I'm trying to find a rationale for how excited I was to be experiencing some of the frigid below zero temps I have heard so much about from the friends and family back in Minneapolis and Montana. Perhaps homesickness at some level. Perhaps boredom. I am firmly settling on it's the rarely seen adventurous streak; the one that comes out only once it knows what to expect.
Either way - today was to be the coldest day in many months in Chicago. Not since my trip to Disneyland (or meeting Regis Philbin) has my outfit been chosen with such care. Last night I spent half the evening tearing apart and reassembling any possible spot where my mitten liners might have been tossed, including the garage, the bike room, the hallway and the sock bins in my wardrobe. I was out of luck. Right before bed I settled on a pair of One on One socks. They could fit over the four primary digits on each hand inside the mittens and be fine. Along with that bright idea, all my layering and planning worked out splendid as I pedaled my way through my freezing breath and down Milwaukee Avenue to work today.
So well in fact, that I wasn't cold. My eyelashes didn't even freeze together. My neckwarmer was damp but not icy. I was left disappointed at the "winter cold front" the media touted as a practical Armageddon. I guess I will save my outfit for a repeat when I return to Minneapolis if the temperatures stay so chilly as they have been this week.
See! No frozen eyelashes!!!
And while I normally love the lake effect Chicago enjoys, today I keep thinking of six years ago in Minneapolis. There was a blizzard I have yet to see the equivalent of here in Illinois during my stay. And on that day, I had chosen a whole slew of activities for my friend Sarah's birthday. Brunch. Shopping. Ice Skating. Happy Hour Manicures. Dinner. Concert. It was all ready. And I was the chauffeur and event organizer. If there was ever a day to have a foot of snow fall - that wasn't it. 10% of participants showed. It was laughable and still a truly awesome day to celebrate.
For the last few years I have sat down to recognize my dear friend's birthday on this blog - I didn't realize I did it until today looking back at my archives. It seems only fitting that I continue the tradition on the cusp of her bringing life into this world herself.
While birthdays come every 12 months... it only takes 9 to make one. This is a feat I am happy to say Sarah and her husband knocked out of the park between last year's birthday blog and now. The kid is adorable as adorable can be. He brings out the most ridiculous surprised baby faces of any child I've seen on the internet... and that includes a lot of cute kids. I can't wait to see him grow alongside his mother - and pick up her wit and charm and effortless conversational skills with people from all walks of life.
I promise to steal him only to teach him the ways of parallel parking in a blizzard, layering warm wool outfits while still looking fashionable, and how to change a flat tire on a bicycle.
No matter what climate our respective locales will be - we all will keep a little piece of our history and our hearts wherever good true friends reside. Even if where they happen to reside is -25 with windchill. Yes really.
You better be keeping my history and heart warm there lady. I don't want a bestfriendpopcicle waiting for me when I come back in February.
Wishing you days worth celebrating in the middle of the bleak white winter...
Love love love,
K.
1 comments:
You made me tear up, lady. I was excited to see a blog from you at all, but this was so special and amazing. I'm keeping your heart and history warm for sure. Also some baby and Frenchie snuggles. You're the best. Love you. And thanks. :)
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