R and J in the USA

We had both of our Illinois People Along the Way experiences in other states. 

In our final moments in Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park, Julie absolutely had to go in the frigid lake water for a quick dip. She couldn’t spend a day on a lake without submerge herself in it. There was a couple sitting on the dock at the little beach cheering her on as she walked in. 

“If there’s a lake, I have to get in it.” Julie said.

“It’s good there are people in the world like you,” the woman said, “so we don’t have to do it.”

We all laughed and then Julie took a deep breathe to steel herself against the cold and went under. 

She came up invigorated and a conversation began.

They were super excited to learn about our trip and asked Julie all kinds of questions.

“Wow! That’s a lot of travel planning! Good for you!”

“Thank you!” Julie said, a bit relieved. “We’re lucky to be able to do it, but it is a lot of work to pull together, so that’s nice to hear.”

When Julie found out the couple was from Peoria, Illinois, she said, “Oh. We had wanted to stop there!” Julie said, “But we weren’t able to fit it into the itinerary.”

“Is it because of the saying?”

“Yes! My husband said he’s always referencing ‘how does it play in Peoria’, so we might as well go there and found it. But we didn’t make it.”

They asked about our Illinois itinerary and Julie mentioned the two nights and two days we spent in Chicago.

“Chicago is nothing like the rest of Illinois,” the man piped up with some passion. He then began to give a fairly negative review of the Windy City and differentiated Chicago from the rest of the state.

“I don’t know about that.” The wife said. Everything he said about Chicago, she took the other view.

“I get it,” Julie said. “This is probably what you would find if you talked to upstate New Yorkers. One person would say they love New York City. The next would say no thank you – and with emphasis! And no one would confuse New York City with any other city in New York. But whether you like it or not, New York City, though geographically small, plays a big part in the state of New York.”

Julie described how Ryan had flown home from Springfield for his regular visit home to his mother like the good son that he is. 

“My poor mother is getting no such treatment from me, unfortunately,” said Julie.

The husband replied, “We are actually here at her request to check up on you.” He then whispered into a mimed earpiece, “She’s good.”

“I believe that, actually.” Julie replied. 

Hi Mom!