Moving Parts

Saturday, October 31: approx. 15 miles from Leone Park to 4200 N. Sheridan to Devon & McCormick Blvd.

The north side of Chicago is splendid this time of year. While Boomer and I bemoan so much rain, it does make everything more vibrant. The bark of the trees is deeper, the yellows brighter, the reds snappier. 

One of our favorite walks is from Leone beach to the Peace Garden. We’ve done this walk many times but it never fails to inspire as there is always something new to see.

Boomer and I, now joined by our new friend, Charlie (once a stray in Ohio, nursed back to health by a savior in Appleton, Wisconsin, and now Chicago city resident), were again delighted.  Charlie, a 2 year old English Setter mix is all moving parts – long legs reaching forward, nose after the wind.

The lake, with all its movement from the waves to bitty children playing wee soccer, windsufers, and native creatures scurrying about in preparation for winter fits his personality.  Charlie reminds me that much about life is movement, taking it all in, the joyful journey more the point than the destination.  Joyful was certainly the look on this man’s face as he pulled up is spiffy old yellow car at Ardmore and Sheridan. 

Even more rapturous was he when his companion joined him.  And they were off to enjoy quite the ride on a splendid day. Other peoples’ happiness is sometimes its own reward.

The bird sanctuary at Montrose is quiet brown now but in my mind’s eye I can see the riotous flowers in technicolor display. We’ll see them again in 2010.

Cruising back through the neighborhood to the sculpture park just north of Devon along McCormick Blvd, the traffic sculpture seemed appropriate.

Go. Stop. Turn. “Let me wander over yonder. . . let me ride through the wide open country that I love. Don’t fence me in.”

But what’s not to love about this Rogers Park fence?

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