July, 2026
Madison, WI, is where we met and used to live, and coming back this week reminded us all over again what a special city it is. Madison has always had a charm: lakes on both sides, the Capitol rising above the isthmus, leafy neighborhoods, bike paths, coffee shops, bookstores, university energy, and that mix of Midwestern friendliness and progressive spirit.
On this trip, we could really see that Madison has changed a lot. There is more building, more traffic; downtown Madison is clearly in a period of reinvention, with new development, tall buildings, and changing storefronts. What has not changed, however, is the beauty of Madison’s setting… Few cities are so closely tied to the water.
We were fortunate to set up many activities with a variety of groups during our week in town. Sister-in-law Patty was out of town, so she offered her house for us to stay…not only a cozy house, but with a great location just off campus and a nice walk from the Capitol.
Friends Along the Way……
The Memorial Union Terrace remains one of those perfect Madison places, where a chair by the lake can feel like a small vacation. And that is where we started our walk with friends Joe and Ellen. But first, we had to sit down for a beer and a brat!!!
The pedestrian State Street also feels different in places. Some familiar businesses are gone, and new ones have appeared. But change is part of a living city, and Madison still has the essential character we loved: students spilling toward campus, people lingering around the Capitol Square, bicycles everywhere, and conversations happening over coffee, beer, music, and politics (and at this particular time, over the World Cup games!)
The free Concerts on the Square, by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, are one of Madison’s classic summer traditions. We did not realize there was a concert tonight, so we were very pleasantly surprised to stumble upon it. Unfortunately, we did not have the blankets and picnic basket full of wine and cheese to sit on the Capitol lawn and enjoy it to the end!
We walked another mile and a half, exploring the new Edgewater Hotel as well as the Langdon Street Frat & Sorority Houses, before returning to the Memorial Union just after sunset. What a wonderful evening…
Friends Along the Way……
❣️Bob and Anne Larson graciously hosted a gathering of six members of the softball team Pete used to play on. Howard, Steve, Dennis F., Dennis W., Bob, and Pete all dressed in, or covered themselves in, some of the different team shirts they wore over the years. They played for whoever would dare to sponsor them, so their team names changed annually!
Four and a half hours of camaraderie and sharing just flew by! A really fun evening…even though we were rained out from being able to dine outside.
❣️We stopped to visit with Pete’s former NCCD colleague, Toni Aleman. Toni has been fighting cancer, going through treatments and has retired. She only lived one block from where we were staying at sister-in-law Patty’s house. She has been through a lot, but we were amazed at her recall and spirit.
But, we were extremely saddened ten days later when she died. So this visit meant a lot.
❣️ Brother Jack….We lunched with Pete’s brother Jack, who lives in the nearby community of Deerfield. He seems to be doing better than ever… he can look us directly in the eye when speaking, and he has a new job as an Uber Eats driver. He has even joined a community bridge group. Our only concern is that his inexpensive housing is being sold, and he needs to find a new place to live.
Pete took him to lunch on another occasion… It was really great to see him.
❣️ Pickleball Fun….
Pete with the Boys….
Another pickleball opportunity came through a group of Wisconsin Villagers that our friend Diane Koch set up….several hours of pickleball followed by a Wisconsin Fishfry!
❣️ Lunch with MMSD Colleagues
I had a really nice lunch at Olive Garden with Rick Kavelidge, a colleague from the MMSD Curriculum & Instruction Department, as well as Wayne Gilmour and his wife. Wayne had a bad stroke; probably one he should not have lived through, so it was great to see them.
❣️ Dinner with Barbara and Dennis
Barbara and Dennis are always a pleasure to be around and we always have interesting conversations. We dropped by their lovely home in the country west of Madison for a delicious salmon dinner. Dennis and Pete worked together at NCCD; Barbara has retired from her job as a therapist but continues to volunteer , especially for emergency sitiuations around our country, where she can help with ESL. They are very well traveled and we learn a lot from them.
❣️ Urgent Care Visit for Pete
Seems we can not stay away from medical facilities at this age! But we were concerned with the big red spot on Pete’s leg. It was getting smaller and was not a bull’s-eye pattern, but it was in the exact spot where Pete pulled off a tick after our hike in the Lacrosse area. So, to be safe, he visited the UW Health Urgent Care. A round of doxycycline cleared it up…we are not going home with lime disease!
❣️ Pizza on the Farm
One thing that surprised me in Wisconsin was how creatively small farmers are supplementing their income. Farming itself is no easy way to make a living. To help pay the bills, some farms today have become both workplaces and community gathering spaces. Examples are on-site pizza nights, private events, farm-to-table dinners, and even summer farm camps for children.
Wisconsin is still unmistakably a farming state. Even as its cities and industries have grown, agriculture—especially dairy farming—continues to shape the landscape, economy, and identity of the state.
This seems a practical response to a difficult economy, but it also gives visitors like us a closer connection to rural life. Instead of simply driving past barns and fields as we have always done, we were being invited onto the farm—to eat, learn, celebrate, and understand a little more about where food comes from.
We had a very nice time one Sunday afternoon at one of these “Pizza on the Farm” events held at the Sprouting Acres Farm, a small vegetable farm.
We drove with Joe and Ellen and met a group of their friends. In addition to buying some delicious pizza, there were games set up for families, and lovely walking path through the fields. Really a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon while supporting local farmers!
Fun musicians, games…and we got to celebrate Ellen’s birthday!
❣️Final Night in Madison
All good things must come to an end…..the week in Madison flew by and we found ourselves, with Jenny, at Joe and Ellen’s for our last hoorah!
They had just opened their pool, got a new robot to clean it, and we enjoyed a great swim and steaks on the grill.
We could not believe how quickly the week passed…we did not even make it to the bike trail or the famous Saturday Farmers’ Market.
We have traveled to many beautiful cities, but Madison holds a special place in our hearts. It is part of our story, and coming back reminded us why it remains one of America’s truly lovely towns, even after changes and growth. We have already discussed the possibility of a couple-month rental one of these summers when we are not on the road traveling elsewhere!