The 87% humidity is clinging on for dear life at the moment, but will begin to subside to 54% around 5:00 PM just as the temperature hits its high of 88 and I leave for the bus terminal to venture westward to Springfield, Illinois via a St. Louis layover.

Despite additional physical movement this week, my body offered no resistance to getting the day moving along. However, I am still on a tremendous high from yesterday’s events and I am sure that is serving as a booster.

7:15 AM, I chatted with Joshua and David, mostly about the things I learned of John Quincy Adams from the Unger biography. The young Illinois congressman, Abraham Lincoln, and the former president, later returned to congress by the people of Massachusetts, struck up a strong friendship and valued one another’s political strategies. Lincoln even served as Adams’ honorary pall bearer after the elder statesman collapsed at his desk in the old congressional chamber, dying several days later in the speaker’s office.

I appreciate the London fellows asking questions and allowing me to share some of my passions which they, too, love. Joshua loves early US history and David is a scholar in British history. It was an enjoyable and enriching conversation with all three of us bouncing into the ring with our knowledge on the topic.

By 8:00 AM, the dogs were fed and I proceeded to clean the bathroom, start the fist of two loads of laundry, cleaned the stove and most of the kitchen, prepped my coffee and bagels with strawberry cream cheese.

I’ll finish packing and at 11:45 AM I’ll mow the back yard so it’s not a jungle upon my return. Due to my purchasing feed grass for farms (yes, I was so overcome with joy just being in Tractor Supply, several years back, that… never mind…), my backyard grows enormously fast thus needing to mows a week regardless the amount of rain. I wish SICSA had a goat or some sheep to aide me in the ever growing grass.

My goal is to finish today’s items by 1:00 PM so I can lunch and then nap for a few hours before showering and preparing myself to love on the dogs. I am so looking forward to this trip, and hobnobbing with the other Lincoln lovers, but I am already feeling those heart tugs at the thought of leaving the ever devoted pooches. But, by this time tomorrow, I’ll have met Nelson, the adorable dog who rules Jeff Carter’s home and heart.

It’s been a fantastic week and Wednesday culminated a series of so many blessings lined up, waiting for me to shake hands, high-five, and hug!

Make it a great day!