jenniferblaufrau.com

Yay, I’m back online!

I have so much to write about, but for now, I just have to tell this little story:

I was on the Orange Line this afternoon, on my way home from Midway Airport, when a gentleman across the way said to me about my outfit, “You’ve got just about every color there is, don’t you? Blue, orange, green, red, purple… I’m a driver for the Sun-Times, and I’ve never seen anyone like you. If I saw you, I’d give you a paper for free!” I had a good laugh, completely charmed. He’s right. Since I got here, I can’t seem to saturate my wardrobe with enough screaming color, to reflect the full spectrum of experiences the city has offered me.

He helped me navigate my path to the northbound Red Line, on the way inquiring of some fellows wearing Bears sweatshirts, “Who’s winning?!” I’ve never been too jazzed about football, but living in a place where I’m already bursting with civic pride, with a team that’s so far this season 7-0, with uniforms (or, as I like to call them, costumes) in my very favorite blue and orange complementary color scheme, I can well imagine that I might come around to it. Who wants to take me to a game and give me a proper introduction?

The friendly gentleman told me he played football in high school on the South Side and, when I asked, told me he’d been a halfback. “Really, though, I’m a hockey fan,” he explained. He bid me farewell and wished me all the luck in Chicago, probably not considering that it’s people like him who make me feel lucky every day.

Really, though, I’m a Chicago fan.

I’m here!!!

I got in on Friday, just as planned, around 8:00 pm. The trip, my arrival, and everything since has been emotional, raw, and intense. This is the first time I have done something so huge truly alone. In numerous ways over the last week, I have mustered emotional and physical strength I did not know I had. In fact, at times, I did not actually have the strength required, but I used adrenaline and will to summon it from some hidden place within. I have a lot to tell and show just about the drive across America. Here’s a picture from the Texas Panhandle. I don’t believe I have ever seen a greater number of clouds in the sky than I did on that Thursday, saturating all 360 degrees of the horizon.

Today’s priority, however, is sewing fake fur trim on my Halloween costume, finishing up unpacking and moving into my new place, and packing for my trip to New York tomorrow to visit a dear friend. We will be joined by another friend who lives in Austin, and I am sure it’s going to be fabulous. I am very happy to be here, and I am bursting with ideas and excitement. Immediately upon my return, I’m going to have to gear up for the winter because I’m already cold! I know it’s partially a matter of adjustment and conditioning, but at this point in time, my sensitive Southern extremities are in shock! I am already wondering if such a thing as heated thermal underwear exists.

My last few days in Chicago, before I flew back to Albuquerque to whittle down my things and pack up the essentials, before setting out across the highways of America on Thursday, were a whirlwind of chilly downtown, swinging hard Green Mill jazz club (where I simply could not sit still), warm and robust Lou Malnati’s pizzeria, and the first few playful flakes of snow. Here’s a video clip of the Kruno Gypsy Jazz Quartet playing Puttin’ on the Ritz. I interviewed the first two subjects for my upcoming project, which I will begin shortly after my arrival in Chicago. I woke up this morning with my first twinges of real urgency about all I need to do before I take off in 2 1/2 days!

As I stepped off the plane and into the ABQ airport, emotionally, I felt like a train whose power had cut out, lights flickering sadly to darkness and whir of the engine chugging down and sputtering to silence. It’s amazing how your body lets you know what’s right for you and what isn’t. In Chicago, most of the time I feel like the El, flying down the rails and almost bursting in flight off the track.

Today, I arranged to have the utilities in ABQ shut down and those in Chicago powered up, and I felt a special thrill at getting my new phone number and feeling that rush of the real. Tomorrow and the next day, I will have goodbye lunches and dinners, and then over the course of two days, I will drive the better part of Route 66 up to Chi-town! I can’t wait to get there and get this party started!!