Chicago Marathon Week-End! Who knew?
Our primary mission for the week-end involved ashes. We had planned to be up and out early, as this particular activity requires great discretion, but the marathon schedule moved us even further upward and earlier. We were probably the only people trying to EXIT downtown at 6:15 a.m.
We spent most of the day in Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago. Josh's friend joined us again, and helped us find the apartments in which Josh had lived at various points in his college career. We visited the Point on the lakefront, the Medici bakery from which I have purchased so many croissant-and-juice breakfasts, the quads and dorms, the Midway and the Masaryk Monument, and the 57th Street Bookstore.
I found as we wandered the campus and its environs that I was filled with gratitude that Josh had been able to attend such a beautiful and incredible university. I loved imagining him walking the same paths and streets that we covered; I even loved remembering his 2:00 a.m. calls from the library as he headed back to the Shoreland, an ancient dorm on the lakefront ~ not the safest walk on campus. I recalled many of our visits, including my last overnight in one of his apartments when I went to visit McCormick Seminary during his senior year.
It was a long day, capped off with an evening downtown and dinner at a fabulous restaurant with RevGal Teri, who is beautiful and brilliant and gracious in every way.
And all day and all evening I kept thinking, despite having poured out those ashes early in the morning: If I just keep wishing hard enough, surely he will come walking down the street toward me, smiling and laughing and loving Chicago.
You are, indeed, a woman of courage. And of deep faith. Josh was there with you and is so very proud of his mother. I feel so privileged that you would share this journey with us. Blessings and continuing prayers.
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