You Can Squeeze My Orange Anytime

Chicago was a revitalizer of sorts. A reenergizer.

After thirty+ days on the road, we’re getting a bit worn down. Living out of suitcases, eating sandwiches in the back of the car, showering every few days (for some), navigating unknown cities, wearing the same clothes (for some), minding the budget, sleeping in a different place every night. It stars to grind on you. I don’t know how traveling musicians or actors or salesmen do it. You get to the point where you need a vacation from your vacation.

I think Chicago rebooted our systems to finish out the two weeks of this trip. We spent two full days in the city. One primary goal was to catch up. One sleep. After checking that off the list we attempted to take in some essential Chicago stops. We visited the still-free Lincoln Park Zoo. We moseyed down to Millennium Park and gandered at the art there. We took a stroll down the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. We saw a play, for free (thanks Florence!). We went to a Cubs game at Wrigley (don’t worry Mr. Stone and Keena, we swore no allegiance away from the Sox). We had delicious, world famous, Chicago style pizza at Gino’s East. We navigated the L, a first for both of us. I took a run on Lake Shore Trail, passing landmarks like Navy Pier, Soldier Field, the Schedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, Grant Park. We got to see BU alums Florence and Zuber, and we got to spend some quality time with my little nurse who could, Kimmie.

Of course, in two full days, you can barely even enjoy a smidge of Chicago. Old friends and new sites were missed, but alas, such is the nature of this drive-by-honk-and-wave journey. Never settle long enough to get attached, always move forward, keep track of what’s still left, either in front or behind, to go back and see next time. But always, look ahead, there’s too much to see and we’re only going to get one glimpse at it.

Thank you to the Windy City and the friends we saw, for boosting us through the remainder of our trip. We needed the rest and the comfort of somewhere familiar. Now we head back into the unknown.