Loving Chicago despite the bad stuff.

I love Chicago. Despite not liking Chicago. Thing is, I‘d rather be in other places. But once in Chicago, I make the best of it. And find ways to enjoy my stay. Despite the aggravations. Such as traffic snarls. Crowds. Expensive living.  Generally, I’m leery of big cities. Doesn’t matter whether it’s Rome or Chicago. I’m most comfortable in the rural countryside.  In a primeval forest. On a mountain top. At the seaside. I can live without  skyscrapers. Having no desire to ascend to the top. I’m more of a ground-and-tree hugger. Fortunately, I can still hug in Chicago. Especially when I’m there with my Italian true love. As I was last week. I hugged her a whole lot. In order to keep my sanity. Helped to know that I wasn’t staying permanently in Chicago. Only visiting. And observing. The fancies of my true love. We were running out of time.  Didn’t get to see and experience everything. Such as a ride on the elevated trains. I’ve been on the trains before. Many times. In my younger days. But my true love has yet to ride the elevated. Only seeing and hearing the rumble from below the tracks. So many things to do in Chicago. Can’t get to it all. But that leaves many reasons to return.  I had to make sacrifices, too. Merely driving by Wrigley Field. Rather than entering the sacred shrine. Home of the Chicago Cubs. Maybe I was fortunate. Because the Cubs were out of town. Not having to subject myself to more loveable losing. Meanwhile, I tell my true love she must enter Wrigley Field. After arriving on an elevated train. Once inside, I’ll pay proper homage. Kissing the ground and the ivy on the outfield walls. Making my visit to Chicago  worthwhile. Despite the aggravations. –Jim Broede