Things I'm going to miss about life in Chicago

Written by Bessie about United States. Feelin' thoughtful

We're getting ready to leave and have already had some "lasts". Like the last time we'll see friend and family for a while, our last days of work, our last snow storm - I'm rooting for it at least. ;)

While feeling particularly nostalgic (read while I made Kyle stay up late with me so he could listen to my feelings - he loves that stuff), I came up with a list. I see it like giving a hug to a friend as I say bye to it. A good-bye. High tech Poppa

Things I'm going to miss about life in Chicago:
- the Clark 22 bus and hearing it pass as I fall asleep at night
- daily text messages (or 10) from my mom
- grabbing lunch or a drink with friends
- Mom & Dad's 60th birthdays, Ben's 30th, Russell's 2nd, and the next little walnut's birth
- inexplicably cheap produce from the store next door
- calling games of bingo at my senior programs the "I-23 Michael Jordan's number" goes over well as well as "the biggest of the bingo numbers O-75". I came up with those myself.
- great conversations with friends and family that know you and can almost tell you what's on your mind Countdown!

- book club
- wedding pictures and the memory box up in our apartment
- Poppa's homecooking and family all being with in an hour radius
- knowing where to get almost every kind of imported beer, wine or food from every place around the world
- BYOBs
- rousing games of Apples to Apples with friends
- the cooky and inappropriate things that happen at work and my amazing co-workers that always inspire me
- Cubs games on a warm, sunny Chicago day
- seeing people's chairs marking a parking spot (as long as I've already parked my car) Adams & Franklin

- waking up to npr in the morning, especially Saturday morning
- Wi-Fi
- cuddling up on the couch with Kyle watching the Office
- dinner parties and high holidays at Rachel's
- kickball and beack volleyballs - Go Flaming Unicorns!
- Walking down Clark St. in Andersonville and soaking up the diversity and hearing 5 different languages in the same block
- admiring Chicago architecture, and knowing I'm home. Favorite spots:
     - on the brown line between Chicago & Franklin and the Merchandise Mart
     - the corner of Adam's and Franklin with the Sears Tower's sleek, modern self being all black and tall across from 300 W. Adam's simple classic style
     - view from the bathroom on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building

« Kyle and the Corporate World

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January 09, 2008 DADDIO: HELLO!
This is my first message on this site. Come and see us in the next few days if you wish to store anything else in our house during you trip. I will take you out to dinner one last time near your Lincoln Way High School (Kyle may never have seen it!) for one last little piece of your Will County history before you fly off to your future. We are leaving on the 17th of January. You never responded to Linda's invitational phone message!

RSVP... DADDIO

January 10, 2008 Annie: I also love Apples to Apples. Too bad we are just finding this out now...

January 23, 2008 Rachel Z: I've been bad about checking on this, but I've heard tell that there's a way to get notified of updates? I'm gonna look into that. Anyway, just wanted to say THANKS FOR THE MENTION! I'm already planning my Oscar's party and was so, so, so sad to realize you guys wouldn't be on the invite list. I mean, happy for you, but... well, you know that whole story.

January 23, 2008 Bessie: One of the hardest things about being gone is that life will go on back home, and we won't be around to experience it as if we were there. I mean we're not so much going to miss the negative degree wind chills and sunless winter days of Chicago, but family and friends will be sorely missed. Good thing there are things like Skype and email and picture sharing and video chat, because transporting seems pretty tough.

Oh, and sign up for email updates in the right hand column. It'll automatically email you a new post!

January 30, 2008 Uncle Michael: Hoo boy! Things around here have really changed since you left. You wouldn't recognize the place. They pretty much dispensed with all the remaining presidential primaries and well... John McCain is President. Then things got just a little crazy. So anyway, Hillary Rodham Clinton McCain is once again First Lady. Not that it really matters. What does matter are the border closings. If you were hoping to get back in the country, you better turn around and do it soon. There are still some pockets of resistance in South Carolina. I have some friends there and if you could get a boat (preferably a small, black, inflatable raft) we could meet you on the coast. If however, you're still convinced of the need to travel the world, I'm sure we'll work something out to bring you back later on. Anyway, I gotta go, being under 50 years of age, I have to hurry and register for the draft. Don't worry about that though, you kids go have fun. Take care and we'll stay in touch. Love.....

January 31, 2008 Bessie: Well lucky for me, I've watched lots of Man vs. Wild on Discovery Channel, and I've seen Bear Grylls do lots of wild stunts like use his plants as a flotation raft and drink water from elephant poop, so survival it will be. ;) Oh, and the margaritas a great down here.

April 17, 2008 Joe and Diane Bugajski: Hi Bessie, You probably don't remember us, I grew up in Hegewisch with your Uncle Michael. My wife actually cut your hair a couple times in your Grandmothers kitchen. I just remember you as a cute little girl with pigtails. What I want to know, is that Mr. Tomich sitting on his couch typing on a lap top? I can't beleive it. Have fun and we'll keep reading of your adventures.

Things I'm going to miss about life in Chicago

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