Blast from the Past

Last night, I texted my sweet, silly, favorite traveling buddy Tania Marie that she would “be happy because I gave myself bangs again.” I knew she’d get a kick out of that simple text, and sure enough, we both took a stroll down memory lane back to when she visited me in Chicago in 2010. For some bizarre reason, the first thing we did together after honoring my favorite tree on the shores of Lake Michigan that I visited every day while living there …

Tania Marie and me with “Tree” in 2010

… was hack off part of my hair. We then spent the rest of the trip “reclaiming” Rockefeller, Draco, Egyptian and big bankster areas — a whirlwind faery giggle fest through some of the least likely spots you’d expect to find a faery.

The next day, we climbed all 271, windy steps to the top of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel:

At the top of Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago

and sat at the carillon to (pretend) play the bells:

This photo always cracks us up, because Tania looks so hilariously buff, and I am clearly makin’ mischief.

The next day, began with bindi’s and fresh juice:

… then we hit the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, causing a ripple giggle fest in the couple we asked to snap our photo:

Walk Like a Sumerian

We can behave ourselves, though, too:

We continued winding our way to the downtown area, where we had to visit “The Bean” …

… which contorts and distorts in all sorts of funny ways when you look into it:

Tania sent me the photos last night as we texted, because I had lost mine in a computer crash after I quit Facebook. We had to marvel at how many photos we took on the Chicago trip (hundreds) and not a one on our most magical Mendocino Adventure in 2009. I can’t believe it’s been nearly four years since T and I have hung out in person! Fun times from afar, but a visit elsewhere is long overdue …

Here’s to friendship, feasting, laughter, memories and more to come! Wishing everyone such fun. Happy Mercury Retrograde!