Literally: "A Month-Full of Sundays"

Today is my last day in Chicago.

I left Little Rock on an Amtrak train on Sunday night, January 31 and arrived here Monday, Feb. 1. The train got to Chicago more than five hours late, but I didn't care because I had nothing planned except to see how the month unfolded, and so, ok, I mused, this is how it is unfolding!

I leave tomorrow by airplane, Southwest out of Midway. My last city challenge will be to see if I can get me and my luggage to the airport via public transportation. I packed well for this trip (packing tips in another post to come) but it's still a lot to maneuver on a crowded bus or "L". I might splurge for a taxi, as I did upon arrival at Union Station. I had a female cabbie, who, as fate would have it, had family in Arkansas and she was sooo kind to me. The first of many kind Chicagoans. I took it as a very good sign, and it was.

So, I'm layering up one more time..."cuddle duds" under jeans, wool ski socks under rubber boots, ear muffs (my new favorite clothing item)...and heading out to see what unfolds today.

Think I'll start with a Bloody Mary at the neighborhood Mickey D's (that's not a McDonald's), might take in one more show (would make 15 in 28 days!), might walk through Lincoln Park Zoo and say goodbye to the animals.

I love Sundays. Anywhere. But I've sure had a month full of good ones here.

Time to start this thing....

It's time to start this thing.

Well....really it's past time to start this thing.

Waaay past time.

I could have started it about 5 months ago when I made the decision to quit my job.

I could have started it 3 months ago when I worked my last full-time day for Arkansas Repertory Theatre and headed to the beach.

I could have started it a month ago when I pretty much finished my part-time obligations to the theatre and made plans to go to Chicago for February, the coldest month of the year.

I could have started it two weeks ago when I actually CAME to Chicago in February, the coldest month of the year.

Instead, for some inexplicable reason, I choose to start it tonight, an unremarkable Saturday night in a Lincoln Park tea shop (I DON"T DRINK TEA!)in the middle of a month-long experiment/adventure. Think of the stories you've already missed!

In the coming days, I'll bring you up to speed, sharing with you what the past few months have been like...the challenges, the serendipities... the proverbial pros and cons; the good, the bad and the ugly...and see where it all leads.

At an earlier point in this journey, I asked a trusted counselor, "Am I crazy? Or courageous?"
He nodded and smiled. "Yes," he said slowly.

I can live with that. I am living with that.

My Grownup Gap Year, by Kelly Ford.