In June, I spent my 47th birthday weekend in Chicago, where we kayaked the river, had dinner at Alinea, saw a “close up” magic show, visited another Hemingway home (his childhood one this time!), enjoyed late night speakeasies, and got Covid again (the Mrs and I did, anyway). Before I figured out I may be ill, we biked throughout the city, toured Soldier Field, and saw the Cubs at Wrigley and old friends like Jesse (whom I worked with at IBM in 1998) and his family, plus my…
The impetus for a trip to Chicago was the National Organization of Veterans Advocates semi-annual conference, but really I wanted to bring my family to see one of my favorite cities and to return to where my bride and I went more than ten years ago to my friend Jesse’s wedding (just before we got married). Thanks to my friend Jim, we had a 2/2 to stay in just a few blocks from my conference–right on the water and just 5 floors below Jim! That way, I knew…