It feels like a lifetime ago that the Chicago Loop was part of my identity. In this previous chapter of my life I scorned sensible shoes, most days ended in a happy hour and I did not have a bedtime. The "W" Hotel was a favorite for after-work drinks trading stories with my co-workers. A different woman entered into that hotel lobby last night. Sweaty, sandy and disheveled (see previous entry), I walked past the wedges, the designer bags and the lip gloss. I smelled like old fries because it was dinner for three in the Honda. Jer had a conference downtown so we took advantage of the change in scenery for one night. It was a hotel party parent-style. For those who don't know, this involves lots of toilet flushing, jumping on the beds and lights out at 8 p.m.. As I lay in the dark, praying that the headphones would contain all the noise of the iPad (like kids need to overhear Game of Thrones), I took stock in my life's experiences thus far and fell asleep thankful.
This morning Jerry was able to postpone the start of his workday until 10. We woke up early, dodged bankers, marketing execs and other corporate folk, weaving our way to Wildberry. I forgot how important everyone is in the Loop. The sense of urgency on the sidewalk seems to be way of proof. Those who cannot keep pace are pushed to the side. Luckily I remember this dance and Jerry is the king of crowd-meandering. Our orange stroller maneuvered around the detritus. Our agenda included killer pancakes, outdoor seating and a view of Millenium Park. It felt like we were playing hooky as I sipped an iced tea, well-heeled worker bees fleeing to their hives. Although I still have work days where I don't eat lunch or go all day without a visit to the bathroom, they are becoming less frequent. As I get older and gain perspective I realize that being in a hurry does not necessarily make you indispensable. Much more can be accomplished when you slow down. Creating meaning can't really happen when you're multi-tasking. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about our cultures addiction to chaos...I'll leave it there.
All in all, yesterday and today were like a ten year class reunion from my early twenties. These reminders of who you once were help you better see who you've become.
It feels like a lifetime ago that the Chicago Loop was part of my identity. In this previous chapter of my life I scorned sensible shoes, most days ended in a happy hour and I did not have a bedtime. The "W" Hotel was a favorite for after-work drinks trading stories with my co-workers. A different woman entered into that hotel lobby last night. Sweaty, sandy and disheveled (see previous entry), I walked past the wedges, the designer bags and the lip gloss. I smelled like old fries because it was dinner for three in the Honda. Jer had a conference downtown so we took advantage of the change in scenery for one night. It was a hotel party parent-style. For those who don't know, this involves lots of toilet flushing, jumping on the beds and lights out at 8 p.m.. As I lay in the dark, praying that the headphones would contain all the noise of the iPad (like kids need to overhear Game of Thrones), I took stock in my life's experiences thus far and fell asleep thankful.
This morning Jerry was able to postpone the start of his workday until 10. We woke up early, dodged bankers, marketing execs and other corporate folk, weaving our way to Wildberry. I forgot how important everyone is in the Loop. The sense of urgency on the sidewalk seems to be way of proof. Those who cannot keep pace are pushed to the side. Luckily I remember this dance and Jerry is the king of crowd-meandering. Our orange stroller maneuvered around the detritus. Our agenda included killer pancakes, outdoor seating and a view of Millenium Park. It felt like we were playing hooky as I sipped an iced tea, well-heeled worker bees fleeing to their hives. Although I still have work days where I don't eat lunch or go all day without a visit to the bathroom, they are becoming less frequent. As I get older and gain perspective I realize that being in a hurry does not necessarily make you indispensable. Much more can be accomplished when you slow down. Creating meaning can't really happen when you're multi-tasking. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about our cultures addiction to chaos...I'll leave it there.
All in all, yesterday and today were like a ten year class reunion from my early twenties. These reminders of who you once were help you better see who you've become.
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