The fondness absences grows

The human mind constantly changes through the process of habituation. This force desensitizes our brain to experiences that are constant or regularly recurring. For example, if we eat our favorite dish every day, eventually it no longer tastes as special as our first bite. Similarly, we often don't realize how important people are in our lives until they are gone. This trip reminds me of how immensely lucky I am. I am surrounded by friends and family that I appreciate and love dearly. I also have the greatest wife in the world, whom I miss every day. She is my rock and my Welsh sunshine. In the absence of love, a fondness grows. I am reminded of an old poem by John Donne:

Our two souls therefore, which are one,

Though I must go, endure not yet

A breach, but an expansion,

Like gold to aery thinness beat.

If they be two, they are two so

As stiff twin compasses are two ;

Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show

To move, but doth, if th' other do.

And though it in the centre sit,

Yet, when the other far doth roam,

It leans, and hearkens after it,

And grows erect, as that comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,

Like th' other foot, obliquely run ;

Thy firmness makes my circle just,

And makes me end where I begun.

(excerpted from Valediction Forbidding Mourning, http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/mourning.php)

Fortunately, my days have been filled with travel and excitement. Steve and I have successfully traversed the Midwest and arrived safely in Chicago. Today we went to a Cubs game at the historic Wrigley Stadium. Thanks to a friend of Steve's, we had incredible seats directly behind home plate and the home team won 5-2. You can see our incredible view above on the left. In addition, we met up with Kris Mendez, a buddy from college who graciously hosted us after a long haul of driving. He showed us the Chicago lakeside and a two great places to eat. I've included a skyline picture above and some Lake Michigan pictures below as well. Tomorrow, we will take an arcihtectural tour of downtown Chicago and then embark east.

Miles driven: 6,460

Quote of the day: "This blog isn't about your travels, it's you pontificating on life" Samantha Dennison, accurate and succinct as usual.

Poker update: no change here