Pink Train

The El in Chicagos Loop

The El in Chicago’s Loop © 2008 Bo Mackison

We took a trip down memory lane on Sunday, drove down to Chicago, and did the “tourist” bit – but from the view as students when we lived here 30+ years ago. We traipsed through the halls of the law school on Northwestern’s downtown campus, ate at Gino’s East, sampling the “authentic” Chicago-style pizza–the same pizza recipe, I swear, we ate several times a week as students in the mid 70’s. Then we walked around the downtown loop area, and I caught a snap of the “el” – the elevated trains that cruise above ground and also dip under Chicago on underground tracks.

Funny though, how I don’t remember ever differentiating between the two. I caught the “el” whether I had to climb up steps and wait on a windy platform or trudge deep within the bowels of Chicago and take what people from different cities would call the subway. I could get anywhere on public transportation when I was in my twenties – and did. I routinely visited hospitals and clinics for internships throughout the entire Chicago area and a few of the suburbs, too. Sometimes my travel would require two trains and two busses, and a two hour commute each way. I’m glad I don’t have to travel to such extremes now to get where I need to go.

Hey, and I sure don’t remember the trains being decorated in pink paint! iPod? What’s an iPod?

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Interesting story. Funny how fast the years roll by.

  2. lady.percy says

    I love the pink ipod ad. I think the picture shows a lot about how much something that has stayed the same has changed.

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