An ACCIDENT CAR OF SORTS BACHELORETTE FUN, EPIC CHICAGO VIEWS, AND A LOT OF FOOD!
THURSDAY
My trip to Chicago began with a positive start. I was, once again very pleasantly surprised in the exit row with more space and in the same row as a handsome young man. The plane was compact, but was brand new, and I was feeling comfortable flying on that particular day (I’m an experienced nervous flyer). Sounds like the perfect situation isn’t it? Not quite. We were all settled and buckled in, and then sat in the gate for more than two hours without any contact with the flight crew. I wasn’t too concerned about it, but the people near me were losing their minds , and it brought people out their worst. The attractive guy right next to me? He was an extremely irritable jerk about the situation due to “he was planning for it!” I tried my best to remain calm despite the chaos that was happening around myself, and it was an uphill climb.
I flew on this brand very small, yet new aircraft to Chicago to go to a bachelorette party for my sister-in-law who is due to be. Anya is getting married to Adam’s younger Brother, Ben on October 1st. You can learn of their story in my account of our trip last summer. After the plane was on the air, I watched HBO’s Barry which was incredibly entertaining and nearly distracting me from the tension in the air. If you’re a fan of dark comedies and/or Bill Hader, go and check it out. When we finally arrived in the evening, a bit later than I had expected, Ben and Anya texted that they had ordered Thai meals for dinner. As a result, my determination to make it to their house grew. Nothing relaxes a tired traveler more than Pad Thai.
My idea consisted of taking an Uber to their place of residence however, in typical O’Hare fashion a plethora of flights were landing at the same time as a result of previous storms. The cost of fares had increased and I wasn’t sure which airport to take the Uber. I decided to stick to the basics and get a cab instead. I was too numb to make choices, I was just hungry for noodles! We sat in the traffic for what seemed like a lifetime , and the driver and me spent the time talking. I also began to feel a bit motion-sick and when we came across another traffic jam towards the end of the trip I thought, “are you freaking kidding me?” Turns out Ben and Anya’s new house is just a few blocks from Wrigley Field and a Cubs game was just about to start There were hundreds of cars and pedestrians in one space. We sat for about 15 minutes trying to walk a few blocks. I said I’d simply walk around and he told me that was a no-go and determined to get them to their door just as was my plan. We finally made an left and stopped in the middle of a row of cars, and the driver pointed out their location. I thanked him and then paid for my bag, then threw it on, and reminded him to get my backpack out of the trunk. In what I would call a total accident incident that could certainly be my fault when I opened the door and began to get out of the car the driver tried to push the car into park however, he accidentally increased the speed instead of slowing. The car accelerated into the air at a high speed, and the force forced me to the door. It then started moving me. I unleashed an uncontrollable shout and was, for a short time I was convinced that this was the case. I managed to pull myself out from the handle of my door, bounced around of the pavement and fell on my back in a state of utter confusion. Thank God I had my backpack on, otherwise I would have seriously damaged my head and back. When I realized my body was still unharmed, I was overwhelmed by a sense of immense happiness to have been able to get through the incident and leapt onto my feet in excitement. Everyone was asking me if I was fine and I replied yes, but I could notice how I had started to bleed and was feeling a little swollen. I walked about 5 or 4 car lengths back to the taxicab (I am sure it was an accident but what happens when you accelerate that quickly and for that long?) The driver was upset. I’m sure he would think that he had killed me. It wasn’t my moment and we both checked to make sure that we were safe and the man asked me my name as we hugged. It was as if we’d been through a lot with each other I mean, what do you think? I had my luggage with me and a throng of drunk fans in the streets. In shock, but trying to appear as if I didn’t get tossed out of a moving car I decided to contact Adam before heading for a visit to Ben and Anya’s home, as I was in the midst of crying and was quite shocked.
It’s funny to imagine the horror Ben and Anya might have felt when they opened the door to discover me bleeding. I was required to tend to my bruises, wash my clothes as well as ice my elbows, knee, and put lots of bandages, but I was finally being able to enjoy my delicious Thai stirfry. I had earned it! I’ll not share the image of the massive black bump on my bottom that covered all of the left side. Instead you can see the broken arms below. However, it was three days after and the cuts appeared better. The human body is remarkably robust!
Friday + Saturday
The next day the bachelorette celebration began when we headed to Michigan. I was excited for the Midwest road trip since I’d visited Ann Arbor back in 2010. Our hotel was South Haven, MI, an idyllic beach town where Anya enjoyed many unforgettable summers as a youngster. As it happens in this place, it was sunny with only one rain forecast during our stay. We managed to sneak a outdoor lunch before the dark storm clouds began to roll into the area and started to pour down.
Without going into any details Highlights included wearing colorful wigs that matched and partying the night away in the club at The Dunes Resort, doing my first shotski at The Idler Riverboat as well as an amazing brunch at The Southerner located in Saugatuk and an Ice dessert at Sherman’s. Have you visited South Haven and/or Saugatuk?
SUNDAY
The sun had set and the warm evening was fading as we headed back to the apartment. It appeared to be a normal Sunday evening at Boystown which was why we were getting buzzed after our surprise alcohol-fueled dinner. My brother-in-law Ben pulls out his arms to hinder his fiance and me. “Okay this is what I’m thinkingabout,” Ben says “We go into the area to drink our last bottle of wine and then have our Tarot readings!” Anya and I gazed across the street to the reading tarot sign and then looked at each other looking at each other, both uncertain. I’ve never had the privilege of having a reading with a tarot deck before, yet have always had a desire to. Everyone walks towards the bright psychic sign with awe. The woman is looking up from her mobile for the entrance, and we were greeted by a dark room which reminds me of a dental waiting area in a dental office that wasn’t updated in this century. Three of us climb onto a cushioned bench near the window, while the woman tries to ease the nervous energy of the room by describing her services. We do not speak much other than Ben asking her if she has glasses of wine for us and she said she didn’t have , or found particularly interesting. Incredibly curious and brave I shout out,”I’ll take the first step!”
Ben and Anya were gone, because she was requiring only one person to be present at a time to read an actual reading. There was a silence that was unsettling that my breathing was becoming loud and exaggerated. She instructed me to come up with the topic and to repeat the mantra while she was shuffled the deck, and I continued to repeat “clarity in my life” while she cut her deck and demanded me to choose the card and lay one down in a circular pattern.
First card that she turns over will reveal the word I hated the most the most: Death. Based on my experience since the day I arrived in Chicago wasn’t a big surprise. It turns out that in the context of my profession, that could be an adjustment, something I’ve certainly felt throughout the last year. She goes on to explain that I’m experiencing a lot of challenges within my job and I’m scared to receive judgement. This is my personal story in 2018. I am now extremely interested. I’m not giving any feedback at all but I’m curious to know what other details she may be right regarding. She tells a story of Adam that is completely on, right down to the names of people as well as their conversation and it’s so precise you could’ve made any statement afterwards and I’d take it as true. She says that she’s certain that I run my own company and If I do I must be focused and follow the path I have to do. It’s because I’m lazy in my approach, limiting myself and not giving it my 100 percent. She told me that I should forget about what other people believe and that I can ultimately be able to help and influence people. I was stunned. I’ve always been afraid of giving everything my best. I was desperate to listen to everything she said to me.
Monday
The sun is streaming through the windows and I wake up to a severe headache. I am immediately struck by the second bottles of vino Ben and I drank after our Tarot readings. It’s not my style I’m trying to be more relaxed and not take my life too serious all the time. I think about the fun that our night was. A simple hangover is well worth it.
My day of free time to explore started with a delicious breakfast at a non-meat establishment known as The Chicago Diner. I’ve been vegetarian my all my life, but since I realized how much I’m sensitive to egg, vegetarian foods are the only way to have breakfast. It was difficult to pick among a myriad of delicious choices, but I decided on the tempeh and tofu scramble with biscuits and faux gravy.
The next thing on my agenda was to stroll around. I walked past Wrigley Field and then made my way towards the Southport neighborhood. It was like home, especially considering that the first shop I visited was Lululemon. It was a pleasant experience walking through the stores and bought some bargain items at J.Crew. I had just a couple of hours left, which is why I chose to go around Lincoln Park. It was a fun time wandering to boutiques, and then was able to get an Uber back to my home to get ready for dinner.
The night before, Anya had to fly to Austin to work, and so , after an amazing dinner with our sisters in the Corridor Brewery, it was only Ben and I. Since Ben has lived in the same place for all of the eleven years I’ve been with the family, we’d never been able to spend time with just us two. I met him in his office in downtown Toronto and we planned to see live jazz, however it was such an amazing evening that we decided to change plans and go towards the LondonHouse rooftop to enjoy an alcoholic drink. The sunset was spectacular and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to hang a picture on the roof with my brother-in-law! Do you recognize the similarities to Adam?
The city of Chicago has a small space in my heart. I’m so blessed that I have a reason to go back to Chicago for the duration that Ben and Anya reside there. Have you been? What’s your most favorite activity when you’re in the city?