I got to Chicago on Saturday afternoon, just before 4pm. Passport control was automated, and surprisingly quick to get through. On top of that, my suitcase was on on the first off the plane, so I was able to get to customs quickly. Even that was unusually fast. No later than 4:30pm I was looking around, wondering how I would find my mom, who had flown in the night before. It was earlier than I told her to be there, and I wasn't sure if she would be parked and waiting inside or on the curb for an outside pick up. You might be all tech friendly wondering why I didn't just call her. Truth is I don't have a cell phone. Not just here, but anywhere. I've never had one. It's the way I like it in general - if I'm not home, you can't call me. And I generally dislike the amount of time people spend on their phones in the presence of others. Let's face it, phones aren't for calling anymore. They're for staying on the grid, which I spend enough time connected to when I'm not on the move. But I can admit there are times when it would be useful to have one, and now was one of those times. Fortunately, after a look inside and outside and inside and outside again, peering into all the cars that were driving slowly by, I found her! And it was her first time around. Not bad.
After the airport it was back to Grandma's, which always feels like home. We sat around the kitchen table chatting and watching tv. Then we picked up two pizzas, a thin pizza, square cut and a deep dish, both Chicago favorites. When we came home my Aunt Carol, Uncle Ron and cousin Dawn were there. We ate and had a great catch-up until I almost fell asleep at 10pm. By then I'd been up for almost 24 hours and was properly exhausted.
Sunday I woke up before everyone else - jetlag - and went for a run at 7am. It was surprisingly warm and it was lovely to be outside before all but the dog walkers. I ran by a lot of squirrels and robins and even saw one cardinal. It was so nice. Spring seems to be lagging behind here compared to Basel, as I didn't see as many flowers or new leaves, but it is beginning.
The rest of the day was spent in a similar fashion to yesterday, chatting, eating and shopping. My cousin and I shopped at Target and later Trader Joe's on the way to pick up Five Guys burgers for dinner. While the burgers were cooking, we went next door and got ice creams from Oberweis Dairy. That place is hoppin'. I made the mistake of getting my ice cream in a cone, which proceeded to melt rapidly, forcing me to eat almost all of it on the drive home, before my burger! I can't say I'm sorry about that though. Dawn left around 10pm and I headed straight to bed, exhausted.
Monday I woke up just before 6am and realized that somehow it was already my last full day in Chicago. How was that even possible? I went for a run right away. On the run I was searching for bunnies, as this is one animal I've always just loved to know existed in neighborhoods but have so rarely seen. I managed to spot four of them! I think it was the earlier hour than yesterday. I also noticed fewer squirrels and robins than yesterday, and for me it was a good reminder that different animals are active at different times, even when those times are only an hour apart. For me this has a nice tie-in with the timing of the Arctic ground squirrels, when they're active and when they hibernate.
I spent the day with my family doing what you normally do in April - eating, shopping, mailing my taxes and repacking my bags. I also checked into my flight and charged the GoPro. Learning how to use it though, may wait for another day. Dawn came over after work and we waited out a massive storm and then picked up Italian beef sandwiches for dinner. The weather had been warm but the storm brought temperatures 20 degrees colder with it. Still at least 20 degrees warmer than in Alaska, though.
Tuesday was my last day. The jetlag seems to be getting worse each day, rather than better, and today I was awake at 4:30am. Did the morning run at 6am, like usual. Later we stayed home, and I did a little more repacking and just spending time with my mom and grandma. Eventually it was time to leave, and they dropped me off at the Departures for Alaska Airlines. It was sad to say good-bye to them, and that there were other family members I didn't get a chance to see due to the short time, but I'm happy that I got to spend the time I did. And I'm happy that I'll be back on my way home as well, with exciting stories to share.
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