second city, first time
Last week I went to Chicago . Yes, at the tail end of what Seattle news was selling as a snowpocalypse marauding the eastern half of the country. But I had plane, hotel and meals paid for by professional development funds, and plans to develop quite professionally via literary sessions at the Modern Language Association conference, so I was not to be deterred by wind chill nor ice pellets. Plus, I had an escort. Walter and I arrived at SeaTac with time to spare before the delayed flight out, and we started things on a high note. I had missed the memo about revised security protocol and so was elated at the surprise of not having to remove my shoes or laptop. Also delightful was the twittering live bird the woman behind me in line was traveling with. A Bloody Mary topped with a prawn skewer completed my flight prep, and we finally boarded to find the plane only 2/3rds full. The empty middle seat seemed lavish; the four-hour ride was a breeze. Descending over "the city...