J.F. Riordan’s Day Off

The dogs were so happy to see us when we got home from Chicago last night. We were gone for more than twelve hours, and they were not alone for very long. But it hurt my heart that we could go off without them and still be greeted only with pure joy.

We had a happy day. Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the world, and for the boys it was magical. We approached the city from the north along Lake Drive and the Gold Coast, catching the first glimpses of the skyline and the beautifully groomed beaches. The weather was perfect, the city was sparkling clean, and there was an air of summer festivity wherever we went.

We followed the boys’ list of must sees. It was nothing like anything my husband and I would have chosen, and that was part of the fun for us. Their number one priority was the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, the largest Starbucks in the world, four stories high. It was in the former Crate and Barrel building, all glass and sunlight; very busy, and there were lines, but we didn’t stand in line to get in, and the boys’ enthusiasm carried us along. We had coffee and pastries, and the boys found a gift for their chef father.

We walked the few blocks to Navy Pier, and took a riverboat architecture tour, on which the adults learned—and relearned—interesting things about the city. Upon return, we rode the Ferris wheel, then took a water taxi to Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk. After a late lunch on the Riverwalk—during which the waiter warned me NOT to get the chicken sliders—we strolled on through the part of town I know best, along Michigan Avenue past the library, Symphony Hall, and the Fine Arts Building, where I used to take my lessons and coachings, and which figures in at least one—I think two—Willa Cather novels. 1

The gardener in me was astonished and delighted by the public gardens. Alongside Navy Pier are wild gardens, filled with mostly native plants that towered over our heads. It was so unusual to see in a manicured city park, highly-scented, cool, and lush, far more interesting than the rose gardens you expect in a major city. Chicago has an official policy of cultivating green space, and the results show in the best possible way. I did not want to bore the boys by spending too much time in them, but next visit, I want to see the Lurie Gardens, which are part of Millennium Park, and a form of living sculpture.

Among the boys’ must-sees was “The Bean,” the iconic sculpture at Millennium Park by Anish Kapoor, whose official title is Cloud Gate. I had seen it many times, but had never specifically gone to see it, and it is far more intriguing than I had realized. It’s large enough to walk into, and the tricks of the reflections and distortions on the mirror-polished metal are engaging and fascinating. And not just for teenaged boys.

These posts are about finding the beauty in daily life, even amid the craziness, uncertainty, and anxiety. Reality is not going away, but these are the only days we get, so we have to relish their small beauties while we have them. If you are a paid subscriber, please know how deeply grateful I am for your support. The kindness and enthusiasm of your comments buoy me and keep me writing, but the paid subscriptions are an extra vote of confidence I truly appreciate. These posts will always be free, however, so if all you can do is share, that is helpful, too. Whatever you decide, I’m glad you’re here.