C-H-I-C-A-G-O

Last year one of my best friends got married. The last time I saw her was in fact in my own wedding in 2007, but we've stayed in touch through emails and I've seen her mom in Atlanta in the meantime. You know the type of friend where you don't see them for a long time, but once you're in a room together you're back in the comfortable 'best friends relationship' within minutes? Well, that's Kalle for you. Knowing how much it meant to me to be present on her big day my husband gave me this for my birthday:

Now - what was this? A puzzle! He'd laminated a picture of the Chicago skyline, cut in into pieces, and I was completely taken by surprise! It should be evident by now that Kalle and her chosen one live in Chicago. Their wedding, however, was in Savannah, GA, and because of my internship situation I wasn't able to get time off from work (for a long time I didn't know what hospital I'd be in, and thus didn't know who my employer would be -which makes it kind of hard asking for time off...). Kalle and I had agreed that the better option was to come and visit them in Chicago, and get to hang out. In April we took off - and spent two weeks in the US. Kalle and Micheal were great, and we had the best time.
Day 1: Rune had arranged for Kalle and I to go to a spa! He knew that I'd been going through some rough time, and that this vacation was a much longed for break from everything. And to start the vacation with the best massage ever cannot be described in words... Afterwards we did what Kalle and I do best: went for a cup of coffee! And obviously - shopping...!
Day 2&3: Weekend time! The four of us hung out in the city of Chicago, going out for brunch, walked in the park, along the beach...chilling and enjoying ourselves!
Day 4-7: Our hosts had jobs to attend to, so Rune and I got out the GPS and selected our next destination. It was time to visit Elvis. Our rental Lincoln towncar headed due south towards Memphis, and Graceland was our first stop. It was interesting, and kind of fun to have been there - but I've never been to a more commercial museum in my life. After two hours we'd had enough, and waved Elvis goodbye. The weather in Memphis was great, and we spent the next day in downtown Memphis, visiting the cotton museum and simply hung out. The next day we headed back to Chicago and our hosts.
Day 8-10: Kalle and Micheal had rented a lake house in Douglas/Saugatuck in Michigan. Although the weather was cold and it rained most of the time we had a great time. The house was unbelievably nice, the hot tub out on the patio much appreciated, the wineries interesting (ice wine, anyone?! ;) ), the food satiable, and of course the best part: our company :).
Day 11-13: Wrapping up the vacation back in Chicago before we boarded our plane back to Trondheim. Did I mention we had snow in Chicago? We couldn't believe it - traveling from cold Norway to Chicago in the spring... Oh well, not that it made a difference. Spending time with Kalle, and getting to know Micheal was our mission, and I've gotta say. Mission accomplished! We don't see each other often, but when we do, it is like we've haven't been a day apart since high school.






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