Midwestern sky

This morning, the sun burst through the thick curtains in our otherwise dark room, one of those invent-the-world spectacular kind of days, sunshine so bright and magnificent, we were all suddenly young again, rich and full of all the promise we were ever capable of. The sky is big over Chicago. They have these days in the middle of winter.



We’ve been living the city high life for two months, to the day. Along with the stress and work of putting up the installation in madcap weather, we are taking advantage of Chicago's offerings: last night we saw Conor McPherson's Shining City at The Goodman. A few nights ago: a new opera: Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar.



Even so, I miss my kitchen, my cat, the earth beneath my feet. It’s spring after all, on the west coast: we’d be putting seeds into small pots, setting them on the windowsill, and watching green, hopeful seedlings poke up through the chocolate soil.



Gord has a cold. His opportunities have multiplied, and daily he’s grateful, especially for the interaction with the people who come in droves to see his artwork.





Sometimes, it’s overwhelming, trying to sort it all out. This week on the Presidents day holiday, I imagined everyone else at home, wearing fuzzy socks, sitting in the sun, drinking home brewed coffee and thinking: nothing.



A redoubled crew is out on the promenade today, putting up new shards, renewing the artwork in anticipation of the weekend crowds.



We had local media again, doing a very short story at dawn. This is Don Schwenneker of WBBM.



Here’s Jill Hurwitz and Marion Meers looking cheerful before the sun came up with producer Harvey Moshman from CBS 2.



Two weeks to go and I'm going to savor every minute. Tim’s parents are here, as are Ari’s. My cousin Julia also visits this weekend. The dinner hosted by the Consul General at the official residency is tonight. Gord just came in the door, for lunch. “People are so kind, “ he said, sinking into the chair in his paint-splatterd hoodie. “They just want to say ‘thank you’ and to shake my hand.”



A childhood acquaintance from New Carlisle has said he can't make it, after all, so that's disappointing. But it’s a good day. The sun is still brilliant, in the way it can be here. The sky, so big.



PHOTO CREDITS TODAY: Dave Frech, Adrian Goldberg, Caitlin Hicks, Lois Roelofs