A week ago, I walk out the front door of my service department at Fort’s and saw a key tag lying on the ground. Honesty, that is unusual
enough by itself, as my guys and gal are pretty tidy and dont leave much laying around. It really gut-punched me when I saw the number on the key tag. 623.
That number… my birthday… would be innocuous enough and not worth saying anything about… But, this is also Summer’s day. Three years ago to this day, we had to say goodbye. That day I remember saying to my Mom “She got so screwed over” as she met me outside Summer’s hospice room. This day, that day… It is now, all Summer’s day. Birthday is secondary.
I picked up the tag and put it in my pocket. I carried it back and forth to work in my slacks for days, wondering what the meaning was/is.
The picture on the right is the tag. I threw it on the ground and grabbed a photo a few days ago. Yes, strictly for this post. Weird, but I want you to know that I set it up. I had been thinking about the tag a lot and wanted to flesh out this future post.
Does it mean anything? Am I now triggered by 623? Maybe?
I had a thought about how Batman was released into theaters on June 23rd, 1989, and how I (an 18-year-old) believed this was significant in my life. Then I thought… This is God telling me that Batman isn’t shit.
Then, I just decided that “Crazy Random Happenstance” is not just a line from Dr. Horrible… But its the reality as we live life.
55. I woke up this morning, and I get to acknowledge that I am now a sorta Senior Citizen? I am not sure what really counts anymore… 62? 65? Who cares. Its just numbers and I still have to work.
Regardless of any of this… I woke up this morning knowing that this is a special day. Its (as it shall be known furthermore to save my emotions) International Summer Stahl Day.
A birthday indicates that I might be able to spend some time relaxing or at the minimum… Do something I would not normally get to do. Relaxing goes back to the top of the list. But, on Summer Day… Well… That’s not first priority. We have to do something that would meet her approval. in 2024 we kayaked on the Mackinaw. In 2025, Angela and I found ourselves on a cross-country jaunt and she earned a few Jr Ranger badges somewhere in Nebraska.
This year… I must have mucked it all up. Angela and I were going back and forth all week about what was happening on the 23rd and I was not sure until I got out of the shower if we agreed. Lets run up to Chicago and go the Pullman National Historic Monument and let Angela capture another badge. We loaded up the Prius and headed north. Its 2.5 hours, with horrible traffic on 80 to the far east side of Chicago for this park. Once we got there… We found that the park was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Thanks Google. Yes, technically, they are open every day of the week… But the employees only work Wed-Sunday.
Ugh. What a letdown versus 2024 and 2025. We made the best of it.
We were close to Munster, Indiana. Lets run over to Three Floyds and grab a bite and a good beer.
Upon arrival, we found the facility open to direct sales, but a restaurant that has been closed since COVID.
Thats strike 2.
We did walk around Pullman, so it was not a complete bust… But, it was looking rough.
I sent the GPS for backroads to Bourbonais and we headed to a few antique stores. One of them was really great. I picked up some new book ends that have quotes from the Song of Hiawatha. Angela got a book.
We then rushed down to Bloomington/Downs and had dinner with Don, Dawn and my folks. Great time. Heard some great stories that were actually new to me… And we toasted Summer, as this was her day as well.
The conversation wandered into What-if’s and I am not a huge fan of this. I told Angela, the problem with wondering “What if” is that is alters what we know of everyone around her and us. Playing these kinds of mind games… for me… Is slightly unpleasant.
My phone was on Do Not Disturb all day.
If I did not respond, dont take it persally, we had a long day of driving, and I wanted to focus on time with Angela and being oblivious to outside interruptions. It mostly worked.
Thank you for all the messages! I did read a ton of them!