Chicago

Throughout my life, there were so many distant places that had always seemed out of reach for me. Many of those places were cities and states that, for various unfounded reasons, I had no desire to visit anyway. When I accepted my dream job with a hotel management company, I didn’t realize that most of my preconceived notions were about to be changed. Before experiencing Chicago for myself, I could never have dreamed about the wonderment that the city possessed. I saw Chicago as an example of all the many wonderful people, places, and things that are in existence in this world and that I had been missing out on. My horizons were expanded and my eyes opened.

 My trip to Chicago occurred during the Christmas holiday season, which only amplified an already amazing encounter. The people I saw and came in contact with were friendly and giving. The incredibly tall buildings were amazing. It seemed almost impossible to imagine all the expertise, planning and back breaking labor that must have gone into the construction of the buildings that were all around me. Even though I was in Chicago for work, I sensed that I must set aside some time one evening for exploration of the surrounding area.

 That evening as I strolled out the hotel’s front doors and into the cool crisp evening air, I felt alive with anticipation. It was already dark outside and the busy streets were lined with trees covered in small sparkling white lights to add to the atmosphere of the holiday season. As I walked down the sidewalk I could see the vapor from each living breath I took as I soaked in each encounter. Holiday music was playing everywhere. Outside each and every shop and department store was a different sampling of a Christmas carol or holiday tune. Outside one store was a group of makeshift musicians who were playing for tips. I was fascinated by the drummer who was using a plastic, five gallon bucket that he would lift up a down with one foot to make the various percussion sounds. Several people had gathered around and were listening to the musicians, adding a friendly and human element to the music.

As the journey continued, I made notice of the fact that there were many people walking up and down the sidewalks as they went about their tasks for the evening. Many beautiful women were out and about, possibly walking home from work or on a trip to the store. Most of them were tall and somewhat slender with long coats and cute toboggan like hats. I was drawn to their presence and on one occasion went out of my way to walk through the soft vapor cloud of a breath that was left behind by a gorgeous brunette. I had to turn and look over my shoulder after smelling the beautiful perfume that the powerful little breath cloud seemed to contain.

It was quite amazing walking down a sidewalk for several blocks with stretching high-rise buildings all around. The hotel where I was working was located on the historic Magnificent Mile and is surrounding by many majestic skyscrapers. I came upon the John Hancock building, which is second in height only to the Sears Tower. I decided to enter the building and take advantage of the observation deck near the top of the building. From the observation deck, I observed one of the most breathtaking sites I have ever seen. Stretching out for miles in several directions was an endless stream of lights. It was as if I was residing in the middle of a star and all the rays of light were radiating out from below me. What a great little exploration for the evening.  It had worked up an appetite and given me an excuse to take advantage of The Cheesecake Factory, a restaurant at the foot of the building. 

The following day, I topped off the adventure by hailing a taxi for the first time in my life, and then taking a trip to the Sears Tower. The Sears Tower was the tallest building in the United States and second tallest in the world at the time. Looking out the window, everything feels so distant. I felt as if I were peacefully isolated in a glass ball, hovering over one thousand feet above the city. I caught myself remembering a scene in Ferris Beullers Day Off when the actors were in the Sears Tower with their heads against the glass, looking down at the city below.

What an incredible and unexpectedly rewarding trip. My visit to Chicago marked a turning point in the way I thought about people, places, and things. The trip opened my mind and allowed me access to more places and experiences that came my way soon afterwards.