Looking Back On Chicago
Time is a strange thing; some days, our time in Chicago feels like a lifetime ago, and yet on others, it feels like it happened just last week. It only takes one "new memory" notification on my phone to bring it all back. I’ll open a grainy, "rubbish" photo, and suddenly the sights, sounds, and scents of the city come flooding back, carrying a weight of emotion I didn't expect. Even those sweltering, humid days don’t seem so bad now—they were just the pulse of the city. We haven't been back, and while we don't have plans to return, it’s only because there is still so much of the world left to see when the moment is right. My life looks different now; mobility has become a real challenge. But that doesn't mean the journey is over—it just means I need a more detailed plan. Having a disability shouldn’t mean the end of adventure; it just means finding a new way to navigate it.Extra Stories And Insights
It might seem unusual, but I still keep a close eye on Chicago. When sleep evades me late at night, I find comfort in watching the local news. Because of the time difference, I’m tuned in just as the city is waking up or winding down. There is a strange peace in seeing those familiar streets and realizing that life there carried right on after we left. One thing that truly warms my heart is seeing that gun crime has been trending downward since our visit. It feels good to know the city is becoming a safer home for the people who live there.Travel and Accessibility
If I’m being honest, Chicago isn't the easiest place to navigate from an accessibility standpoint. While you can roll onto any bus, the "L" trains are so concentrated in the centre that reaching the outer neighbourhoods by bus can feel like an eternity. Not every station has a lift, and those that do—especially the ones underground—often serve as makeshift toilets. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating to encounter such conditions in a public space. The elevated stations are even more of a puzzle; you practically need a degree in logistics to navigate The Loop, transferring between lifts and platforms just to go a few stops. While I hear they are making slow improvements, the system still feels like a barrier rather than a bridge.The Changing Skyline
The city has physically transformed since 2019. Looking at Google Maps, I barely recognise the block across from Wrigley Field; the old McDonald’s and its massive parking lot are gone, replaced by a wall of modern bars and restaurants. The stadium itself looks much the same on the outside, but the interiors look so much brighter and more welcoming in photos. I can only hope they fixed the cramped, one-way bathrooms!Then there is the "606"—the Bloomingdale Trail. It has truly come into its own. The trees have grown tall enough to offer real shade, and the wildflowers have turned that three-mile stretch into a stunning green ribbon connecting neighbourhoods. High-rise projects that were once stalled are now soaring toward the clouds in glass and steel. Even the River-walk, which used to lead to nowhere, is now a bustling hub of activity. Still, I can’t help but wonder if the people serving the food there can actually afford to eat there. And I often wonder where all those plastic police horses ended up—the ones that lined Michigan Avenue back in 2015. I’m sure they’re tucked away in gardens now, each one holding its own secret story.
Rediscovering Memories Through Writing
It’s amazing to see how these journals have evolved over the last year. Originally, I just wanted to fix my spelling mistakes and fill in the words I’d missed—writing was never my "strong suit," if I have one at all! But that small spark turned into a desire to create something beautiful on my blog. I used to "hack" together some basic code to make it work, but it was never quite right.Now, with the help of AI, I can finally build the vision I had in my head a decade ago. It’s incredible how fast technology moves; tools that didn't exist three years ago are now part of my daily life, even on the free versions I use. For me, this is about creating a legacy—a memory that grows as I do. Who knows what the next ten years will bring? Maybe the journals will change again. I never imagined there would be an audio version of my stories, yet here we are. These words and photographs are what get me through the times when I am physically unable to travel.
Of all the experiences, one moment still shines brightest: that evening at Buckingham Fountain with Jane. The lights, the music, the water soaring into the night sky — and the quiet joy of sharing it together. Ten years later, that memory remains vivid, untouchable, and deeply precious.
Chicago 2015 will always be a chapter we can return to — not just in words, but in feeling. And as I look ahead, I know there will be more chapters, more places, more memories waiting to be written. This journal is not just about where we went; it’s about who we were, who we are, and who we’re still becoming.
Dedication
To Jane —
my partner in every journey,
my compass when the path is unclear,
and the reason every memory shines brighter.
This journal is for us:
for the laughter in the heat,
for the challenges we overcame together,
and for the quiet moments that became the most precious of all.
And to all fellow travellers —
may these words remind you that every trip is more than places and photos.
It is the people beside you, the stories you carry home,
and the memories that grow richer with time.
Con 24‑12‑2025
