It is a stunningly beautiful day in Chicago. Cool, sure, but that just adds to the charm. Clear blue skies out the window of my hotel room... Wait, not exactly skies: there's more to see out there: imagine, people living one on top of the other... That's a city for you.
I want to get to the young family's home rather quickly. I will have missed their outing to the farmers market (too early for me!), but I most certainly want to be there for Juniper's first soccer practice this year.
Except, my Uber decides to ditch my call at the last minute. So I have to wait for another. And the second Uber takes the express lanes on the highway and then can't get off of them anywhere near where he is supposed to get off. I'm amused. But I do need to pivot: okay driver, I changed my mind, let's go straight to the park. Oh, city travails! But, I do get there in time for the arrival of the little girl, ready for her soccer game!
She is with the 3/4 year old set. Warm-ups first!
And now for some practice. Juniper is a great dribbler and kicker! Waiting for the right moment to kick it in...
Nice work, Juniper!
(where there's a park, there's a playground)
From there, we go to brunch. I asked to return to the Lonesome Rose. It's been a while.
These are the last few moments I have with the younger family.
It's not a very long visit, but it has all the requisite elements: I am part of their weekend. I see what the girls are up to. I catch up with the parents. I eat grandly with all of them. And I coordinate plans for my next Chicago visit. And of course, I get to hang out with these two:
On the drive home, as always, I go over all the little details of my time with all four of them. I can really savor it, let it swirl and settle in my head, in my heart. So much joy and satisfaction from one overnight! So greatly looking forward to the next one!
At home, Ed wants to head out for a walk. I'm willing, but it really is buggy out there once again. How is it that we cannot get these mosquitoes to retire for the season?! Still, we walk. We need it, bugs or no bugs. I take no photos. This is not the time to pause for anything. Walk and swing your arms and occasionally slap your face when they land. And hope that this really is the last of them.
In the evening I catch up on reading. Here's an interesting story about what's new in Warsaw, Poland: a brand new library at the metro station? Indeed!
Tomorrow I return to my routines. It's been a full weekend!
with lots of love...
