Happy Birthday, Lorna

Lorna

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday.

I feel like I won the grand prize when it comes to in-laws. I wish we lived nearer. Drake is going back for a visit later this month; I have less flexibility with my consulting work and don't have enough vacation/sick leave to make the trip. It's hard to be so far away, especially as they get older. But it would almost impossible for me to make a living in a rural area. We have lived in Seattle for almost 25 years so It would be hard for us to leave our life here. But I still wish we could make it work out somehow.

West-central IL is beautiful, with rolling hills. It's farm country, though in recent years folks from Chicago (3 hours away) have been buying property for rural second homes, including good hunting ground. Though Jim and Lorna are retired, they still live on their farm and lease the land. Retired, hah - they are busier than ever with community efforts. And I am convinced that attending my niece's and nephew's various sports game constitutes a full-time job (its currently volleyball season for Jess and football for Matt). But Jim and Lorna are so devoted to family and community.

So, Happy Birthday, Lorna.