After the going-away breakfast, we prepared to leave Wheaton and head back into the city. However, a momentary flash of creativity flowed from Steve's backpack. It consisted of a stack of 12 index cards, each one listing an event/activity for us to do together. Amy was to select a card and then we would continue on, working through the deck.

This choice of game was sentimental because it paralleled a similar event experienced during our first and second dates together back in 1994 (it was a crazy date idea by Steve... it's still crazy today!). In a way, we were walking through history at each of the places we visited. At each of these stops, we would take photos commemorating the event (however, many people thought we were quite odd, as in order to both get into the shot, we set up the camera on a tripod with a timer... what can we say... it was about making a memory!). Combine this unique aspect with the fact that the heat index was pushing 95+ degrees, and you have the makings of quite an interesting day.

As we visited numerous locations, it was refreshing to share stories and experiences that we had forgot about in more recent years. Sometimes when you are working full time and caught up with today, you forget about why you were together in the first place.

One thing that Amy found amazing was how she kept randomly pulling cards, yet they all seemed to conveniently fall into pattern (for example, it was quite "lucky" that she pulled all the Wheaton events during our time in that suburb, without pulling a Chicago-related activity first... more on how this was accomplished later).

Our travels took us to many memorable locations throughout Wheaton (a place Amy lived for many years), and then into Chicago to various sites of interest from our early times together, including Wrigley Field, a local ice cream shop, and a nostalgic hot dog drive-thru where they still serve you at your car window.

As the day wore on and the heat intensified, Amy thought something might be up. Nevertheless, the couple eventually found themselves at the Chicago Botanical Gardens (which actually isn't in Chicago, but rather in northern Glencoe... go figure). This place has held many memories for us, as we've had numerous conversations and walks over the years. The Gardens were undergoing a very large capital improvement project, involving many new areas slated to open in late 2002. To make this all possible, the large lagoon that surrounded the Garden was drained, and many surrounding areas were undergoing redevelopment. Included in these areas was one special hill that we spent much time at over the years. It was "our hill". At the time, however, it seemed a bulldozer preferred to call it home.

Out of nostalgia, we hiked around the empty lagoon to get as close as possible to "our spot". When we reached a large fence preventing us from proceeding into the construction area, we found a nice plot of grass under the shade of a tree and just reflected on the moment.

PHOTOS & TEXT FROM THE ADVENTURE