Dearest Clara,
Sometimes when I travel for work, I have that sensation of needing to get outside right then and there. Often when I travel, the routine involves heading from airport to hotel to office, and then back in reverse again, that it seems like I can go days without fresh air. It happened to me again most recently in Chicago. Outside of the huge wall to wall windows in the hotel room, I felt that I had to get some sunshine and fresh air, even if it meant working on my project until late into the evening.
I hopped out and started heading down the street, and came across the boat tours that go up and down the river and out onto the lake. I bought myself a ticket, catching one of the last available ones for the day and had a just an hour to myself to take in the architecture and the breezes of the city and I realized:
- Water is our most precious resource: Most of what Chicago grew to be as a city is due to the remarkable possibilities of having both a major river and a major lake. And it’s that same lake that provides the water that comes right out of every person’s faucet, drinkable at that. So much of our fortunes are tied to water; when a city is blessed with this kind of resource twice, it’s absolutely our job to take care of it.
- It’s always colder on the lake: No matter how the weather of day, you can always find a breeze on Lake Michigan. On hot days, it’s a welcoming cool down; on cold days, it chills to the bone. If you’ll be going on the lake, dress for it. You won’t regret the extra sweater.
- A good city plan both endures and adapts: As a city, Chicago is fascinating. But what’s most fascinating is how the city’s plan has expanded and contracted while keeping its core intact as times and needs have changed. Every city should have a plan, and every plan should do the same.
- Public art is a public treasure: For some, art means expensive paintings that hang in dark corners of homes and museums. But Chicago does a fantastic job of putting art “out there”. Right in the middle of downtown. . .right in the middle of a park. . .right next to the lake. In Chicago, where you can find people is also where you can find some of the best works of art. They fit so seamlessly into the cityscape that sometimes we don’t necessarily notice that they were likely a huge investment on the part of the city in order to put them there. Appreciate the efforts that cities make to keep things interesting and beautiful for the public benefit.
- Surround yourself with smart people: While on the boat, I was thinking of how different life would have been if I had chosen to go to school there versus elsewhere. I remember when I visited a noted university there to make my final decision, that it was the first time I realized that I was surrounded by extremely smart people everywhere I looked. I liked that feeling, and I knew I would be smarter because of it. I ended up choosing another place for my education, because it was a better fit for the future, but ever since then I have never stopped looking for strong qualities in others to surround myself with. Other people’s strengths shouldn’t be intimidating, they should be something to learn from.
All my love,
Mom