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What a lovely day it has been. A bit brisker than I would like - so much so that the jaunt around the block this morning with Lucas, Jackson and my cup of coffee left us all with hydrating nostrils and hands red from the chill.
But offsetting the weather more akin to the year's first three months than those associated with Spring were the gentle blue skies and the company of my boys.
And that, He Asks as We Walk By St. Gertrude's
For the past three weeks or so Jackson has been fascinated by the beautiful building at the corner of Granville and Glenwood. Fully and magnificently occupying the space is St. Gertrude's, a Roman Catholic church. With each passing he asks,
"What is that place?"
I reply,
"It's a church."
To which he responds,
"I want to see that place."
Several times during our mid-week walks we have walked up the steps to find the doors bolted. Today, though, the doors were open and in we went to find a place buzzing with activity. We spotted our neighbor Bob Backis who, as he always does, graciously greeted the boys, asking them what they thought of this bigger than life place full of folks getting ready for tonight's mass.
A Community is Made up of Neighbors
The boys loved it. So much so that it's likely that tonight we will return in accord with Jackson's other request to go to church. And as was the case today we will see plenty of our neighbors just as we do when we walk around the block or go any of our nearby parks or stop at the Dominick's on Broadway. Or anything else that we do that brings us in touch with the folks who live near us, that has us intertwine our lives with folks who not only live in the same zip code, on a street with the same of perhaps a known name, but who greet the day much in the same way that we do with hopes and worries and responsibilities and joys.
When I was in high school in that place called the southside of Chicago the principal once tried to regain a semblance of order after a school assembly by declaring, "Everybody should be somewhere." I don't know if Mr. Bieber was cognizant of the philosophical depths he was plumbing with the nugget, but as I chuckle about walking around the block in Edgewater on the northside of Chicago prior to a day of dealing with the Chicago real estate market working with clients looking at condos in Old Town and Lincoln Park (with a fellow agent from @properties) and showing my listing in River North at 855 Erie I muse to myself that Mr. Bieber was right.
"Everybody Should Be Somewhere"
"Everybody should be somewhere." And as I finish clickety-clacking this keyboard and head downtown to finish my continuing education requirement before my evening showing at 550 Surf in Lakeview, I will be somewhere. I will be here and there and in between, but most important heading home to my family as soon as I can and greeting my neighbors as my sons have taught me.
Simply smiling and saying, "Hi!"
Funny thing is it always works. And each time it has this beautiful effect of this simple truth - it makes for that thing that so many of us yearn for - a neighborhood.
By the way, I returned to the post to add the pix - the good news is the education requirement has been successfully vanquished. The other good news? I await your call as was the case Friday when I received a call from a person living in Lakeview on Lake Shore Drive. She has been reading The Real Estate Lounge Chicago blog and wants to talk about listing her place.
I look forward to the conversation Wednesday or Thursday. As I look forward to hearing from you. You can always reach me at 773.848.9241.
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