We left Springfield on August 1 and traveled some 170 miles to Chebanse, Illinois to attend the Chicago Bears Training Camp! Mike was born in Chicago, is a die-hard Bears fan, and attending the camp is a bucket list item for him!

We get into town and immediately head to Bourbonnais and the Olivet Nazarene University where the training camp is taking place as Mike is excited beyond all measure and wants to check it out.

After walking the campus, we head to the Brickhouse Brewery and Restaurant down the road for a quick beer en route home. Well, I thought Mike would hyperventilate when John Fox, the head coach of the Chicago Bears and Ryan Pace, the general manager wander into the restaurant, ask for a table at the back and disappear out of sight!

Today, we are up early and off to Bourbonnais to meet with Ron & Shari Krywanio, my brother –and sister-in-law and Uncle Mike, Mike’s friend from high school, our regular travel companion, and likely one of the nicest people on the planet!

Uncle Mike has obtained VIP tickets for us which gives us access to a hospitality area, good seating and bottled water, an important element as the temperature is soaring.

The training camp is certainly a sight to behold; 90 players on the field being directed to test different plays by the coaching staff; every 15 minutes or so, a horn blows and everyone moves to a different place – it looks like organized chaos but they all seem to know what they are doing; TV cameras and the media line the edge of the pitch; a young man sitting behind gives me the run-down on every player I ask about and their position on the team; his Dad does just as well in answering my inane questions of why the players are doing what they are doing!

It is all rather exciting, and for over two hours Mike sits with the binoculars glued to his eyes, his player notes on his lap, and barely utters word. He is in seventh heaven and it’s fun to see his enjoyment!

The Krywanio-Bears: front row, from left, Mike and his brother Ron. Back row, from left, Uncle Mike and Shari Krywanio.

From left, Mitch Trubisky & me! Mr. Trubisky was this year’s number two pick in the National Football League draft (out of 500 players) and has joined the Chicago Bears as a quarter-back. It is highly anticipated that he will be a rising star!