Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – Day 358

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Good morning, my fabulous family and friends.

🎉 Happy birthday, Joe Stefinsky! 🎂🎁

August is a month packed with celebrations—birthdays, anniversaries—and a few days that call for quiet reflection on life’s fragility.

Many of my high school friends also celebrate birthdays this month—Chrissy, Paul, Carrie, and surely others I’m forgetting. Sorry if your name slipped my mind. Blame the aging triplet brain.

Yesterday, we took a road trip to Lake Forest to meet up with Pam and David W. for lunch at the Deer Path Inn. It was a bit of a haul from Crystal Lake, but we had to pick up a car Alex drove home for us—one more vehicle to help haul all the gear up to Fence Lake. Pam and David had offered to come our way, but meeting in Lake Forest worked best logistically, and it allowed them to walk to the restaurant.

Deer Path Inn is rated the best resort in the Midwest, so I was curious to see the place since its remodel…10 years ago. Fun fact: Abbott bought the property in 2014 and gave it a full renovation. It really is a beautiful and unique spot. Although with room rates starting at $500 a night, I don’t think it’s in our future overnight travel plans.

We sat on the terrace and caught up on all the usual life updates—ALS, kids, grandkids, life in Lake Forest and Crystal Lake. We’ve kept in touch over the years through Christmas cards, so I always had a sense of how their family was doing.

From the late ‘90s through 2005, we lived in Lake Forest. When we moved from Waukegan, Nicole was just starting 2nd grade—and that’s when she met Haley, Pam and David’s daughter. That first day at a new school in a new town was tough, but it marked the start of a lifelong friendship between the girls. Pam reached out right away (maybe even that very first day), and that small kindness grew into a wonderful friendship.

For the next ten years, Haley and Nicole were practically inseparable. Pam and David became like second parents to Nicole—especially during my divorce, meeting Cindy, and those Tampa years when I was traveling almost weekly for work. Needless to say, Pam and David were a big part of our lives, and I’m deeply thankful for them.

During lunch, I learned that David volunteers by making home visits to people in hospice—delivering chocolate shakes. I asked if he made house calls in Crystal Lake, because when the time comes, I’d love to be on that list. At first he said no… but by the time we said goodbye, I think I had him rethinking it. I may yet get my shake.

As we wrapped up, we almost forgot to take a photo—but thankfully Pam was quick with her phone. It takes me a while to fish mine out, so I’m glad she jumped on it. We snapped a pic in front of the Inn. I really need to get better about taking those photos. Everyone who’s part of this journey—this life—is important to me, and I want to remember and recognize them.

The drive and lunch took up the whole day—we left at 10:15 a.m. and got back around 3:30 p.m. This is why I joke that Crystal Lake is basically in Iowa. It’s a hike. By the time we got home, I was ready for a nap.

Today is open so we get to do whatever we want. Maybe a day at the pool. Let’s see…do we go uninvited to Mike and Beth’s pool or the health club. Love having choices.

Have a great Wednesday! Love you guys! ❤️