Recess Monkey Guest Post -- Day 4: Family, Fun and Fireflies!

We pulled in to Chicago today for shows at the North and Clyborne and Oakbrook Land of Nod stores. Fun groups and thankul and energetic employees-we were greeted with a snack basket and lots of smiles!

During our sound check at the Oakbrook store, Daron listened for levels while Jack and I played. As Daron sat on a wonderful Land of Nod bed with trundle, giving thumbs up and down, a mysterious man sat down on the bed right behind him. Daron turned to see his father Wayne and step-mother Judy! They had driven from Jamestown, IN for a surprise visit!

Also in attendance was Daron's sister Caron and her husband Todd and three kiddos: Luke (the self proclaimed King of Peanut Butter and Root Beer who nearly polished off the largest piece of Peanut Butter Cookie dough cheesecake we had ever seen), Jonathan (who just got a new cymbal for his drum kit because he's cracked his old one from overuse-needless to sat Jonathan has a very proud uncle) and Adrianne (Who was feeling a bit shy today!) On a long haul like this road trip it's a huge boost to meet with family and friends, if only for short periods of time. This was a really special day for Daron :)

On the way into Chicago we spun Wilco (Of course) "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" and Elvis Costello's Greatest Hits. On the way out it was Utopia Parkway by Fountains of Wayne and then-nothing, just time to chat and make some calls.

As the sun set in Indiana, fireflies flickered here and there, adding a spark to some tired travelers :) Daron and Jack hail from Indiana and I'm from Pennsylvania so the sight of fireflies, sound of cicadas and muggy evenings of the East stir up the nostalgia!

On to NORTHAMPTON tomorrow! Are YOU prepared to rock?

-Drew