Last night I dreamed I was back in Chicago. It was dusk and I was walking in the loop. I was supposed to meet up with a group, but I knew they would take a while, so I just started walking. Three blocks passed without notice. I found myself on East Wacker overlooking the purple […]
Seventeen days and counting until I begin the trip that will, a few weeks later, land me in Oakland. And I certainly am counting.
I’m in a lull I haven’t felt since last year before I moved to Chicago. I’m totally disconnected from this city, from these people, even from myself. All I do is wait. […]
Strange is the nostalgia I feel tonight. I’ve just arrived at the apartment after hours on the highway and crammed in public transportation.
The air is wet. I don’t hear any sirens, any inebriated yelling, any car horns; the city is resting tonight, but resting like a coiled spring. It feels just like it did four […]
The first words he spoke were, “I’m dying.” Said with such unfitting nonchalance that I wasn’t sure if I had even heard it. After I offered to buy him some tea he calmly asked, “Can I tell you something I truly believe?” I nodded and he said again, “I’m dying.” I tried to gauge him–what […]
This city has a different pulse than Chicago. It’s not working as hard. When I pass by, I don’t catch the reek of sweat, don’t see the pit stains, don’t hear the grunts. Madison is daydreaming. Its heartbeat is slow, and its breaths are deep. It floats along.
There was a time when I would do […]
Last Friday I took part in Chicago’s Critical Mass. Rain was expected and it was the first Mass of the summer, so we numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands. Those who road found gorgeous weather, only light rain, and high spirits all around.
Hundreds of cyclists riding in unison tend to block traffic out of […]
It took me a long time to adjust to Chicago. I spent most the winter in a mild depression, learning about isolation and perseverance. I worked as a bike messenger for several months–begrudging the cold, sleeping harder than ever, and coming face to face with classism. Most of my energy was consumed by the daily […]
Last night I was cruising down Devon when I spotted a dude on a skateboard. I had this immediate impulse to stick out my hand–for a high five at the very least, or a skitch if he wanted one. As I was about to do this, he shouts, “Yo, gimme a ride!” so I ease […]
Can you feel it? I can feel it. Everyone I know is breaking up with their lover, or feeling that primal itch. People are on edge. College students are scurrying to finish their semesters. Cafes are breaking out their outdoor seating. People are riding bikes again. Gaea is whispering in our ears, and damned if […]
I was on the train the other day, isolated between my headphones, on a mission that was taking me south to Little Village. I thought I detected a strange sound, like a loud buzzing, but ignored it because I was listening to Brother Ali. It got louder, though, and I realized it was a human […]
