Covid may not be completely over for everyone, but for me, I feel a bit like I've been let out of a cage, and Japan just whet my appetite for more travel. This week, I was in Minneapolis and Chicago, with stops in Eau Claire and Madison in between.
This is U Wisconsin- Eau Claire, where the theatre department is producing my musical, Seeds of Change, for their spring elementary school tour. I met with the director, students and faculty and saw a performance at Augusta Elementary.
The swordfish warns Rosey Kate about ocean plastics.
Ocean "water" made by theatre magic.
Father Tree and his tree limb sword.
From Augusta, I drove through the farmlands of Wisconsin, stopping along the way for lunch at Norse Nook in Osseo and for antique shopping in Hixton. I love road trips, even the mini ones.
Madison is one of my favorite small cities, mostly because I get to see Hannah. While she was working, though, I strolled around the city like a tourist, walking along the lakefront, shopping on State Street, and visiting the Chazen Art Museum on the UW campus for the re:emancipation exhibition.
Cornell and Calder.
On the weekend, Hannah and I drove to Chicago to celebrate Charlotte's graduation from Erickson.
Sharing a delicious "chocolate cigar" for dessert at Carnivale started off the celebration.
Although there was some light rain, Chicago showed off its beautiful side in warm, spring weather, and I enjoyed getting in my steps on the riverside.
The "grande finale" and reason for the trip came on Tuesday, with the Erikson Institute commencement. Former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett spoke, as did her mother, Professor Barbara Bowman, who is one of the founders of the graduate school, which specializes in childhood education, development and social work, with an emphasis on social justice.
Charlotte is now a proud graduate with a Master's of Social Work. Congrats, Charlotte!!!
