Yep, the desire for pancakes in Willamette got the best of me and I got myself onto an airplane Saturday and hightailed it for Chicago. I am here in Chicago and I am blissfully happy. On the airplane I did my best not to jump up and down as we approached O'Hare. The fact that there was terrible turbulence made it seem as if it was the weather that caused my jerking actions of joy.
What I have noticed on my first return to Chicagoland:
1) It is much greener than we left in March. Last we were here it was four below zero and a dark gray/brown mass of snow covered everything. Now it is Spring, okay, I know it is really summer but as everything looks so green and it is so cool and beautiful it feels like summer to me.
2) There are a lot more opportunities to see happy families in the suburbs of Chicago than in the hot house hell of Austin. Sure, the families in the Chicago suburbs might not really be happy families----but they certainly look like they are. So far my envy and grief have not been significantly constellated by the herds of children I have seen in the suburbs.
3) The price of real estate has dropped by about $100,000 per house. Everyone tells me it is a great time to buy a house here.
4) Chicago got even more beautiful I was gone. Things that previously seemed like nuisances now are rich with sentiment. The noise of the Metra when I am trying to go to sleep sounds like a lark's song. The wind that blows my skirt over my head in Marilyn Monroe type fashion is fresh and delightful instead of embarrassing and annoying.
5) Summer is not hot here. I used to complain about how miserable the summers are in Chicago. I was wrong. It is not hot in Chicago. Right now I am wearing a sweater and a scarf; in Austin if I were to do such things I would likely collapse in heat exhaustion.
I have been staying with a dear friend in Hinsdale and I am making myself at home in her daughter's bedroom as her daughter is away at school. Her daughter's friends just decorated her already hyper-adolescent princess bedroom with crepe paper, balloons, signs, and bows all to welcome her back home. I sort of feel like I am 16 and on cheerleader squad and that I have just returned from boarding school in Europe---that, my friends proves the power of interior design to transform one's self concept. Also, as I am in the mood for looking for signs that we should come back to Chicago, the fact that there is a welcome home sign on the door is a sign that I cannot ignore.
Later today I am taking the Metra into the city and a dear friend is picking me up at Union Station to take me to her home in Evanston. I am so excited that I am going to see old friends, visit my old work place and maybe even do a little work. I am also hoping to get in with my old colourist in Evanston and that he can work his magic and get my roots to match the rest of my hair. I am also hoping to eat some of the pancakes at Walker Brother's that inspired this trip. Did I mention the day time high in Chicago today????? 72 degrees!!!! I am sure that in Austin it is a low of 115 degrees.
Not sure how long I will be in Chicago. Monsieur Inkey and He-weasel have suggested I fly directly to L.A. instead of flying back to Austin to drive to L.A. with them, and as I have a first-class voucher from a friend who flies the friendly skies, I think that is a brilliant idea.
Monday, June 30, 2008
In Chicago
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23 comments:
I get to be first again. I am so jealous! Is that the beautiful Northwestern Arch I see in that postcard? I think we are going in August for 2-3 days and I can't wait. My daughter used to live on the corner of Main and Custer right over Lupita's. Cutest little apartment. I hope you have a wonderful time while you are there. Have you eaten at Jilly's? We tried it and I was disappointed. I had really built it up in my mind. I have decided the perfect living situation would be Evanston in the warm months and North Carolina in the colder ones. Think of me when you are on the train.
Julianne: I picked this postcard just for you! I know exactly where Lupita's is. So funny. I will wave to your daughter's old building today.
No, I haven't eaten at Jilly's. There are so many great restaurants here that there is no excuse for a disappointing meal.
I have never been to North Carolina(only once when driving straight through on a road trip), but I would love to go one day. I totally agree--no place better for Spring and Fall than Chicago.
I will absolutely think of you when I am on the train.:-)
Years ago when I first flew with Emin into Northern Cyprus the whole plane would erupt with spontaneous applause when the plane landed, so pleased/releaved were they to be home.
Enjoy the cool, and as for first class surely a no brainer? The luxury.
Indigo: I felt like a little kid. I wanted to tell all my neighbors on the plane,"This is my home. This is where I lived." I had to contain my joy the best I could.
So glad you were able to go home for a few days. When do we get to see you over here??
Bisoux,
Karen
I love the feeling that a place can make a person content. The saying 'location location location' is definately true.
Karen: All international travel is on hold for now. I feel strangely relieved. But, I am so sorry I won't see you for awhile. Are you coming to the states soon??
We need to find a bit of stability, security and grounding. Not sure where that is going to be.
Oh, I'm so glad you're enjoying Chicago. You deserve a little bliss after the year you've had!
The San Francisco penninsula has the same effect on me. Of all the places I've ever lived, it's the one that still feels most like home.
F.O.T.: Location is key. And, yet people are always saying that you cannot change your life by moving. But, setting does make a huge difference. I feel like Chicago is the perfect place for me--except in the worst of Winter.;-)
Chicago!!!
OBAMA Land..
Have you seen him?
I think he eats pancakes...ahem
DP: Thank you! It is nice to feel some unadulterated bliss for a change.
The saying "you can never go home again" has long haunted me. I think I want to disprove that theory. I want to come home. I want fall in Chicago. Waaaaaah!!!
And, SFO and Big Sur are the two places in L.A. I can imagine living in. SF is a fantastic city.
CarolG: I have never personally seen Obama eat a pancake--but I bet you a silver dollar pancake he has eaten at a Walker Brother's in Chicago.
So glad to know that you are happy! For once, I couldn't feel the heat emanating from my monitor, and it was lovely.
Did you fly to Chicago in first class? What on earth is that even like???
It sounds as though you're not expecting things to work out for France?
Enjoy the rest of your visit!
xoxo --
M.
M: It is so nice to be home. And, over and over there have been signs and signals that France would be far too precarious for me at this point. After everything we have gone through in the last year my primary need is for security and stability---those are not things that France would provide.
I did fly to Chicago in FC. But, as it is such a short flight the only real perks are bigger seats and free drinks. I got to sit next to a very chatty executive which interfered with my full enjoyment of the luxury.
I will write soon. I want to hear all about SFO!!!
xo
so happy for you! and inspired. you're making me think seriously about making time this summer to fly to a small city/town "up north" that I lived in for 7 years when my kids were small and haven't visited for 20 years, despitre having very fond memories of it and a good friend or two still living there. You're showing us that you CAN SO go home again! Enjoy!
i am green with envy-- your spontaneity is very compelling-- once in a while, i do that! [places in the US that make me smile while in their midsts: NYC, SFO, ORD, then ABQ when I'm all done with them, HI? eh...]
what's with this 'all int'l travel being on hold'? that is news, LBR. the main thing is to be happy. at this moment. ;-)
Congratulations on realizing what you needed and wanted and going off and getting it!!!
It definitely doesn't sound as if Austin is your cup of tea, although I do know a variety of different people who seem to thrive there.
I always keep a little mantra in mind (when it's not being crowded out by "Dancing Queen"--"Keep your flowerpot outta the closet."--with regard to where one is going to position oneself. Sounds like Austin is a closet to your flowers.
Funny thing is, we often resist going where we really want to be due to that long list of considerations called "good reasons" but they go straight to the dogs in times of crisis anyway. So why not avert the crisis and go straight for the devoutly desired destination and just make things happen?
Tomorrow, all over Chicago, immigrants, from the next county or the next country, are going to show up in town and start beatin' the pavement and checkin' the "For Rent" ads for jobs and housing. Don't see why you can't be one of them, LBRouge, literally-speaking.
And, you are so right to postpone your trip to France until such time as you have established the security and stability that you are seeking. Then, after recalibrating your inner workings, if you still want to, you can make a trip that works to support your long-term goals rather than undermine them.
So, when is LA on for? If it's anytime soon you might get to see the French film "Tell No One", based on a Harlan Coben thriller of the same title. It's going to begin playing in LA on Friday after having been here last year2007--as part of the Los Angeles annual French film festival.
Definitely fly. It's only about three hours from O'Hare to LAX! Beats rolling across the hottest part of the country during the hottest time of the year any day!!!
Enjoy the temperate climate of the Chicago springtime and have fun with your friends.
Bon Voyage, Mademoiselle. Glad to hear you are so happy in the Chi.
My Dearest La Belette.
To my Weasel, the joy that I see that is yours when I watch you write your blog and then when you read to me the responses from people that you have touch around the world. I so enjoy watching your face light up, you have a gift my Weasel, which I can’t even begin to understand, the depth, the emotion, and the heart that you have, has made me very proud of you. To read this post and realize how much I miss Chicago and miss you has lit a fire under me to get all the packing finished this night.
I so want to hold you in my arms and to walk with you in the cool spring air. I miss you my weasel.
All my Love, my heart is yours.
Your He-weasel
glad you are enjoying chicago. Love the windy city. Glad the temp is more to your liking too. I would LOVE to be in the teens room...but wouldn't want to be a teenager again, no way. Enjoy the pancakes. I say use the first class voucher and fly to LA in class...unless you can use it on a trip to europe, then I'd say wait and do that, because there is nothing better than flying first to europe. we did it (with miles) 6 years ago and it was amazing. It's wonderful here in LA, only 75 or so here at the beach.
I'm so sorry about Inkey. My heart is broken for you.
But wait a sec...your blog is back up? I was going to give your dearly departed blog a premio award, but now I see i can give it to the alive and breathing one.
Is it for real or am I dreaming?
Hi LBR-I did give you a Premio award! Put it up on a shelf or in a box, it doesn't matter, I'm just happy you're back!
Not only do I agree with most of the comments left before me, but I also feel greatly attentive to what everyone here is expressing in their comments. Some of you I can say that I truly am able to relate to you, and some just make me wonder if I can ever relate to the way lots of you feel! In some ways it could be happy but if the feeling isn't really in the happiness stage of things then all I can say is I hope the becoming aware part of things does eventually work out for all of us in the end of things.. But alongside this topic, I love it! And it really is great to see a lot of us participating and really putting effort into collaborating one of the best blogs we've yet come to see!
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