Loneliness Departs Station, Sears Tower in Chicago

June 18, 2008

Recently, I visited the Sears Tower in Chicago, Il. It was an amazing experience! I loved every moment of it. It’s definitely something I would recommend. My cousin, her friend, and I went on a quiet Sunday afternoon. There aren’t many people, so we had a more exclusive look at the building. Then we went to the top, and talked about feeling like you’re on top of the world. The rush that you get up there is so amazing, even though you’re not actually outside, you still feel like you are.

After that, nothing could ever compare, but it was late in the afternoon and we’d been walking around Downtown Chicago aimlessly looking for restaurants. We couldn’t any good ones that were open. All they had was Subway and McDonald’s on every other street, like they were the only restaurants that Chicagoans could afford.

Eventually, we found an acceptable fast-food place called Jimmy John’s. But by that time is was time for us, my cousin, her friend and I, to go our separate ways. They were going to their nice Western Suburbia and I was going to my dirty, secluded Southern Suburbia. Now any other 15yo Chicago born and bred, this would be an easy Metro train ride straight south, but for me it was hell. I’ve never ridden a train by myself and I left like I was being thrown into a lion’s den with nothing but a map, a cell phone, and $15.

I also had instructions, but I had fear too-and the fear was the only thing I could focus on. Fear of getting lost, fear of getting robbed, or even my parents not being there to pick me up. I felt alone, alienated, and just plain stupid. Everyone seemed so calm and looked like they knew where they were going. I just wanted to magically find a way to my home, in my bed, where I know everything will work itself out. Eventually I did, but not before I learned a few lessons.

The first one came while I got on the train. I was starting to realize that I really missed being driven everywhere. I guess I never thought that I’d ever have to take the public transit and that I’d ever get lost. The other was went I got off. I realized that I could do just about anything I put my mind to. I could leave home on Friday and be back by 9 o’clock on Sunday. I could take the train to and from Downtown Chicago. I could go on the top of the one of the tallest buildings in the world. I could even hail a cab. I could truly live the life that have always wanted too; I could be independent in a big city and still look good.

Another lesson that I seemed to have stumbled on, was that I wasn’t lonely or lost. I knew where was going. And sitting there, in the train station, I was in complete control of where I was going. That’s the same about my life; I control my destination, where I get on and where I get off. No one has to hold my hand and lead me. I had all I needed to get to where I was going. I had me, myself, and my dreams!