Dear Readers,
TJ and I made a very quick trip to Chicago last week and tacked on a drive to Michigan to see my tattoo artist, who recently moved his shop from Chicago to New Buffalo. I know your question and the answer is radishes. The second answer is this fall or winter. The third answer is v. excited.
TJ filmed for Wheaton College, a little bit on both the days we were in Naperville. I spent a couple hours with my dear friend Mary Jo, we went to dinner with some old friends, we got cookie dough, we saw Centennial Beach, we took a picture by the fountain, we drove by both our old houses, I ran a different three-mile route, I looked at cards at Anderson’s book store, we scoped out the toys at Oswald’s Pharmacy, and we went to Trader Joe’s (the one I used to walk to) so I could buy veggies to have with the VGBG. Interestingly I didn’t buy radishes.
Do you know how many times we had this veggie burger from Standard Grill when we lived in Naperville? I didn’t track it the way I track Tandem now, but I do know that the month Sailor was born (Sept 2014), TJ and I both got the VGBG and sweet potato fries - this exact meal - TWELVE times. In a month. That is how much we loved it. Evidently, it was the reward for all my labor before she was even born on the 28th of the month. I remember going to Standard Grill for one more meal after my contractions started.
Standard Grill in Naperville closed so we drove to the one in Westmont instead. It was just how we remembered it, with the market next door and the fruit-infused water. The honey mustard sauce. The big paper napkins that feel like cloth. The gigantic sweet potato fries. The VGBG itself. I hope I get to eat twelve more of those in my lifetime.
We are planning a trip back for next summer. I already decided. Something about all the familiarities of Naperville and feeling connected to this place made me want to experience it again with the kids. Raging Waves, Centennial Beach, Lou Malnati’s, the Riverwalk, Cookie Dough Creations, driving by our old houses again, a few more friends we want to see, another couple VGBGs, and I’ll be a happy camper without any camping ever.
Love,
Ginger
P.S. This is what my veggie tattoo looked like when I first got it in 2010. It’s hard to believe it was that bright and that it’s been part of me for twelve years. I still love my veggies.
