Monday, December 26, 2016

the day after

When Christmas falls on a Sunday, Monday becomes an extension of the holiday. Workplaces close. There is no mail delivery. It is a time to sit back. Do nothing much. Put away, tidy up, exhale.

I'm in my hotel and I see that the winds have pushed the fog away. The Chicago skyline is sharply beautiful before me.


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Looking down, I note that the streets have the shine of freshness. It rained last night and things haven't quite dried yet.


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My sister sweetly asked me for a photo of me in the skirt we bought together in Warsaw. I find a corner mirror in my room and snap this:


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Out of my holiday finery now, I go down to breakfast - this time it's in the hotel lounge.  Same feeling of being in Paris...


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Outside now. Yes, it's going to be a sunny and warm day -- just beautiful really! It begs for a walk.


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I'm out and about a number of times. To my daughter's home. Back to the hotel. Brief shopping. To my daughter's home again where we study her collection of cookbooks.


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But we're not total couch potatoes! We all meet up downtown and Snowdrop is so excited with the reunion at this most fascinating place!


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... so excited!


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We walk along Michigan Avenue...


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... where the lights, for a little girl, are over the top!

(My daughters and I recall all the numerous trips we made to Chicago as they were growing up... Yes, I wanted them to have an urban perspective onto the world... And they did... and they do...)


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We return to my daughter's home... It's so late and still,  Snowdrop is just so happy!  So in love with those around her that she needs no toy, no distraction... A hug. Nothing more.


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I'll end with a pic of my two daughters. Snowdrop was somewhere playing with her uncle and there we were -- my two daughters and myself and I felt this sigh of relief that all parents must feel when their children are before them and all is right with the world.


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Yeah... All is right... May it stay just so...