I had a very pleasant trip to Chicago back at the first of the month. I went to present at a conference, my very first conference presentation of my own original research. The conference was good, and I got to meet lots of "famous" educational researchers and community activists. But I also got to be in Chicago. I'd just traveled up the week before with Wes and Oliver, but this was a little different. I stayed at a hotel just a block from where our first apartment had been, got off at the El stop we'd used almost every day while we lived there, and was able to "do the town" like I used to -- without children. I missed the kids, and I certainly wished Wes were there with me, but I was excited about being in the city with the freedom to go wherever I chose.
The weather while I was there was, well, Chicago-like. Very windy and rainy the first day -- the kind of day when an umbrella is of no use. The second was cold but clear and only breezy. The third was sunny and temperate if not a little warm for early November. But even the wind, even the rain, especially the cold felt familiar. It made me feel like I was home. Chicago is a place that, no matter how long I'm gone, feels so welcoming when I come back, as though I was never gone. I've not felt that way about anywhere else I've lived, and I've lived a lot of places.
I dined at a few nice places, a few past favorites. I browsed some shops and brought small gifts home for the kids (a Tigger t-shirt for Ollie, some Cookie Monster pajamas for Emme). I had tea at Argo Tea. I had coffee at one of the million Starbucks in the city. I had a glass of wine with dinner. I carried out from a new restaurant next to my old building.
So Chicago was great. I love the city. I'll go there every chance I get. But the biggest thing I felt while I was in Chicago -- was a readiness to go home. One that grew so much that I blew off the sunny and temperate final day, which I had completely free to do as I pleased, and flew home early to spend the day with Wes and the kids. Wes and I both readily acknowledge that moving back to the city might be great, but it won't be the same as when we lived there before -- downtown, no kids, lots of freedom. And we wouldn't want to go back to that time in our lives given the chance. I, for one, am much happier now in life than I was then. So it's not that we don't think it wouldn't be wonderful, but that we have to remember that it would be different. That the things we did and loved might not be easy to do or as fun with little people in tow. That doesn't mean we wouldn't consider returning, but just that we want to be realistic with our expectations. Regardless, this trip reminded me that part of what makes traveling fun -- what makes a return trip to a town you love so fun -- is having people to be excited with you. My conference trip was good, but I would say I had much more fun walking really slowly around town with Oliver the week before, watching his awe at the city. So while I love being in Chicago, I love being with my family -- wherever they may be -- much, much more.
The weather while I was there was, well, Chicago-like. Very windy and rainy the first day -- the kind of day when an umbrella is of no use. The second was cold but clear and only breezy. The third was sunny and temperate if not a little warm for early November. But even the wind, even the rain, especially the cold felt familiar. It made me feel like I was home. Chicago is a place that, no matter how long I'm gone, feels so welcoming when I come back, as though I was never gone. I've not felt that way about anywhere else I've lived, and I've lived a lot of places.
I dined at a few nice places, a few past favorites. I browsed some shops and brought small gifts home for the kids (a Tigger t-shirt for Ollie, some Cookie Monster pajamas for Emme). I had tea at Argo Tea. I had coffee at one of the million Starbucks in the city. I had a glass of wine with dinner. I carried out from a new restaurant next to my old building.
So Chicago was great. I love the city. I'll go there every chance I get. But the biggest thing I felt while I was in Chicago -- was a readiness to go home. One that grew so much that I blew off the sunny and temperate final day, which I had completely free to do as I pleased, and flew home early to spend the day with Wes and the kids. Wes and I both readily acknowledge that moving back to the city might be great, but it won't be the same as when we lived there before -- downtown, no kids, lots of freedom. And we wouldn't want to go back to that time in our lives given the chance. I, for one, am much happier now in life than I was then. So it's not that we don't think it wouldn't be wonderful, but that we have to remember that it would be different. That the things we did and loved might not be easy to do or as fun with little people in tow. That doesn't mean we wouldn't consider returning, but just that we want to be realistic with our expectations. Regardless, this trip reminded me that part of what makes traveling fun -- what makes a return trip to a town you love so fun -- is having people to be excited with you. My conference trip was good, but I would say I had much more fun walking really slowly around town with Oliver the week before, watching his awe at the city. So while I love being in Chicago, I love being with my family -- wherever they may be -- much, much more.
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