Looking at the people passing by...

I decided to walk the 3.3 miles to work today. As I left my front door, I put on my Bob Dylan playlist and started walking. I love walking with my IPOD because it is the the soundtrack to my life in that moment. Once I walked to North Ave, a van full of cool looking hippie boys stopped me. A cute one asked for a quarter for the parking meter. I said, "I think it needs more than a quarter" and they all laughed and said they would exchange 25 cents for a giraffe finger puppet. This made me smile and I offered 50 cents. They kindly said no, and asked if I would go to the beach. I told them I had work as a nanny. They all smiled and we said our goodbyes, as the one yelled from far away "Have fun playing with kids all day." I turned back and smiled.

I continued to walk down Clark St. and as I was walking an older man with gray hair stopped me. He asked if I had any change to spare. I said no. But then I suddenly realized I had the 50 cents the boys declined a little while back. I turned and said it was all I had. He smiled, showing me only 2 teeth and walked away.

I kept walking to down Clark St and about to pass Dickens St, when my sandal tripped me and I lost my shoe in the middle of the intersection. As I stopped to put the sandal back on, a moving truck missed hitting me by what Em would call "one sidewalk block"...thanks daily tripping occurrences for saving my life.

I made it to Sheffield St. I looked both ways and saw a few boys on bikes riding towards me. They had the stop sign so I walked across the street. I turned back for a moment and caught eyes with one of the young guys on a bike. I turned away and kept walking for a split second and decided to turn back again. He and I locked eyes again and he waved at me while riding down Sheffield, until he was out of sight. I smiled at him and he smiled back and I kept moving.

Walking to work today opened my eyes to all the beauty in people and all th ebeuty in this city. I passed 2 record stores, 3 vintage shops, a bazillion ethnic restaurants, dogs being walked by owners, homeless people exchanging stories on the curbs with fellow homeless, one drug exchange between men and so much more. These walks I have make me realize I love life and all the adventures it brings....especially in Chicago.

peace, love, and desiderata,
lo.