When I realized that I wouldn’t be able to take Nadia to the Christmas concert on December 20, I offered an alternative plan: I took December 23 off, purchased the ticket for matinee performance on that day, and suggested to pick up Nadia on the evening of December 22, and then come back with her on December 23 and stay to celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately, there were no Amtrak tickets available for me for “swapping a suitcase for a child” (the only acceptable train was sold out), so Anna had to drive to Kenosha, and I took Metra there (and took another Metra back 20 minutes later). I packed a gigantic luggage with presents and all the things I needed in Milwaukee so that the next day, Nadia and I could travel light.
The trip back was very long, but Nadia entertained herself by reading all the names of the stops and keeping track of them – for some reason, stops had not been announced on this trip!
The next morning, we went to Common Cup for breakfast (I am so glad Nadia likes Common Cup as much as I do – yay!).
Then Nadia decorated all of the remaining cookies, and I was impressed by her skills! I told her that next Christmas, I will request her help in my cookies’ operation!
Then we headed to my office where we had lunch and ice-cream.
Stopped to see Macy’s windows on our way to the CSO:
… and finally attended the concert, which was way more fun than going with my mom.
We picked up our backpacks which we left at my office, and then headed to the Union Station. There, we went to see a Christmas Tree in the Great Hall before boarding.
Thirty minutes later, we learned that our train was delayed, and to make a long story short, the total delay was more than two hours!
However, we ended up in Milwaukee on Monday evening, and that’s all you can ask for on the eve of Christmas Eve!
Hettie's Reflections 