Social Distancing in Lombard, IL

We are living in a lovely house in Lombard, IL until the end of April, when we may know something more about the current pandemic. Our month in Athens is off, and probably the rest of our travels this season, but we will check our options at the end of each month.

We are fortunate to have found a nice place to stay. There is a historic element, here, too, as the house is one of the “Sears catalogue” houses built between 1908-1940 from kits that included all that was needed to build a house shipped from Sears to the building site. (Ours is a single story, not exactly like the pictured two story house.)

Though the house looks modest from the outside, the lower floor is completely finished and contains a bedroom and bath, media room/den, home office, laundry room, and storage. The upstairs has living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath.

The neighborhood is interesting, long settled and with a variety of homes built at different times and in different styles. Downtown Lombard is about a ten minute walk to the east, where there is a Metra station for trains to Chicago. Two blocks south of us is the Prairie Path, a regional walking/biking trail that extends more than 50 miles, from Chicago through the western suburbs.

The best known feature of the town is Lilacia Park, donated to the city by Col. William Plum, a local resident. The city was given his home, land, and the garden of lilacs that he and his wife had been cultivating for a number of years. The Plum’s began their garden with two lilac bushes they brought from France in 1907. The park was established in 1927, and today it includes over 200 varieties of lilacs. I had no idea there were that many variants! Though the plants are not in bloom yet, daffodils and tulips are coming up, and within a couple of weeks the park should begin its showiest time of the year. There won’t be a Lilac Festival this year, but the flowers will bloom no matter what. I intend to walk by regularly to keep track of them, and to smell the lilacs.

The day after I took this walk, it got drizzly and cold. I explored some of the downtown streets and didn’t pass many people. I noticed that the liquor store and smoke shop were open, and I was surprised that a hair salon and a nail salon were still open. I hadn’t been keeping up with the news, so I didn’t know that people were still crowding together at the beach in Florida and California, and standing in line to see the cherry blossoms in Washington. I suppose there are also people who still want to get their nails done. I have cancelled all appointments except for one eye doctor appointment that is already overdue.

This morning we were surprised to get up and find snow. What a change! It was so depressing to think that I’ve given up life on the beach for this–Illinois at the worst time of year. My moaning was premature, as the snow was completely melted and the sun was out by mid-afternoon. At 8 am, though, I was ready to abandon ship and go back to South America.

What do you like best about the beginning of spring? The longer days, warmer sun, options for gardening?

Published by winifredcreamer

I am a retired archaeologist and I like to travel, especially to places where you can walk along the shore or watch birds. My husband Jonathan and I travel for more than half the year every year, seeing all the places that we haven't gotten to yet.

4 thoughts on “Social Distancing in Lombard, IL

  1. So glad you are well settled. Here in southern Morocco I like the little purple flowers that burst out in the near desert. They dry right away and you can make pleasant small bouquets. We have one hanging on our wall. In New England I used to enjoy the arrival of the robins. Joyce

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  2. Welcome back to Illinois Winifred! I hope Jonathan’s arm is on the mend now. I am sorry the virus pandemic has made your travel plans so uncertain. I was looking forward to hearing about your newest adventures in Britain and Croatia. If you had been in Peru, you’d probably have been stuck there too because of the new travel restrictions. I expect you are enjoying being in Lombard, which I think is quite close to Wheaton. Maybe you’ll have a chance to catch up with old friends…if only people were able to socialize without worry! In Spring I like to go for walks in the local State parks near Rockford, but they are closed just when everyone would most want to use them. Stay well, and all the best,

    Gabe

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    1. Gabe,
      It’s so good to hear from you! Yes, I will miss taking off for Athens on April 1, but perhaps I should never have booked a flight for April Fools Day…! Let us hope that there will be time to meet up before we leave for……somewhere else. Cheers, Winifred

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