September 2019
Chicago – the windy city. A wedding in the family took us to this architectural style icon and we added a few extra days to explore the city. The trip started with first forgetting to load the stroller into the taxi and next forgetting to collect our luggage from the carousal at Chicago. We had to go back for our luggage and ended up buying a second hand stroller for the trip. Definitely not good notes. On the plus side, we had the best weather we could have asked for. No wind cutting in our eyes; no heavy jackets needed. Unheard of weather for the city.
This picture is one of my favourites from this trip. I love her little hoodie and that cat like instinct. It reminds me of the scene in Lion King where Mufasa is teaching little Simba to hunt. All through this trip, she was on the prowl and not a pigeon was safe.
We are booked at the Wyndham Grand on the riverfront. It is conveniently located and the river facing rooms have delightful views. This takes the edge of the mornings disasters. We check-in and immediately head out to lunch. All of us are starving. A short walk and we find ourselves eating deep dish pizza at the very popular Pizano’s. The weather is so good, we are seated outside. The food and fire engines keep the LO occupied.
We are minutes away from the Millennium Park. I am to take Amma and the LO to the park and keep them entertained while the husband goes and collects our luggage. We skirt around the fountain that spits water at you and go all the way across the park to the play structures at Maggie Daley Park. On the way we take our time to chase pigeons around the very shiny Bean and enjoy the shrubbery at Lurie Garden. All three of us are close to exhausted by the time we get to the park. I had to first persuade the LO to go on the play structures and then it took our combined cajoling and an ice-cream bribe to get her back to the hotel.
After a quick nap for everyone, we get to important task #2 – pick up stroller. This is done in a completely different, very residential part of the city. There was one more thing we forgot – Amma’s phone charger. After picking up the stroller, I venture into the dangerous Chicago night in search of a type of phone charger that was nowhere to be found. Luckily, the husband’s charger fits and they are able to share.
I’m picking up the draft after two years. The human memory is fallible, mine more, but I will tell how I remember it. The waterfront is front and foremost in my memory. We had an excellent view of the river with its many bridges and boats from our room. I recall walking along the river side promenade where the LO chased pigeons and tried splashing in a fountain. She spent most of her trip chasing pigeons and I spent mine chasing her. Then there was a boat cruise. We floated up and down the river, admiring the beautiful architecture on either side. The Shedd aquarium was another highlight of our trip. The touch tanks were a big hit with the LO. The Sky Deck was not such a hit with her. The poor darling was terrified and nothing we said could reassure her.
The main event of the trip was a wedding in the family. My first NRI wedding. When I came back and described it my friend, she was nonplused. This is how they happen, she said. Wow! Run away, darling. Elope. Come back and tell us you are married. We’ll have a lovely party to celebrate.
Half the Story 