Off to Chicago!

I've been so looking forward to getting together again with the 'pies I've met, and meeting a few new ones -- Terri and Gilly from Australia, Katie from Nebraska, and Ronnie from Ohio.  I'm also renewing acquaintances with a couple I met only briefly, Betty (Anna's friend, who came with her to Lancaster in 1998) and Ellie, Celia's cousin, who I met at the Lowell Piebake in 2006.

I packed light this trip (having practiced the weekend before going orienteering in Ohio), having only two carry-ons, so I didn't have to wait for checked bags. Nann had told me no one was meeting me at the airport; I called her cell from there but didn't get an answer so concluded that was still the case, and called the hotel shuttle to come get me. Actually, it was on its way to the airport to pick up someone else and was at the sidewalk when I stepped outside.

Verdi was sitting and stitching in the lobby when I arrived, and said that Julie had left to go to the airport to try to meet me there... I guess she had a nice ride!  Judy arrived soon, and Julie finally returned, and we all packed into Julie Toyota Prius (no sudden accelerations!) to head out for lunch after swinging by her hubby's place of business to pick up something.  We went to a Greek deli, and being overwhelmed by the menu I ended up ordering a cheeseburger (cheezburger...cheezburger).  Verdi the adventurous ordered Souvlaki without knowing what it was -- turns out it's seasoned pork kabobs served over rice.  Judy had the same, and Julie -- well, I don't remember what Julie had.

We made it safely back to the motel, and as the afternoon went on more 'pies trickled in.  Since Terri and Gilly were arriving between 5 and 6 and the quilt show preview started at 7 one group swung by the airport to pick them up and take them directly to the show while the rest of us took the hotel shuttle (or someone's car).  Judy had borrowed a wheelchair from her apartment complex for Verdi to use, and it was duly loaded into the shuttle. Carolyn took responsibility for wheeling Verdi around the quilts, at least part of the time, while the rest of us scattered to look at the quilts or scout out the vendors (more than 475 in one place!).  I wandered the quilt exhibits by myself to take everything in.  In the O Canada exhibit I ran into Terri and Gilly who had run into Pam Holland, another Australian quilter!  Pam was attending as a teacher/lecturer.  We exchanged hugs, and took pictures, then separated again knowing we'd reunite later.

We "flocked" again when the preview ended, and waited a bit for the shuttle but made it back to the motel. The ones who'd traveled in cars returned and ordered pizza by phone, but we beat it back and waited...and waited...and finally our supper arrived!  Yay, food!

Then off to bed for more adventures on Friday.