One of my very favorite things about my life
is the 1.5 block long street on which we live.
It is an urban oasis tucked behind a gate.
Out There is Chicago
With its horns and traffic and sirens and grit….
The urban texture that makes raising a family in the city both exciting and hard
But on this side of the gate, we get a reprieve.
On this side, we are at HOME.
Somehow in the middle of the city we found a place where kids have full reign of the cobblestone driveway.
At 5:00 daily, the under-10 crowd converges outside with their wagons and big-wheels and bike helmets and soccer balls.
When a car comes crawling down the lane (speed limit 5 mph)- the kiddos all yell CAAAAAAAR and scurry to the side brick wall until the vehicle has pulled safely into their garage.
(at first, I thought this was overly cautious, but now I realize it is a game in and of itself)
In here we have wildlife in the form of well-kept flower beds and well-fed bunnies
We have front stoops decorated with sidewalk chalk masterpieces.
We have neighbors we know…
neighbors we like
neighbors who gladly share their inflatable pools with the other nuggets on the block.
The whole thing feels small-townish….
but the view of the Hancock peeking over our roofs remind us that is not the case
The best part, though, are the nightly walks I take with Hazel.
To the gate and back.
Sometimes I give her a big headstart to giver her the feeling of exploring on her own.
Other times, she holds onto my hand while we walk and talk about our days.
But every single time we make the pilgrimage, I take a moment to say to myself:
this is good.
Because it is.
#Home Sweet Home Chicago
