Chicago Chicago

Although I grew up in a rural setting, I love going to big cities. When I do travel to a place like Chicago, I'm pretty sure I must look like the country bumpkin that I am because I'm constantly gawking at the sights:

Street art

Lit-up buildings

Interesting juxtapositions of old and new.

Reflective surfaces everywhere you look: city reflections are so trippy that I'm amazed most people can walk past them without staring.

Great food and drink.

We did get out and enjoy these things, but our latest trip was mostly about something else.

This time I spent most of my time gawking at the little person whose appearance has recently bumped me up a generation: I'm a grandma now.

Which makes John a grandpa. Wow. Seems like just yesterday that we were a couple of carefree hippies, tooling around in an old truck, deciding to go to Mexico. How strange.

But how sweet.

Observing the landscape of a newborn's tiny body from the vantage point of grand-parenthood is a whole new experience.

We hated to go, but just before leaving we had a nice walk along the lake shore.

And then off to O'Hare to catch our plane back to Oregon. But since this was a trip of gawking, I had to stop and admire the brachiosaurus skeleton. Airports are just so weird.

Then back home, chased by an early winter sunset.

The skies were clear last night, and filled with stars when we stepped into our back yard. And this morning there was a heavy frost. I had a lovely trip, and I'm glad to be home.