Chicago Protested My Departure

Chicago really did not want to say goodbye. And I really should know better than to open my mouth. I am so very thankful for my Chicago family and my Michigan family who both came out to help. It was a hot day but we got things done in relatively fast order. Three people from my church came and hauled all of my junk away to the church rummage sale and then helped bring the big stuff downstairs before the trailer arrived. At 3:25 pm, we officially locked the door on my Chicago apartment one last time. I was thrilled. I had hoped to have everything done by 3:00 pm, so we weren't too far behind schedule.

We took a couple photos and were on our way. I had a couple last errands to run. Then I got the call. "We're stuck. We can't get the trailer out of the alley." So for an hour and a half we worked and worked and worked. Unhitching, rehitching, moving 2 inches, and getting more and more stuck by the minute. I have never seen a pickle that my grandpa cannot get out of but he met his match in Chicago. Just when we were about to call a towing company to help us get out, a little bobcat came around the corner. They had been demolishing a house a few doors down and were getting ready to go home for the night. For $20.00, we got them to hitch the bobcat to the trailer with a chain, move it 6 inches, and voila we were on our way for real.

But the worst was yet to come...

Some of you are familiar with the fact that my family cannot go on vacation, or move, or travel without there being multiple instances of disasters. We've had landslides, typhoons, broken down vans, sick kids, missed flights, etc. Well, moving day for me would be no different.

My little sister Anna and I were driving my car and had gotten a half-hour later start. Not really a problem until just an hour from home, I completely lost all acceleration on my car. I attempted to switch gears to make sure that I was in fifth and completely lost everything. So there we sat on the side of the road for 2 hours while we waited for Grampa and Gramma to get home, unload the trailer into a storage unit, and get my uncle to come back down to get us. We were pretty slap-happy at first but that faded as we just felt more exhausted, more sweaty, and more hungry. At 11:30 pm, my uncle and my grampa made it, hooked up the car to the SUV, and towed us home. I have never been towed with a tow-line before but I think I did fairly well at keeping the line taut so we didn't get jerked around.

I am extremely thankful that we all made it home safely. Its been interesting trying to find where I packed things. Its meant multiple trips between Grampa and Gramma's house and the storage unit. But now we are going camping. Hip hip hooray for campfires, sandy feet, the beach, games with Gramma, playing with little cousins, and sleeping. It will all be much needed after the week that we've had.

While we are camping, I will be sending out my brochures. If I do not have your snail-mail address, please e-mail it to me ASAP!

Chicago Shout-Out

I'm so excited about what the future holds for me! However, that does not make leaving any easier. You would think that after years of moving, transitions, new places, new faces, I would get used to it. But that's not the case. So I'd like to offer a little farewell to-do list of my own to current Chicago-ites, future Chicago tourists, and other random folks.

Book Cellar - A fantastic independent bookstore in the heart of Lincoln Square.
Cafe Too - Good food served with a side of social justice. They're doing great things here.
Chicago Lakefront - I highly recommend bike rides. And a perk of having to drive to work early in the morning was seeing sunrises over the lake.
Festivals - I love meeting up with friends and enjoying a lazy afternoon or evening hanging out at the street festivals.
Galter Lifecenter - You must take a cycling class with Susan. She'll kick your butt in gear.
House Theatre - Fun. Funny. They've got game.
Jeri's Grill - You can get ham-on-the-bone at 2 am or whenever it might strike your fancy.
Lincoln Square - I "heart" my neighborhood!
Superdawg - All about the drive-in. 60 years doesn't lie. I like the Superchic with grilled onions. Yummy.
Yes Thai - Always a "yes" even when my friends are sick of it. Easily the best Thai food in all of Chicago. A favorite - Cashew Nut with Chicken.
York Alternative High School - Fond (and not-so-fond) memories and crazy stories.

I leave Chicago feeling like I'm not quite done. Who knows...maybe I'll be back someday.

Here's a big shout-out to Chi-town: So long for now!