Amanda has proven she’s more than just a friend you want to travel with, she’s the one who finds you random things in the city to do. Case in point: she got us on a wagon, pulled by Clydesdales, in the South Side Irish Parade.
Despite the rain/drizzle and cold temps, we had an absolute blast working out our arms and cheeks as we waved to kids and parents donning tweed hats and Irish fisherman sweaters. Plus, we had bagpipers right in front of us during the parade line-up.
We’ll do it all again this weekend during the downtown Irish parade. And for the very first time, I’ll see the river turn green instead of just catching the “aftermath” on Monday morning while going into work. I’ll find any and all excuses to wear my Irish Drinking socks straight from the Emerald Isle and sing “Galway Girl.”
Obviously I can get behind gal pals that love Eire
The silence is over, sort of. My apologies for not writing nearly as much as I should have been…the month of July just got lost beyond me. And I’ve returned from my coastal adventure to the East where my friend and I attended a few concerts and slept on a pirate ship. It was to say the least, amazing.
But instead of rehashing a vacation, I want to talk about something else, friendship. Amanda and I affirmed a friendship a year ago when we went on vacation to Colorado. Since that last summer, we’ve logged four other trips and most recently, this eastern adventure. I could not imagine a better travel companion to navigate a city alongside.
My true aha! moment of man, life is good, came while we were in New York. We made our way down to NYC to catch The Lumineers and Old Crow Medicine Show in Central Park and decided to hit up our New York friends for couches to crash on. Most of the “closer” friends were traveling, so we were coming up empty-handed. Then I reached out to Christin, a girl I studied abroad with in Ireland and hadn’t seen since we left the Emerald Isle. And to be fair, we hadn’t really talked much. But she insisted we come and crash with her.
The minute we walked in to Christin’s place, it was like we were back in Ireland. As we readied ourselves and wandered the city, we managed to find a bar with a vacant rooftop where we spent the afternoon catching up on life. It was just perfection and as if this was an everyday thing we did. When we got to the show, I was so overcome with joy that I nearly started crying. It was just so moving to know that there are people in this world that vouch for you and want to spend time with you, no matter how much time has passed.
I have many friends like this in Chicago, but I’ve certainly taken them for granted over the years…just assuming they’re always there. But upon our return to Sweet Home Chicago, I realized how truly lucky I am to live in a city I love, surrounded by water and people that I cannot help but have on fantastic time.
It might have taken all of July for me to realize this, as well as a northeastern adventure, but I’m going in to my 27th year with a much better grasp on life. And I for one, I am eager to see what awaits next.
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And here’s the lastest Mumford & Son’s song (saw them in Maine last week), which I think is so very fitting:
Hanna (Non)Tana 