My Father’s Day adventure

I hope all fathers out there had a good Father’s Day last Sunday. I did.

We headed out to northwest Indiana at the invitation of our daughter Bridget and her husband Branden. As we sat down in their home in Saint John, in walked son Justin in a surprise visit from Washington, DC. He and Bridget had planned it and were able to keep it secret from me.

The main event they planned was a Thursday night performance by humorist Garrison Keillor, former host of the long-running public radio show “A Prairie Home Companion.” Keillor’s performance at City Winery in nearby Chicago reprised his trademark “It was a quiet week in Lake Wobegone” monologue from the radio show. Keillor, now 82 years old, ambled through the audience for an hour and a half in a flawless performance, speaking without notes about his life, reciting poetry and leading the crowd in song. We had attended four of Keillor’s radio shows over the years so the kids knew it would be a hit for me. Mission accomplished.

Saturday we were back in Chicago for an afternoon baseball game in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field between the beloved Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs won 2-1 in an unseasonably cool game as the temperature only hit the upper 60s with a brisk wind blowing in off nearby Lake Michigan. Hot dogs cost $11 and beers were $17. They have to cover a $194 million payroll somehow. We did get to witness Dansby Swanson hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, helping justify his $28 million salary.

When we arrived home from the game, as we were visiting in the driveway with the next door neighbors, their dog decided to take a bite out of Mary’s right hand when she tried to pet it. Fortunately an immediate care clinic was open nearby and they treated the three wounds to her two fingers. No stitches were necessary but Mary got a tetanus shot just in case, some antibiotics and plenty of sympathy. It may put a crimp in her piano playing for a few days and the dog is on double secret probation with the neighbors, who were distraught by their animal’s behavior. I hope if it was not an elaborate scheme by Mary to draw attention away from me on Father’s Day.

Sunday we went out to brunch and took Justin back to O’Hare airport where he jetted off.

Monday morning we returned to the immediate care clinic for a checkup on Mary’s fingers. The doctor said everything was looking good. We appreciated the prompt and friendly care they gave Mary. She said she’d confine her canine affection to Times Pilot mascot Peach the News-hound, Bridget and Branden’s dog Wrigley and Joan Zwagerman’s Hank. The latter two are both mini golden doodles and act like they’re half human.

We made it back to Storm Lake Monday evening just in time to miss the thunderstorm that roared through the area, although we witnessed quite a lightning show in the western sky between Fort Dodge and home.

All in all, it was a mostly quiet week in my version of Lake Wobegone.