This morning, I woke up with James -- having stayed the night at his place. I'm on vacation for two weeks (a "stay"-cation, meaning that I'll take advantage of the time to wander around Chicago). James and I decided to stay at each other's place twice each week. He made coffee and switched on the local news while I figured out how to get hot water out of the shower.
Patrick showed off his responsiblity-muscles, looking after himself at home in addition to the two dogs under our care. Kygo, a bottle-rocket doofus of a dog, is staying with us while his humans are out of town: Gohar has gone to Kazakhstan to visit her family, while Andrew was sent to a work training program in Indiana (or, Ohio?). We are looking after Kygo for the next week. Patrick hasn't been feeling his best, so I was relieved on hearing from him this morning that he had woken up early to get himself ready for school as well as walk both dogs. On the parent side of the spectrum, his success meant a good morning for me.
Patrick's arrival at school assured, James and I walked to the Foster / Western intersection so that he could catch the express bus downtown and I could catch one heading towards home. A woman and four kids walked the opposite direction. I said "as-salaam alaikum" to them. We had gone a few steps past each other, when one said "wa-alaikum slaaam" -- making me turn around, smile, and give them a wave. We both caught our respective busses. The Foster bus drive was all smiles, saying good morning to everyone climbing aboard the big machine on wheels. Moving slowly east, I watched a kid maybe eight years old running at full throttle along the sidewalk. His backpack loosely secured, bounced like a ball against its paddle as its owner huffed in the direction of the school on the corner. It cracked me up. At the Berwyn Red Line, I stepped off the bus and back into the unseasonable cold of a Chicago November day and then headed into the Chicago Grind. This place makes a solid breakfast burrito -- though, the one made at Respite Café in Douglas retains my personal gold standard -- which I ordered after a pleasant conversation with the barista. They were doing OK, eventually saying that they had hoped to get from OK to great. At the coffee shop, burrito eaten and coffee drinking in progress, I saw a woman carry a child in her arms like one would a puppy. He was on his back, legs kicking, with a big smile as big as the woman's carrying him. He had a large backpack designed like a blue M&M. Backpacks were grabbing my attention this morning! A few minutes later, a woman walked by with her dog which was carrying a stick twice its size.
This has been a fantastic morning. It has been the kind of morning when kindness and joy are easily noticed. Having written this, I should get home. Two dogs are there waiting for attention and a walk around campus.
Patrick showed off his responsiblity-muscles, looking after himself at home in addition to the two dogs under our care. Kygo, a bottle-rocket doofus of a dog, is staying with us while his humans are out of town: Gohar has gone to Kazakhstan to visit her family, while Andrew was sent to a work training program in Indiana (or, Ohio?). We are looking after Kygo for the next week. Patrick hasn't been feeling his best, so I was relieved on hearing from him this morning that he had woken up early to get himself ready for school as well as walk both dogs. On the parent side of the spectrum, his success meant a good morning for me.
Patrick's arrival at school assured, James and I walked to the Foster / Western intersection so that he could catch the express bus downtown and I could catch one heading towards home. A woman and four kids walked the opposite direction. I said "as-salaam alaikum" to them. We had gone a few steps past each other, when one said "wa-alaikum slaaam" -- making me turn around, smile, and give them a wave. We both caught our respective busses. The Foster bus drive was all smiles, saying good morning to everyone climbing aboard the big machine on wheels. Moving slowly east, I watched a kid maybe eight years old running at full throttle along the sidewalk. His backpack loosely secured, bounced like a ball against its paddle as its owner huffed in the direction of the school on the corner. It cracked me up. At the Berwyn Red Line, I stepped off the bus and back into the unseasonable cold of a Chicago November day and then headed into the Chicago Grind. This place makes a solid breakfast burrito -- though, the one made at Respite Café in Douglas retains my personal gold standard -- which I ordered after a pleasant conversation with the barista. They were doing OK, eventually saying that they had hoped to get from OK to great. At the coffee shop, burrito eaten and coffee drinking in progress, I saw a woman carry a child in her arms like one would a puppy. He was on his back, legs kicking, with a big smile as big as the woman's carrying him. He had a large backpack designed like a blue M&M. Backpacks were grabbing my attention this morning! A few minutes later, a woman walked by with her dog which was carrying a stick twice its size.
This has been a fantastic morning. It has been the kind of morning when kindness and joy are easily noticed. Having written this, I should get home. Two dogs are there waiting for attention and a walk around campus.
