Personal: Chicago Pt 1
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 by Lindsey
Holy cow, it feels like I've lived three days in one.
After a very emotional night last night; of laughing and crying and resolution...and then having to face the results of that this morning, in the midst of an endless sea of mishaps. (From being woken up by a helicopter whooshing back and forth over our house, to having fifteen minutes warning that our house was going to be shown...thirty minutes before we had to leave for the airport...)
We finally made our way to the airport, which was an experience within itself. We managed to pack all of our suitcases (3. Plus Mom's laptop case, and mine) onto the "Smart carte" very precariously and make our way from the parking garage to the baggage claim. With Mom and I both shouldering carry on bags, and Mom pushing our massive stroller, with a very curiously squealy Molly. Standing at the baggage claim was miserable, and security (with a stroller, two laptops, two purses, shoes, and a baby...) was...10 minutes of hell. We took the shuttle to the B concourse and walked down to B50, with both Mom and I feeling, emotional and miserable...for different reasons. So, we went and bought a huge box of See's assorted chocolates for ourselves. Our plane was late...and we sat at the gate, which was...horrible. I kept recalling the last time I'd sat at that gate, and all the memories connected with the airport, the smell and hugs. Just, too overwhelming, especially after the night I'd had, and the lack of sleep.
The day turned for the better after boarding, though. Boarding went very smoothly, and we were the only ones on the plane with a seat between us, so we were able to spread out a little and be comfortable. (Go Molly for being a baby! Letting us be antisocial!) I caught a 15 minute nap while we sat on the tarmack, and was able to sort of purge some depressing thoughts and have a little spiritual cleansing. Something about the liftoff of the flight was...significant. Not sure why.
Mom and I then decided, after the cruddy day we'd had, we deserved a boost, so we binged on chocolate and monster energy drinks...which resulted in lots of hyper and random conversation. Mostly by me. Mom compared me to the hyper squirrel from "Over the Hedge."
Once we landed things were very smooth, the cab driver was nice and helpful. I was surprised to find that Mom had never been in a cab, so she and Molly shared their first cab ride! So exciting. The rain smelled nice, just lightly sprinkling...and the gas prices here are RIDICULOUS. $4.20 a gallon for regular. I thought Mom was going to die when she saw the signs. Horrid.
The bell boy who helped us out of the car was delightful, we learned his life story in the course of ten minutes we were waiting for Mom to check in. Grandma met us in the lobby, we were so excited to see her! The completion of our motley crue.
Once in the room, we ordered WAY too much room service (ended up with two huge containers of calamari) and have talked for the past...wow like six hours now. With ups, and downs, and remembering things and people...and looking forward to the future. I think we've all been struggling lately, with being dissatisfied where we are, because of what always seems to be just around the corner. We're always waiting for things to get better...and not appreciating the little joys in today.
As Grandma so aptly put it:
Now I lay here in the silence. The rest in the room are asleep...and the city reverberates outside. I adore the city...I consider myself a very urban person, and thrive in this sort of environment. Looking out on Chicago at night, wondering what's to come, and exploring what is. Hoping for things...and for some things never to happen.
I have a feeling...this trip...the short hiatus from life...is an adventure, and may turn out to be a spiritual journey. Lots of thinking to do, and of one thing I'm certain. I will be changed, when I go back home. "Time for some lifestyle changes, kiddo." says the grandfather clock that lives in my head.
Where's life going from here? More tomorrow, and more pictures...some are still on my camera.
Ciao, my friends.
-Lindsey Ann Bledsoe
(Random shot from the Lobby)
After a very emotional night last night; of laughing and crying and resolution...and then having to face the results of that this morning, in the midst of an endless sea of mishaps. (From being woken up by a helicopter whooshing back and forth over our house, to having fifteen minutes warning that our house was going to be shown...thirty minutes before we had to leave for the airport...)
We finally made our way to the airport, which was an experience within itself. We managed to pack all of our suitcases (3. Plus Mom's laptop case, and mine) onto the "Smart carte" very precariously and make our way from the parking garage to the baggage claim. With Mom and I both shouldering carry on bags, and Mom pushing our massive stroller, with a very curiously squealy Molly. Standing at the baggage claim was miserable, and security (with a stroller, two laptops, two purses, shoes, and a baby...) was...10 minutes of hell. We took the shuttle to the B concourse and walked down to B50, with both Mom and I feeling, emotional and miserable...for different reasons. So, we went and bought a huge box of See's assorted chocolates for ourselves. Our plane was late...and we sat at the gate, which was...horrible. I kept recalling the last time I'd sat at that gate, and all the memories connected with the airport, the smell and hugs. Just, too overwhelming, especially after the night I'd had, and the lack of sleep.
The day turned for the better after boarding, though. Boarding went very smoothly, and we were the only ones on the plane with a seat between us, so we were able to spread out a little and be comfortable. (Go Molly for being a baby! Letting us be antisocial!) I caught a 15 minute nap while we sat on the tarmack, and was able to sort of purge some depressing thoughts and have a little spiritual cleansing. Something about the liftoff of the flight was...significant. Not sure why.
Mom and I then decided, after the cruddy day we'd had, we deserved a boost, so we binged on chocolate and monster energy drinks...which resulted in lots of hyper and random conversation. Mostly by me. Mom compared me to the hyper squirrel from "Over the Hedge."
Once we landed things were very smooth, the cab driver was nice and helpful. I was surprised to find that Mom had never been in a cab, so she and Molly shared their first cab ride! So exciting. The rain smelled nice, just lightly sprinkling...and the gas prices here are RIDICULOUS. $4.20 a gallon for regular. I thought Mom was going to die when she saw the signs. Horrid.
The bell boy who helped us out of the car was delightful, we learned his life story in the course of ten minutes we were waiting for Mom to check in. Grandma met us in the lobby, we were so excited to see her! The completion of our motley crue.
Once in the room, we ordered WAY too much room service (ended up with two huge containers of calamari) and have talked for the past...wow like six hours now. With ups, and downs, and remembering things and people...and looking forward to the future. I think we've all been struggling lately, with being dissatisfied where we are, because of what always seems to be just around the corner. We're always waiting for things to get better...and not appreciating the little joys in today.
As Grandma so aptly put it:
"Like life's a rehearsal for something...someday...that will never happen."That's what I feel like, a lot. I'm always waiting on an event, or a person, or a change, or a phone call, or an email. What causes me to be so restless?
Now I lay here in the silence. The rest in the room are asleep...and the city reverberates outside. I adore the city...I consider myself a very urban person, and thrive in this sort of environment. Looking out on Chicago at night, wondering what's to come, and exploring what is. Hoping for things...and for some things never to happen.
I have a feeling...this trip...the short hiatus from life...is an adventure, and may turn out to be a spiritual journey. Lots of thinking to do, and of one thing I'm certain. I will be changed, when I go back home. "Time for some lifestyle changes, kiddo." says the grandfather clock that lives in my head.
Where's life going from here? More tomorrow, and more pictures...some are still on my camera.
Ciao, my friends.
-Lindsey Ann Bledsoe
(Random shot from the Lobby)
