In Chicago

Chicago really blew me away! I guess that is why it is known as the windy city! The train station was huge! I had over a six hour wait for my next train, so I thought I would step outside and take in the sights and sounds of the city. It was not long when a man asked if I needed a taxi, but I didn't. I took a few photos of the high rise buildings. Not that I haven't seen any before, but I wanted some that were Chicago specific. I was just hanging out on the sidewalk when suddenly I heard a woman screaming, not in fear, but in anger and irritation. She was yelling at a man to get lost.

This man talked to me. I wasn't sure what the issue was, but it seemed he may have asked her for some money. It wasn't long after the initial hellos that he asked me if I had a dollar. I would have given him one, except I didn't have one. I apologized, and he wished me a good day, and set his eyes and gait on someone else. A guy asked the lady that was yelling earlier if she had a cigarette he could buy, and she started yelling again. He walked by me, understanding I didn't have any cigarettes. Later in the trip, I would comment, "I wish I would have carried some just to sell!" It wasn't 't two minutes later and another man approached me. He started talking about how beautiful I must have been when I was younger. Then he asked if I liked dogs because there was a dog park about a block away. He then reached up towards my hair and I leaned back to avoid actual contact. I didn't want to be outright mean and tell him to get lost. Maybe he just needed someone to talk to. When he said, "I would have liked to take you to a movie" and reached out and grabbed my upper arm, I pulled away and sharply said, "Do not touch me again" About 20 seconds later he said he was going to go and walked away. I was ready to head inside. When I was in Chicago at the train station, I watched an older Korean couple while waiting in the Great Hall. They were adorable. You could tell they had been married for some time, but you could also feel the love they had for each other. When the husband got up to go somewhere, the wife waited with anticipation for his return. They softly spoke to each other as they waited for their connecting train.

At one point, the wife was trying to figure out where the restroom was located, so I pointed her in the right direction. When she came out, she wasn’t sure where we had been sitting. The husband chuckled and waved at her, but she did not see him. He got up and started walking toward her just as she took out her phone to call him—it was pure love. They came back over and sat down together.

A short time later, I made a visit to the ladies’ room myself. Upon exiting, I understood why the wife had been disoriented. From that perspective, our seating area looked very far away. I walked over and told her I understood her confusion. The husband laughed—not at what I said, but at the memory of rescuing his wife when she seemed lost.

The wife went to use the restroom again, and I asked the husband where they were headed. They were going to Carbondale to visit their son and two granddaughters. He told me he was 83 years old and that the train ride was exhausting. They had traveled from California and intended to fly home.

As we talked more—and after another “rescue” of his wife—I learned they used to live in Nashville, as I once did. His wife had worked at the United Methodist Publishing Company. Oddly enough, when my youngest son was three, his photo was used in a story published by that same company! She had also sung for the Nashville Symphony Chorus, which she misses very much. The husband was clearly very proud of her.

They showed me a photo of their family reunion, which had 75 to 100 people. I believe he was a pastor, and some of the other family members were pastors as well. He pointed out his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters in the photo. I half-jokingly asked if they could adopt me—I always wanted to be part of a big, loving family.

I told them I had been studying Korean. The wife wanted to see the program I was using, and she approved. It was getting close to my train’s boarding time. The wife said she could teach me some words. I said I wanted to learn how to say, “Nice to meet you.” I am terrible at remembering words, even syllables. She handwrote it, and I began writing the Romanized version until they called for my train. She finished writing it out, and with help from them both, I think I finally managed to say it!

만나서 반갑습니다

Mannaseo bangapseumnida

I gave them one of my cards and before I left, I asked if I could give her a hug and she said yes. I wished them safe travels and I quickly walked towards the track. I boarded the bus headed west to Portland, Oregon. I could only hope I would continue to be fortunate as far as seatmates go. The train had a double deck and I couldn't wait for the adventure to continue! By this time my trip was nearing 45 hours of pure joy!

To be continued...Headed West along the Canadian border to Portland, Oregon.