Hello, Dear Readers! I know, I know. It seems like a mighty long time.
But today, I write with three purposes. The first is to check in with all of you.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that you all have come through this awful, awful pandemic relatively unscathed. Due to immunizations, caution, lots of hand-washing, my daughter Natasha’s constant worrying/advising/intervention/checking in**** and just plain dumb luck, so far I haven’t gotten sick.
(Pooh, pooh, pooh- as my very superstitious mother would have said.)
***Throughout these past two and a half years, Natasha was on the phone to me daily. She sent me designer masks non-stop. And she was so concerned, involved, stressed, worried, and up-to-date on the latest medical breakthroughs, I now call her “Dr. Fauci.”
But others near and dear to me were not as fortunate. I don’t want to discuss people’s very private sorrows. Let’s just say I know people who’ve had to say their last farewell’s and “I love you’s” to their loved ones over the phone.
And I’ve been to more Zoom funerals than I ever want to go to again.
The worst thing that happened to me was that I couldn’t see my children or grandchildren for almost two years. In fact, it’s been exactly two years ago today since I’ve had them all together in the same room.
You see today’s my birthday.
And that’s the second reason I’m sending out the blog today. I wanted to share my birthday with all of you. These last few years have really driven home how much I miss my friends and readers. (It’s hard for me to tell the difference.) Small social things I took for granted- lunches, dinners, casually bumping into people in my neighborhood- all went gone with the virus.
But the virus was kind of responsible for one piece of good news, too.
In May, TBF and I took the plunge.
Nope, we didn’t tie the knot. We did something that I take way more seriously.
We bought a house and moved in together.
And Corona was a big reason.
As you probably know, I lived in Chicago.
As you probably didn’t know, he lives in Geneva, Illinois.
Nope, not Lake Geneva. That’s in Wisconsin. (Don’t snicker. I’ve had more people mix up the two than you can believe.)
So for the last five plus years- give or take- my routine was to take the train out to his house for the weekends on Friday afternoon. Tuesday mornings, I would hop back on the train and go home.
Easy peasy. When you’re with someone part-time three or four days a week, you get along beautifully. There are no real arguments, temperament clashes, lifestyle differences or territorial conflicts.
Nothing matters because it will all be resolved by an one hour train ride.
But then Covid hit last March, and I stopped riding the train.
At first, he came in and brought me back to his house. This was a two hour and ten minute joy ride- at best. (At worst- like on Friday afternoons- don’t ask.)
But because the schlepp was so long, I felt guilty about making him do it twice every week.
So I just stayed. Longer and longer and longer, until I only went home to pick up my mail.
I was now “The Man Who Came To Dinner” but we were still getting along.
And one thing led to another and…
I now live in Geneva.
(There was never a prayer of getting him to move to Chicago. His work and and kids and grandchildren are out here. I can work anywhere and my kids are in Boston and Seattle. I lost any way I looked at it.)
It could have been worse. Geneva is a charmer of a town. It’s small, quaint, easy-going and quite the tourist attraction.
Its many antique shops, legendary chocolate emporiums, restaurants, the Fox River, art and food and wine festivals and short ride from the city make it a great way to spend the day away from the bustle of Chicago.
I think of it as Aspen- without Ajax Mountain.
It’s not all about the town for me, of course. I’m a “house” person, and after eight years in an apartment, I’m thrilled to have a back yard, stairs and a garage again.
I still manage to get back to Chicago for things like hair cuts and family occasions. (Not necessarily in order of importance.)
And in an extra serendipitous twist of Fate, my treasured manicurist changed jobs and now works nearby!
So my third reason for writing today, Dear Readers, is to issue you all an invitation.
I miss you. Come out and visit. You’re welcome any time.
R.S.V.P.
Love, Ellen
Nice to hear from you… and Happy Birthday!
-Martin
Thanks, my friend. Good to hear from you, too, Early Bird. Hope all is well!
I’m thrilled to hear about your new living situation and the opportunity to talk to you daughter regularly – a true blessing. Helps make the losses less painful.
Have a wonderful birthday and a glass of champagne on me!
Wow, X-1, thanks. What a nice offer! But I’d much rather have a burger at Green Acres. See you in the Rotunda. 🎂🥂
You beat me to a “Happy Birthday “!!
It is so good to receive your blog again and catch up with your life these past 2 years.
I’m so happy you are settled and enjoying this new phase of your life. I hope to see you soon…. Vaccinations & Masks & All!!!
Love you
814
Thanks, Mary Tyler Moore. You’re such a great friend. My mother was right. Why can’t I be like the girl next door? Love you too and see you soon. 🎂🥂
Please keep writing!
Love,
Your Treasured CPA
You are my treasured everything! Can you be my agent? Thanks and 🥂
Happy Birthday. See you tonight!!!!
Thanks, bro. Can’t wait. 🍔🎂🥂❤️
Delighted that you have made “productive time of being sequestered. Happy Birthday to you!
Susan
Thanks, Susan. Yes, we kind of turned a lemon into lemonade. And I hope all is well with your gang, too. Hope to see you IRL soon. Love to the Big 🍎
Such a joy to wake up to my favorite writer and her blog. I just love the way you communicate. Have a very Happy & Healthy Birthday Ellen. Don’t forget our date next May. Looking forward to being together again ❤️🙏🎉🥂❤️
Thanks, my dear friend. Hope you and your beautiful clan are doing great. And no way am I’m forgetting. Can’t wait to share this next chapter with you. Love to all the Z’s. ♥️🎂🥂
Ellen ! How great to see this today!
Like so many of your friends and fans, I’ve truly missed your wonderful messages on this blog.
Also, as someone who has escaped the city (though purely by “dumb luck” about a year before Covid hit, and the gangs turned my beloved Streeterville into “Crime Central”) — I understand your happiness. We’re up in Lake Bluff, but like Geneva, there’s a similar bucolic vibe.
… SO glad you’re “ back” !!!
My favorite scribe! So great to hear from you. And glad you escaped the worst of it. Yes, our beloved city is certainly taking a beating but the “City of Big Shoulders” will roar back. And soon, I hope. Love LB. That neck of the woods is beautiful. Thanks, Bill. Hope to see you IRL somewhere – and soon! 🎂🥂
Oops! And Happy Birthday, too!
I can hear you talking thru your blogs! Such a gift. I’m glad you have found your person to share your life with. No one should be alone. I wish you a very happy birthday and many more!!!!
Thanks, Andi! This is why I can’t write a book under a pen name. Everyone would know it was me. Hope all is well with your beautiful family. Looks like your lovely new daughter-in-law will make a nice addition. Congrats to all. 🥂❤️
From one Scorpio to another, Happy Birthday…mine is on the 16th. Happy to hear from you and know you are okay from this damn pandemic. I finally retired because of other health reasons, but it just made me act sooner on getting near my 2 daughters and their families. I left Tucson and now live in west Tennessee near Kentucky lake and loving it. I now have time to fish to my content. Glad you finally got settled in Geneva and hope you can keep in touch now and then. Take care.
Thanks, Fellow Scorpio! And happy birthday to you in two days. Sorry about the pesky health things but glad you turned a lemon in lemonade. Ava I bet that Lake is happy you’re there. Look out fish! Wishing you all health and happiness in your new locale. Maybe we’ll meet in the middle some day! 🎂🥂
Good to see you again Ellen! Wishing you a wonderful birthday year and lots of joy in Geneva with TBF. (I have family there and know they love it.) After so much pandemic misery it’s great to hear your story of happiness! 🥂 💋💋
Thanks so much, Nancy. It’s been an awful couple of years for all of us but hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And small world about your family in Geneva. Who’d have thunk it? Wishing you and yours a healthy abs happy end to this year. ❤️🥂
Happy Birthday Lovely Ellen!!! I’m in Mexico on holiday now but sending you love, peace and happiness. Congratulations on your new house, relationship and back to an almost post pandemic lifestyle. Yes. Bring back your newsletter!!❤️
Buenas tardes, senor. Muchas gracias por todo. Have a great time down there and it’s been quite the journey- as you know. Hope to see you IRL at something soon. No more Wing Hoe, though. 😢
Happy Birthday, 810! It’s so nice to hear your news again. Geneva and your new living arrangement sound lovely. Hope your next trip around the sun includes visits with your little grands.
Love,
824
Thanks, 824. I’m looking forward to reuniting with my kids and grands very soon. Most of all, I want them in one room reuniting with each other. It’s been a long two years. Hope your family is A-ok. 810 is being remodeled and now is on the way to bring a mini McMansion. Unreal. Love to you and your crew. 810
Happy Birthday, Ellen. I’m happy things have gone well for you regarding “the boyfriend,” and your move. I only have one question. Did you happen to find the missing earring before, during or after the move? The one you lost in your bedroom?
My only goal this past 18 months has been to survive Covid. Everything else has been secondary. So far, I have met my goal. But like you, visits with my children and grandchildren have been very limited. I’d have to stop and think for a while but I don’t believe I’ve seen all of them in the last couple years. I have three adult children and six biological grandchildren, ages six to 23. Since several grandchildren are now in college and some are unvaccinated by choice or because of their age, there are limits to my visits. And now that summer is over, my opportunities are even more limited because it’s getting too cold for outside visits. But I have survived the pandemic so far and that’s what is important.
I hope your birthday was wonderful and all of the holidays ahead of you are too.And for both of us, I hope 2022 brings us opportunities for many visits with our offspring and theirs.
Hi, Susan! And nope, never found the earring – which leads me to believe that it must have fallen off before I ever got home. What a good memory you have!
As to seeing our family, it’s going to be challenging for awhile. Things are definitely going in the right direction, but I’m afraid that the “new normal” will dictate our behaviors and opportunities for the foreseeable future. Love hearing from you and wishing you a happy and healthy rest of the year.
Oh Ellen its a dream come true seeing you back with Letters! I looked forward to learning , laughing and enjoying your communications…..and now my emails will be back to the fun of you! Happy Birthday girl. How wonderful to have a man, a garage and a yard. I think I may put that on a Hanukah wish list.
Arizona is still my home all year round. I am waiting for the schools to open their volunteer programs so my heart will be filled with love from 5 year olds.
Please stay safe and happy…you are loved !
Oh Happy day Ellen is back!
Jackie! How sweet! Both of these comments could turn a girl’s head. Those will be lucky five year olds if they have you looking out for them. Hope your beautiful crew are all great. I love your adorable puppy pics – a dog is the only thing missing from my new yard. Someday… Hope to see you somewhere IRL soon. ❤️
Thanks for sharing your good news. Thank you.
Thanks, Howard. Glad you persisted and got your comment posted. Hope to see you here again.
Hi Ellen,
Yes, thanks for the warm welcome:)
Hope to see your interesting way with words.
Thank you for sharing…
Howard
PS: Such lovely reader responses too.