reason it made it easier to leave – I had already disconnected from Crandon so the hardest part was over. Then I flew from Dallas to Brisbane to Sydney to Perth (this is a terrible leg that Qantas is running but it’s cheapest). A million hours later when I finally got in the taxi line at Perth airport, there was Julia Gillard (the Prime Minister) on the TV. I’m NOT JOKING, she was talking about the exact same thing as when I left almost 5 weeks prior (the topic was boat people and immigration). And then I truly realised I was back in Australia – and to be honest, I was ready to be back.
I’ve had tons of adventures since my time at home, with going to Broome and then the whole thing in South Africa. And a new person in my life is making it even better – in fact, we are already planning that he will come to the US with me at the end of the year. Exciting times ahead! Hopefully soon I will get around to writing about my time in Rice Lake with my dad, Chicago, and Madison. Those were also adventures in their own right!!
Here’s a link to my album of pictures: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151991544960430.888956.674480429&type=3&l=7d8b194703
I was having a great time in Crandon, but I had SO much more to do and people to see! So off I went on a 2 week trip to my dad’s, then Chicago (where I got my MBA and lived/worked for 7 years), then Madison (where I went to undergrad, played in the marching band, and lived for 7 years), before finally coming back to Crandon for my last week. My other destinations deserve another blog – or is it that Crandon really deserves its own? – so I will write a separate one for them.
The hardest part for me when in Crandon is that I get confused about who I want to be. This is part of who I am, WHY I am the way I am, and this is without a doubt, “home.” I want to do the picnics on the lake, take the kids camping or skiing, have Holidays in the snow, and bring my kids to “Gramma Bobbi and Papa Nick’s” for the day. I want to do things like be in golf league (more likely volleyball or softball since I suck at golf!), get involved with the community or the school. I want all those things now. I didn’t understand why I had to be so different than my friends and NOT want them before, but I want them now. But then when I'm in Chicago or now my life in Perth, and that fits too. It’s also part of my life to go to things like the symphony, travel all over the world (for fun and for work), go to networking events and live a “corporate” life. I still like that stuff and better yet, I’m good at it. How I’m going to be able to bring those two things together, I have no idea. Does anyone have it figured out though?
Anyway, back to Crandon. After an exhausting trip all over Wisconsin and Chicago to see fun people and do fun things, I came back to Crandon for my final week. The BEST part of the last week was that my sister (Tracey), her hubbie (Craig) and my two adorable nephews (Grant (3) and Jackson (1)) flew up from Dallas!! As soon as I arrived, Grant ran out to see me and give me a hug. Now, I hadn’t seen Grant for about 18 months and I knew he didn’t really remember me, and that Tracey and Craig probably bribed him out to hug me. But it was still adorable. And for the first time, I met my 2nd nephew and Godson, Jackson. It makes me sad that I’m not around them more, but let’s face the truth, with me in Chicago and them in Dallas, it wouldn’t be that different. Now I can be the “cool Auntie who lives in Australia”. Within 15 minutes of arriving home, I was already camped inside the “Thomas the Tank” tent with Grant and I had a friend for life (or at least for the next week). We even had some family photos taken while we were all home since it’s a pretty rare occurrence.
The rest of the week I spent some time on the boat, watched the waterski show (I think this must be a Midwestern thing), threw some horseshoes with Nick in his league, ate lots of food and drank lots of beer. I saw several really good friends, and we also took Grant to see “Brave” in 3D (the closest movie theatre is 30 miles away!). He looked SO CUTE in his 3D glasses! My dad and Robin also came over from Rice Lake so they could spend some time with the boys and also with me. I went up to my Gram’s nearly every day for coffee in the morning, it just kind of was “our thing” (plus my mom’s coffee machine sucks since neither of them drink it). And my mom made Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin’s because I wouldn’t be there for actual Turkey Day!! She’s a sweetheart :)
The day Tracey and Craig left (a few days before I was to leave) was one of the worst goodbyes EVER. I didn’t cry when I left for Australia because I was too excited (even saying goodbye to mom, dad, or anyone else). It was really hard to see them drive away. Mom, Grandma, and I all stood outside and cried. I just kept thinking that Jackson would be Grant’s age the next time I saw them, and I would have missed a whole bunch of stuff. So, I made myself really busy to get over it – I got mom and new laptop and set her all up, helped her with Facebook and Skype, and did the same for my Grandma. Everyone is now on Skype!
One of my last missions before I left was to return my dad’s car to him. He generously lent me his Navigator for my time home so I didn’t have to rent a car (more on this later….I didn’t return it in exactly the same condition). My friend Joanne followed me to meet him and my stepmom Robin halfway between Crandon and Rice Lake, where we all had dinner and then came the time to say another hard goodbye. Leaving my dad was difficult, and I was crying in the car with Joanne on the way back. She gave me a few minutes but then was like “get it together girl!” We got Long Island Iced Teas at Boondock’s on the way home and that made it all….well, fuzzy, if not better.
My last day in Crandon, my grandma made venison, biscuits and gravy for breakfast. My grandma is an excellent cook. This would be my last meal on earth if I had a choice. Then later that night, mom and Nick made me sweet corn and burgers on the grill. Let’s just say that I came back heavier than when I left. Why oh why must I love food so much. We REALLY know how to enjoy our food and beverage in Sconnie!
My mom and Nick drove me all the way back to Chicago for my flight. (I can’t thank them enough). The goodbyes are much harder this time, I think because it isn’t as exciting as it was the first time, and now I know I’m not moving back anytime soon. My flight in Chicago was delayed, and I ended up missing my flight to Brisbane….which left me stranded overnight in…..DALLAS! Where my sister lives!! Craig so kindly picked me up at the airport with very little notice, my sister gave me PJs, and the next day I awoke to the sounds of two little boys laughing, playing and generally bothering their daddy. We spent the hot day playing in the pool and it was really fun. For some reason it made it easier to leave – I had already disconnected from Crandon so the hardest part was over. Then I flew from Dallas to Brisbane to Sydney to Perth (this is a terrible leg that Qantas is running but it’s cheapest). A million hours later when I finally got in the taxi line at Perth airport, there was Julia Gillard (the Prime Minister) on the TV. I’m NOT JOKING, she was talking about the exact same thing as when I left almost 5 weeks prior (the topic was boat people and immigration). And then I truly realised I was back in Australia – and to be honest, I was ready to be back.
I’ve had tons of adventures since my time at home, with going to Broome and then the whole thing in South Africa. And a new person in my life is making it even better – in fact, we are already planning that he will come to the US with me at the end of the year. Exciting times ahead! Hopefully soon I will get around to writing about my time in Rice Lake with my dad, Chicago, and Madison. Those were also adventures in their own right!!
Here’s a link to my album of pictures: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151991544960430.888956.674480429&type=3&l=7d8b194703
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