We went all the way across town to Hyde Park, Chicago, where the University of Chicago resides. A very prestigious, historically-significant, institution. And the neighborhood surrounding the University is a thriving, exciting, well-appointed neighborhood. Magnificent old homes & buildings, shops, restaurants, parks, bike paths. The best of city living. It is bounded on the west side by some harder, down on their luck neighborhoods. The farther you get from the lakefront, the farther west you go, the less wealthy, and more downbeat things get. That's just the reality. The wealthy and the poor living near each other, with different sets of circumstances and opportunities. That's America.
We were there to visit a relative who recently got a great job and a new home. A house-warming party. We parked on the street. As we stepped off the curb, an old-timer, maybe the groundskeeper, or maintennce engineer of the surrounding buildings, spotted us and called out: "The Generation that Tried to Change the World."
That was a good one. It was odd to be seen that way. Made us laugh. I suppose we did look like we were from another time and place. And we did have a bit of that retro, what's so funny about peace, love & understanding hippie/bohemian vibe. You know, just us? I mean we aren't actually old enough to be from the original Flower-Power Generation, but it's true we probably resemble the type, embody the idea. Colorful clothes, headband, flowing hair; a happy-go-lucky, arty aura.
Anyway. We had a nice visit with some folks we've known for a very long time. Everyone was pleased to meet and greet, and to chat in a beautiful new apartment. I mean, it was a classic old Chicago apartment, they don't make like that anymore, hard-wood floors, lots of windows, a sun-room in front and a wooden balcony in back, everything fresh and renewed.
We ate delicious homemade pizza, and had a few great, in-depth, engaging conversations with folks from cities around the country, New York, Memphis, Austin; funny, intelligent, rootless cosmopolitans. American Dreamers, all. We talked about music, politics (everyone so hopeful and happy about Harris/Walz), and every topic under the sun. Then, we said our goodbyes, and it was the long trip back across the city. Heading back, we took an alternate route, there was a palpable, carnival-like atmosphere in the air. The streets were still rocking and rolling with over-abundant life. It was all pretty impressive and yes, inspiring. Chicago is a jewel.
Back home, hitting the pillow, we decided, well, maybe, it's true, we are the kind of people who tried to change the world, but, course, it turned out, it was the world that changed us.