Finally, I am wishing myself back in Chicago. Not just for the ease of communication and living (although living in England has become second nature to me, as I realized while chatting with a friend who's only been here five weeks and still finds herself a bit shell-shocked). But because, this morning when I opened the weekend Daily Telegraph, I found a huge Travel section feature about Chicago!
I eagerly devoured "Chicago: Not the musical" and gazed at photos of the Bean and the Sears Tower. I laughed very hard when I read how author Michael Simkins was puzzling over Jean Dubuffet's public artwork and a passerby told him, "It's called Monument with Standing Beast, but we call it Snoopy in a Blender;" I was indignant when Simkins said the Billy Goat Tavern cheeseburgers (cheeseborgers) were filling but tasted terrible (what I wouldn't give for a proper American cheesburger with those delicious thick-cut pickles!); and I thought of going to NHL games with my dad and brother as Simkins tried to explain the lure of ice hockey enjoyed alongside hot dogs and cheap beer.
I want to shove the article, with its gorgeous skyline and Lake Michigan photos, in the face of everyone here and say, "See this? This is my home!" (Although I only spent five years in Chicago, I got to know and love it very well while traversing every corner of the area as a reporter). Now I know why my English friends were so excited when I showed around my big Nottingham story that appeared in the Sun-Times Travel section on Feb. 10.
The sky is just about to let loose with spring rain here in Nottingham, my housemate David is talking about "the rugby" that's on today, and I'm on my way to the train taking me into Nottingham's very European Market Square, where I'll meet with friends, visit a cafe, do some shopping and then head off to a mate's house for tea. I wouldn't change my life right now for the life I could be having back in Chicago, but why can't I have both at the same time? That's the problem with traveling and moving often. You expand your horizons, but then you also realize how much there is in the world that is to be loved and enjoyed, and you need to make difficult choices about where to be when.
I love urban legends!!!I I recall the Council issuing a press release that, despite rumors to the contrary, pigeons were not being fried by Sky Mirror. . .I'll have to ask my experts in Nottingham!!! Speaking of legends, have you touched the ship in the Trip?
Thanks, Chicago Toni, I have enjoyed Kapoor's Sky Mirror at the Playhouse (as well as some of his sculptures at the Tate Modern). Is it true that pigeons got fried by it? I've heard it before ...
you can always go to the Nottingham Playhouse and see Kapoor's pre-Bean pigeon fryer!!!!
Chicago is great but there are too many murders and guns. Mayor Daley is doing his best to outlaw guns. Lamentably, the NRA and Hunting organizations have too much power. England does not have the gun problems that we have.
If Chicago can win the war against violent criminals and gangs, it could be a veritable idyllic city.