Chicago - What I Love and What I Don't

Mike had some meetings in Chicago Monday and Tuesday and so our family came along and took in a few sites. Our visit was exhausting and expensive, fun and fulfilling.  I took the girls to the American Girl store and Ben went to the Lego store. More thoughts on those later.  Our friends (and Kyrie's godparents) Dave and Connie came in to town and went to the Shedd Aquarium with us, which helped with the 2-hr wait in line. Then they traded us their 10-year old son for the girls for the last night and day. They live west of Chicago and so the girls had some much-needed down time while Luke, Ben and I went to the Art Institute and went back to the Lego store.

Hancock Observatory

Lego Woody and Ben

Hancock Observatory

Hancock Observatory

Kyrie by the Chicago River

My favorite stories:

-Miguel, at the Corner Bakery who smiled and made eye contact at our first breakfast there. The next day we went back and Miguel thanked me for returning. And then when making my entrance to the hotel where we stayed (Palmer House Hilton...no shabby establishment), there was Miguel in a door man's outfit, smiling and saying "hi." I did a double-take and checked the name tag. "You do double-duty?" "Yes, I work both places." I didn't have time to get Miguel's story and he didn't have time to tell it. But his English skills were strong, but definitely the skills of a second language speaker. But Miguel always smiled, and exuded gratefulness for his jobs, not bitterness that he has to work two to make it. He was busy helping other customers as we departed the hotel. It was nearly 7pm and I had seen him working at breakfast that morning. He was still smiling. Miguel represents why America has a fighting chance to make it back from this malaise. I am grateful for him.

-The Chicago Art Institute is a world class museum. The paintings and other art are amazing, the exhibits are fantastic and the building magnificent. Ben, his friend Luke, and I loved our time there. But the most impressive feature was the staff. We arrived before the museum opened and waited in line. A 60-ish gentleman walked the line several times answering questions, advising the end of the line to enter at the side entrance to save time, checking who had memberships and passes. As the line began to move, he greeted those entering, thanking us for visiting and wishing us a wonderful time. It was classy. The same man caught my questioning face a few hours later and asked how he could help. Then he asked what I thought of the museum. For all you could see, this man could have owned the place. He was proud of his part in it.

-CTA....I'm pretty sure this is a (3rd) world class transit system. I'm quite familiar with public transit systems. I've ridden in DC, New York, London, Rome, Boston and Portland. It took me 15 minutes to ascertain that REALLY REALLY you can't use credit or debit, the machine won't make change, and there is no change machine in the stations. I confirmed all these things with an apologetic attendant who used the words "antiquated" to describe her workplace. Then I discovered after going back up to the street level and convincing an employee at a business to give me change that the machines can't even read the reduced fare cards. So every time someone who qualifies for a reduced fare (children, senior citizens, students) wants to enter the subway (or elevated EL) the attendant has to leave their booth and let them through. SERIOUSLY!? No need to go into the smells and sense that the whole thing could collapse around us. Let's say that I am not a fan.

-Connections...For whatever reason, I couldn't get any decent mobile connections anywhere. Mike was receiving my texts 15 minutes after I sent them, I couldn't access my email without an eternity and I couldn't hear clearly when anyone called. Is it the wind? Or a government conspiracy? I have my doubts.

-Lou Malneti's...And at the end of a long day, amazing pizza and great service at Lou Malneti's. Chicago deep dish is amazing and this restaurant lets you pre-order so that when a table becomes available, your pizza arrives not long afterwards.

All that to say: Chicago is a microcosm of America. The people who were working were friendly, helpful, and competent. The government entities and systems set up seemed difficult, slow and frustrating. Even the people who were part of them were frustrated. Somehow our government has to be tied in to the free market; if you do a service well, you are rewarded. If you don't, you get cast out. It is supposed to work this way; it clearly is failing. I am grateful for the thinkers and leaders in the state policy movement working to hold government accountable and keep it working.