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May. 9th, 2007 10:19 am
Wandering through E-town
Yesterday morning, I managed to leave for work without my cell phone, my iPod, my Prilosec, or anything to eat. Today, not only did I have all those things, but I also took along a gift for my sister and a card for my mother, both of which have already been mailed off. Go me!
I tell you, it's the small things.
I couldn't remember exactly where the Post Office was, of course. That huge stone Beaux Arts structure visible from the el? Masonic Hall. D'OH! But I was made of time and it was a pleasant morning (albeit a bit humid for May), so the extra exercise was merely a feather in the cap. There was apparently a brief shower--so brief I didn't notice it. (I think it must've been while I was in line at the Post.) Now there's been a sudden modest temperature drop that's turned all the humidity to ghostly mist outside.
Yesterday evening was dotted with unexpected magical moments. As I was leaving the building, I saw a young man stop in the drive and stare. I followed his gaze, expecting to see a cardinal or some other songbird. Instead, we watched a peregrine falcon perched on a bike rack poop from only a few yards away before it took wing and soared majestically above us. "That's the third one I've seen on campus," he told me. Another couple had stopped just in front of us; he looked bored, bordering on hostile, but she was completely delighted. That made me chuckle.
I picked up a shawerma and took it to a nearby park where I sat on a bench as the sun disappeared behind purplish clouds in the west. Then I started walking. I didn't have any goal in mind beyond a vague hope of finding someplace to buy a Mother's Day card or that funky used bookstore down on Chicago that eluded me last time. For good reason--it's now a salon! That's how I ended up browsing the book selection in a Salvation Army. My reward was a like-new copy of The time-traveller's wife, which is what I mailed off to my sister; I hope it suits her.
In the end, I walked all the way to the last el stop in E-town but one and rode the train to my card-vending fallback: The Borders in Uptown. Even though I was braced for sticker shock (no visible price tags is never a good sign, isn't it?) I was still appalled--I could take my Mom out for a good dinner in my neighbourhood for less than that a folded piece of bedazzled cardstock set me back! But whatever; I'd pay considerably more than that to put a smile on her face this Sunday.
In conclusion, I need to buy a camera phone. There are too many arresting visuals out there--the dead sparrow framed by black plastic cutlery, the shabby woman entring a shabby house sandwiched between car dealerships, the boxy Victorian with an external staircase going all the way to the attic--that I'd like to be able to hold for a tad longer than the seconds I stare at them.
I tell you, it's the small things.
I couldn't remember exactly where the Post Office was, of course. That huge stone Beaux Arts structure visible from the el? Masonic Hall. D'OH! But I was made of time and it was a pleasant morning (albeit a bit humid for May), so the extra exercise was merely a feather in the cap. There was apparently a brief shower--so brief I didn't notice it. (I think it must've been while I was in line at the Post.) Now there's been a sudden modest temperature drop that's turned all the humidity to ghostly mist outside.
Yesterday evening was dotted with unexpected magical moments. As I was leaving the building, I saw a young man stop in the drive and stare. I followed his gaze, expecting to see a cardinal or some other songbird. Instead, we watched a peregrine falcon perched on a bike rack poop from only a few yards away before it took wing and soared majestically above us. "That's the third one I've seen on campus," he told me. Another couple had stopped just in front of us; he looked bored, bordering on hostile, but she was completely delighted. That made me chuckle.
I picked up a shawerma and took it to a nearby park where I sat on a bench as the sun disappeared behind purplish clouds in the west. Then I started walking. I didn't have any goal in mind beyond a vague hope of finding someplace to buy a Mother's Day card or that funky used bookstore down on Chicago that eluded me last time. For good reason--it's now a salon! That's how I ended up browsing the book selection in a Salvation Army. My reward was a like-new copy of The time-traveller's wife, which is what I mailed off to my sister; I hope it suits her.
In the end, I walked all the way to the last el stop in E-town but one and rode the train to my card-vending fallback: The Borders in Uptown. Even though I was braced for sticker shock (no visible price tags is never a good sign, isn't it?) I was still appalled--I could take my Mom out for a good dinner in my neighbourhood for less than that a folded piece of bedazzled cardstock set me back! But whatever; I'd pay considerably more than that to put a smile on her face this Sunday.
In conclusion, I need to buy a camera phone. There are too many arresting visuals out there--the dead sparrow framed by black plastic cutlery, the shabby woman entring a shabby house sandwiched between car dealerships, the boxy Victorian with an external staircase going all the way to the attic--that I'd like to be able to hold for a tad longer than the seconds I stare at them.
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