Lately I have been thinking of amounts, sizes, lengths, weights and all sorts of other figures. The three past weeks were our last in Chicago. It has been 10 months, 7 days, 13 hours and 21 minutes. Its a long time if you think almost adults like us just take a break and hang out in a cool city. Its not much if you think how much more there is to see and learn about this great place. Its nothing if you consider the size of the country around it. But it is just enough for us to call it home and to feel sorry, even a bit anxious to leave it behind.
We have said goodbye to our lovely Chicago. We said goodbye to the river and the construction workers (glad we will not be here when you start on another skyscraper to fully block our view on it). Goodbye to our favorite breakfast places and big America portions.
For me its is leaving a home behind again. Or going back to another home. I wonder if this is what they mean when they talk about globetrotters. But I am not trotting, I have a home in three countries now, with all the stuff you need to call a place home. You know, people, places, languages, things.
Goodbye to all the neighborhoods. The shops where they are so friendly. Goodbye to the friendly people on the streets who compliment you on your clothes. Even my six years old skirt that I had planned to donate to the Salvation Army received such a loud scream of I-LOVE-YOUR-SKIRT!!! from a lady last Monday that it was immediately ranked higher again to things that are packed to go.
Yes, things. Another thing that has been constantly on my mind, and, all over our Chicago home. Whereas it may well be disputable how many homes one needs, it is now definitely clear that one does not need as much stuff as I have. Packing started immediately after unpacking from the road trip. I took my time to say goodbye to many great things in my closet and bookshelf, and office, and even bathroom. We took four paper bags to the Salvation Army, and I managed to stay tough with my politics of dealing with old running socks that had taken me through about 800 kilometers and eight races since September.
Goodbye, Lake Michigan. I loved the dozens of miles of your trails. Goodbye greenshitters (the geese on the lakeshore and I developed such a deep relationship I nicknamed them. I am sure they had one for me, too.) Goodbye, Chicago winds and rains. I love you for helping me get tough on myself and fulfill my promise of the half marathon.
Well the socks had to go but I could almost not believe how on earth I still had about 90 kilograms of stuff left. A big question mark. Ok, also a rhetoric question. At the latest at the check-in desk where the lovely ladies kindly recommended they would rather upgrade us than make us paid for the extra luggage I made another promise. I will from now on only travel with one piece of luggage and always look effortlessly chic when I waltz through the security with just my purse (and not two laptop computers in my fourth suitcase). The latter is connected to some other promises but I have to go now, maybe we will find the Chicago-sweater here that we still need. It is 13.58 and we are boarding Swiss soon.
I love you Chicago. Bye-bye!
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