Where did I leave off?

I think this is probably the 08213972389th time I've started this specific post.  I've thought a hundred times why I procrastinate my blogging of trips for SOOOOOOooooooOOOOoooo long, and I've come to the conclusion that if I don't blog it, it doesn't have to be over.  I look so forward to a new adventure, I don't want to have space in between.

Well, I've now been on another adventure, and can safely finish off the road trip story. Where did I leave off?  We'd just left Niagara Falls, right?
Ok.

From Niagara Falls, we headed West.  We drove all the way through New York the top left corner of Pennsylvania, into Bowling Green, Ohio.  Our favorite sign? "Moose Crossing".  Every time I hear the word "Moose", I think of the comedian Brian Regan.  You have to listen to this guy.  Hillarious.  Boxen of Moosen.....HAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, sorry, back to the story....Now, I have a lot of cousins.  A LOT of cousins.  Like, cousins out the wazoo.  My absolutely favorite cousin blessed our family by joining when I was about 9.  Debbie married my cousin on my moms side, Thad.  When she got married, she had a row of roses over her bustle.  She called it her "Rose-Butt Dress".  I know.  Amazing.  She's the most gracious Christian (but not one of the loony right winged Christians), loving mother, and kind friend.  She offered us her home on our way to my parents, and we were glad to have a home cooked meal, a shower inside a house, and air conditioning!  Debbie is the kind of person who holds her morals and standards, but in such a way that it is neither offensive or exclusive.  She is a fantastic listener, a speaker of kind words, and just the kind of person you want to be around.  Imagine Mary Poppins, American style.  We got to talk to daddy at home (the picture below), catch up with family, and slept REALLY.....Really.....really well...zzzzzzzzzz.

We woke up in the morning, said our goodbyes, and drove off for Detroit.  Detriot wasn't one of the places I was super excited about visiting.  I'd had a few things in mind like, the Henry Ford museum, not getting shot, etc....but we decided to improvise instead.  Not getting shot remained at the top of my list. 

Cannolis are NEVER a bad choice.  Ok, I take that back.  Cannolis CAN be a bad choice, but when they're good, they're GOoooooOOOooood.  Supino Pizziaria was a recommendation from my BFF, indirectly, through Diners, Drive-In's and Dives.  IF there is a DDD place, she wants to try it, and I can't think of a time her food choice has sucked.  We downed our supper amazing pizza, and went in for the sugar and cheese filled fried dough.  You know the kind of cannoli that's crunchy on the outside and still super gooey on the inside with big 'ole chunks of chocolate that make your insides smile?  They were THAT kind of cannoli.  My pants were already tight driving into Detroit, and driving out, I unbuttoned.  

You know what I love about living in Texas?  The wide open spaces and beautiful skies where you can see for miles and miles.  I think I love that because it reminds me of home.  Home is a tiny town in Illinois where politicians and poets have walked, but few have heard of.  Galesburg, Illinois.  

Brotherly Love

The rest of Philadelphia was uh-mazing!

We stopped at the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin,

And talked about his many accomplishments:

Then we headed to Independence Hall.  Our tour good guide was fantastic!  Incredibly knowledgeable with a hilarious presentation.  He was an older gentleman with a balding top and longer sides. I asked him if he ever personified a Continental character.  He responded that yes, in fact he played John Adams in the History Chanel movie "Founding Brothers"!  Now I'm going to have to impose myself on our cable subscribing friends.  Shelly, that cool with you? 

Seeing the room where the Declaration was signed so shortly after seeing the Signed Declaration itself stirred a strong sense of patriotism and concern about all that's happened in the past 239 years.

We were able to see a Benjamin Franklin printing press, and Gannon purchased his much desired and anticipated copy of the Declaration.

The final stop was the Liberty Bell, providing a beautiful for ground for the tower where it hung.  Philadelphia, you impressed me!  

Traffic put a damper in our day, but we made it to our next stop before midnight.  

The adventure continues!

Days 5-9: The Burg

I'm from a little house on the prairie.  Not the show, an actual little house on an actual prairie.  I love calico, ice cream socials, and green rolling hills.  Galesburg is home to the Birthplace of Carl Sandburg, the Landmark Cafe, a Lincoln vs. Douglass debate site, and two of my favorite bloggers!  

These women know Galesburg and they know travel!  When I post about my silly little US road trip, I dream of going the places these people go.  Katie and I were good friends in kindergarden. We often pretended we were Anne of Green Gables characters walking a path between our houses, young girls with great imaginations.  You'll enjoy here thoughts on life at Nonbillablehours.  

Christy and I were in high school together and I recently accidentally bought some belts from her on E-Bay.  That was a fun invoice to see!  She is also a Galesburg native and suffered through high school volleyball with me at our super-small Christian school.  You'll love her photos and travels at Laneletters.

But I digress....Galesburg.  

Galesburg is where my kids go fishing at Lake Story

Galesburg is where Middle D JC climbs higher than the house in the same tree I climbed when I was young

Galesburg is The Taste Of Galesburg with Turtle Crepes from the Landmark, and Baby JC eats the cherry.

Where my son holds my daughters hand as we walk

and grandparents take time with little folks for waffles in the early mornings.

We made it up to Rock Falls to see my favorite Aunt and Uncle, and my niece with her parents.

Its a sad, dying town since Maytag took its business out and stole jobs from thousands, but it is where my heart is, where my parents are, and one of my children's favorite places to be.  We only make it back a few times a year, but we love Galesburg.  It has been a wonderful break from being on the road, in the car.  We've played, built with legos, played in parks, visited with folks, and enjoyed our time.  Galesburg, I love you.  Days 5-9  are in the books.

Off to Omaha and DENVER!!!!!!!!!!!