My Girls Trip in Chicago

Beverly Hill
23 hours ago
3 min read

Image: View of Chicago Lakefront: Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos:

Eight of us women, who are longtime friends or family, took a Girl's Trip in Chicago, IL, during the third week of August. We rented a three-bedroom, 24th-floor penthouse condo in the River North area. For four days and three nights, we enjoyed being tourists in our own town.

As the morning sun rose, we watched the eastern horizon change into beautiful warm colors over a sliver of Lake Michigan. Our accommodations were contemporary and spacious for eight women sharing two showers and a half bath.

The venue really wasn’t designed with seniors in mind. In fact, one of the Queen beds was only six inches off the floor. For seniors who often have to get up to use the bathroom during the night, it’s a nightmare. There were no grab bars in the shower, and the kitchen lighting was very dim.

A member of our group cooked breakfast for everyone for two mornings. The other mornings, we scrambled for Starbucks, McDonald's, and Stan’s coffee, only to find out that on the last day, we had complimentary gourmet coffee in the lobby.

It was a nice “Stay-Cay” where we loved hanging out at Riverwalk, walking up and down Chicago Avenue, and some shopping on Michigan Avenue.

As someone from Chicago, now living in a small town in southern Florida, returning home brought back memories of living in the big city. Again, I admired the tall buildings, the abundant shops, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Our group added another bonding element to a friendship that had lasted more than 30 years in the most beautiful city in the Midwest.

Subway Ride in "Chi"

My flight back to Florida after the 11:00 am check-out wasn’t leaving until 3:25 pm. I had plenty time to leisurely take the L to Midway Airport. I boarded the CTA line at the busy intersection of Chicago and Wabash Avenues. After transferring and waiting for a southbound train at Roosevelt Road, I observed some unusual things.

One was this handsome, young blonde dude sitting upright on the ground at the station. He was dressed nicely in matching white-washed jeans and a shirt. Then I looked at his boots. They were on the wrong feet!!! How did he manage that, I wondered??? When he stood to catch the train, I noticed a puddle of pee on the ground. He got on the train, seeming not to care that his pants were wet.

Another northbound train stopped, and this “West-Side-looking “pimp stepped off the train. Following him was a skimpily clad girl carrying a full-sized quilt. It was 87 degrees. And why was she crying big crocodile tears?

Finally, I got on my southbound train to the airport. At that time of day, only a few people are on the train. At Ashland Avenue (halfway to Midway), the train doors opened. A homeless man got on. He kinda slid sideways into the car. He held a big clear plastic shield in front of his face. He looked like the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. But instead of stuffed straw, my man had garbage stuffed in his jacket.

He hurriedly brought several dirty bags into the car. A young girl sitting not too far from me, facing the open doors, jumped up and began moving to the front of the car. I also stood - wide-eyed, and attempted to move.

The homeless man turned his back to us, exposing his entire white, dirty ass! The huge rip in his pants exposed his testicles. They were swinging side to side.

Immediately, I grabbed my luggage and attempted to move up front. I said to Scarecrow, "Excuse me" a couple of times. To which he muttered a weird-sounding “whaaat”.

Quickly, I moved to the front of the car, trying to avert my eyes from his filthy behind. (I did not want that graphic image lingering in my head.) When I finally got to Midway, I worked my way through security and sat down at Harry Carey’s, and ordered a double vodka shot Bloody Mary. Anxious to get home, I thought to myself, big city life is no longer for me.

Just then, an old Marvin Gaye tune sang out in my head, “What’s Going On?”