I had a great weekend in Chicago. Jessica (former grad student and teacher at SLU Madrid) picked me up from O'Hare, and we made our way downtown (somewhat slowly - I had forgotten about big city traffic; yes, I know, St. Louis is a big city, but it is so spread out and the roads are all so wide that traffic jams are not very much in existence). We had some delicious flaky-crusted Chicago style pizza at Pizzeria Due, and then set off for a map exhibit at the Newberry Library...except the exhibit it turned out wasn't starting until Saturday, as the weary from repeating this information security guard informed us. We had fun browsing in the bookstore there, and then we set off for Michigan Ave to see the sites. I especially liked seeing The Bean, whose real name is Cloud Gate, a 110 foot high stainless steel sculpture whose shape allows for some very interesting reflections of the Chicago s
kyline, and of oneself wrapped up in itself. Jessica and I are actually in this picture...I took it.
And in the one at the beginning of this post, for that matter.
This kaleidoscope one below was taken from just underneath the arch, so under the Bean...
After our long stroll around downtown, Jessica and I went to Downers Grove, where we met her parents, Bob & Patty, at Emmett's for some welcome ale. My college friends Cathy Molloy (who also lives in Downers Grove) and Mo Jordon came along and picked me up there. Off we were for a real Clarkie weekend of non-stop talking, laughing, getting teary-eyed, and then laughing some more. We went out to dinner and were then met by Cathy's sister, Fran Jones, who was also a student at Clarke College with us, also living now in Downers Grove. I have always loved spending time with the Molloy family...they are all so easy-going, caring, and compassionate, and we got to catch up with more of Cathy's family as two more of her sisters live nearby as well on Saturday. And Saturday evening, a group of Clarkies got together for dinner. I hadn't seen Cathy, Fran and Mo for 8 years, and some of the others I hadn't seen in, well, we couldn't quite piece that bit of information together...but a good at least 20 years! Marie (Gaudette) had been in Madrid in 1990 or 91 (and if someone can tell us the name of the guy that Luis and I invited to have dinner with the three of us - he definitely didn't speak any English!! - I'd be happy, though I would like to exercise those memory cells and get them working).
It was such a fabulous treat to be able to enjoy a good meal (at Emmett's again!) and catch up. I really felt like I had just seen everyone, we found it so easy to talk. I have such wonderful friends, from Madrid, from Rockford, from my Clarke days. I know that they have all been so important in helping me become who I am, and I can see myself reflected in each one - what beautiful mirrors you all are!!
kyline, and of oneself wrapped up in itself. Jessica and I are actually in this picture...I took it.And in the one at the beginning of this post, for that matter.
This kaleidoscope one below was taken from just underneath the arch, so under the Bean...
After our long stroll around downtown, Jessica and I went to Downers Grove, where we met her parents, Bob & Patty, at Emmett's for some welcome ale. My college friends Cathy Molloy (who also lives in Downers Grove) and Mo Jordon came along and picked me up there. Off we were for a real Clarkie weekend of non-stop talking, laughing, getting teary-eyed, and then laughing some more. We went out to dinner and were then met by Cathy's sister, Fran Jones, who was also a student at Clarke College with us, also living now in Downers Grove. I have always loved spending time with the Molloy family...they are all so easy-going, caring, and compassionate, and we got to catch up with more of Cathy's family as two more of her sisters live nearby as well on Saturday. And Saturday evening, a group of Clarkies got together for dinner. I hadn't seen Cathy, Fran and Mo for 8 years, and some of the others I hadn't seen in, well, we couldn't quite piece that bit of information together...but a good at least 20 years! Marie (Gaudette) had been in Madrid in 1990 or 91 (and if someone can tell us the name of the guy that Luis and I invited to have dinner with the three of us - he definitely didn't speak any English!! - I'd be happy, though I would like to exercise those memory cells and get them working).
It was such a fabulous treat to be able to enjoy a good meal (at Emmett's again!) and catch up. I really felt like I had just seen everyone, we found it so easy to talk. I have such wonderful friends, from Madrid, from Rockford, from my Clarke days. I know that they have all been so important in helping me become who I am, and I can see myself reflected in each one - what beautiful mirrors you all are!!
Left-to-right: front row: Marie, me, Cathy; back row: Donna, Lisa, Mo, Fran
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