going north

Three days ago, a city view out my window was only to be imagined. And now -- it's the new normal. And yet even in these handful of days, each time I look outside, that same set of buildings is completely different, depending on the time of the day and the weather.

One last set of photos then: the skyline just before dawn...






... and then again, just after sunrise.






My Chicago daughter and her husband return to work today and me -- I return to Madison. Originally I was going to travel back in the afternoon, but in the end, I decide to leave earlier. I've had my great fill of the city. I'm anxious to unpack and set things in order back home.

Breakfast: again, I'm the first one down and again, it looks like a morning straight out of Paris.






I glance out the hotel lounge window. There's the El that I should be catching back to the airport. Of course, the more popular traffic pattern right now is toward Chicago's downtown.






I'm packed. I head out. One last glance up this neighborhood's main commercial artery...






... and now I'm at the El station. Not in a hurry. Not glancing nervously to check on the time. I've given myself plenty of time. For once, I have it  -- time.






And then puff! I'm on the bus, going north.

The snow has melted substantially since I left on Saturday. Ed picks me up at the bus stop and as we drive to the farmette, I think how quickly something can change for you. In a rural landscape, you notice this constantly: raise the temperature a handful of degrees and everything looks different.






And of course, it is so good to be home. Even as I have wisps of longing to be there with the city people. Never mind. The distances, by American standards are small. They'll be up here soon and I'll be down there again, and so it continues. And that's such a good thing!

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.






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






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:






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...






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






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.





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!






... so excited!






We walk along Michigan Avenue...





... 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...)











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.












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.





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

Christmas Day

Morning

A misty sky hangs over Chicago. On a crisp day, I'd see the downtown skyline from my twelfth floor hotel window. Today, very early, before the city lights have been switched off, I see only wisps of fog.






My younger girl has asked me to come over for breakfast, but in my special hotel promo package, I have a free meal here as well. I can't pass on that! And so my Christmas breakfast number one reminds me very much of Paris.






And my hosts are a lovely and lively crew -- serving attentively the only person (at 8:30 a.m.) in the hotel restaurant -- me.






I walk then to my girl's home. Along familiar blocks...






...stopping at times to read unfamiliar posts and placards. This one made me pause. What's Team Edward? Surely no reference to the Ed I know!





Of course not. It's about vampires and werewolves. Movie stuff. Not something I'd every pick off a library shelf. Here, for your info, taken from the internet:

In reference to Edward Cullen, of the Twilight Saga. People on Team Edward prefer him over Jacob Black (see Team Jacob). People on Team Edward ... prefer vampires over werewolves (Edward is a vampire, Jacob is a werewolf).Team Edward fans are very devoted, and are a force to be reckoned with. 


All stores are of course closed, but displays are well lit. Funky urban, pretty, and of course Christmasy. Except for one place that gives a nod to another holiday that coincidently this year, also began last night.







My daughter and her husband have been up and working hard. She is baking cake number two, he's keeping the place in order.






We pause over my second breakfast -- a delicious, gifted Italian panettone. So aromatic and yummy!






Her baking project is done (a cranberry upside down cake).






They pack up to travel to her dad's. I'll join them a bit later. For now, I set out to walk back to the hotel, except I don't immediately go there. I'm right by a church where a Polish Christmas Mass is taking place. I go inside...






I know this is Chicago, but the association of this town with Poland isn't as strong as it once was. Yet here I am on Christmas Day, listening to a beautiful rendition of a Polish carol...

I resume my walk. I'm up on the 606 trail that weaves its way through this neighborhood. As I stop to admire the street scenes, a woman comes up and tells me -- if you look that way, you'll see straight into the garden of Rick Bayless (the famous Chicago chef).  I take a peek. It's lovely, though of course utterly frozen now.

Chicago is an unusual place: it's a city of countless neighborhoods. As I tell my fellow walker that my daughter has just moved to this area, the woman smiles and says -- welcome to you all. Her words feel rather small townish and sweet.

There, I'm within sight of my hotel -- the tall building of this area.






...right by the El (where there is more of a sense of activity now that the morning is drawing to a close).







Afternoon

 I watch Chicago come into view. Sure, the tallest of the tall buildings stay hidden, as if they aren't ready for a public showing just yet, but the skyline is definitely taking shape.






It's time to pack a suitcase (and a bag, or two, or three) with gifts and meet up with my family at my daughters' dad's place. Snowdrop and her parents are just arriving and the little one embarks on her second round of gift opening (having had her first round at home, exhausting herself in the joy of it all, but luckily, giving herself a solid rest on the drive down to Chicago).

Everyone is at the top of the top today, and this surely includes the littlest one of the bunch.






Snowdrop distributes, unwraps, smiles, and generally behaves as if she were trying her darnedest. Which perhaps she is...











(A penguin raincoat? Cool!)












Of course, not all the presents are about her, or for her.






But kids do tend to take  center stage during the holidays. This is no surprise! We watch them play and we remind ourselves of out own playfulness, sometimes hidden, sometimes percolating to the surface. Yes, we are small in the scheme of things. Tell me otherwise!


Evening

Toward dusk, we switch venues. My younger girl will be hosting us (and her husband's family) for a Christmas feast and it is indeed a feast! Sure, I try to help, but she'd done all the prep work in advance and so my contribution is to stir things that are ready to be stirred.

Her husband's family cheers on.











And the thing is, my girls are so lucky, because their husbands' families are so good at cheering on! Life is precious -- let's be sure to hold it tight and close!






















(Come play now!)












The food is beyond magnificent. There are dips and home made crackers and meatballs and shrimp. There's a roast with baked mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. There are the cakes, the pies...

It's hours past her bedtime, but Snowdrop pushes away tiredness and settles in between the big guys to watch Norwegians try to catch salmon on television.






The evening of great food (and I mean great food -- you could not begin to describe the labor of love that went into dish preparation here) draws to a close.






One reminds the girl to say "thank you" as she leaves, but how can we hope to express our gratitude in this small way at the end of the day?

Still, it's worth a shot -- thank you. Thank you thank you thank you to all who made this holiday so very beautiful!





Good night.