Tuesday, November 13, 2007

So here I sit in O'Hare, exhausted from my recent trip to Chi Town. My flight doesn't leave for 3 hours, so I have just a "little time" (can you feel the sarcasm?) to jot down a few thoughts.

Let me take you back a few months to the beginning of this story.

Our own JediMelindaWolf came through Oklahoma City in August, driving the southern route on her way home from taking her daughter to college. I had the honor of meeting her as she passed through. While she was there, she happened to mention she was planning a get-together at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago in November, to see the Star Wars Exhibit. Since I wasn't able to attend C IV and meet all my wonderful friends, I decided then and there I was going to make the trip to Chicago. I had already seen the exhibit in Ft. Worth, and it was a wonderful exhibit, but that's not really what I went for.

Fast forward--Thursday November 8. I flew from my small town in southwestern Oklahoma to the Windy City. When I arrived, I set off to the baggage claim, which was surprisingly easy to find, especially considering what a busy place O'Hare is.

At the baggage carousel, I met up with my good friend and Twinkie Twin JediPug1.

We ventured to JP1's house where I met the famous Jedi Pug, Joxer, who is understandably leery of strangers, especially a cat person such as myself. I toured her home and scoped out her vast Star Wars collection (of which I am insanely jealous of), and her pictures of "that other guy" from Dr. Who.

After a wonderful dinner with JP1 and her father at a local restaurant (THANK YOU, Mr. Pug!), we settled down for the night and popped in the TESB DVD for what was supposed to be an "all nighter".

Right.

A little over half-way through the movie, about the time Luke left Dagobah, I dozed off. I actually live in the same time zone, so I couldn't blame jet lag. Sorry, Twink!

I guess I'll never know how that movie ends. Ha!

The next day, Friday, Nov 9, I got to take a guided tour of downtown Chicago. It is such a beautiful place! I got to see Lake Michigan, Navy Pier (which was absolutely gorgeous at night!), a strange Picasso sculpture, and the "Bean". But OMG!! Too many people! I'm a small town girl, and all the traffic made my head spin!!!

Later that day, I met up with another dear friend, ewanandhaydenfan5 , at whose house I would be spending the next two nights. I felt right at home immediately! Such a warm and wonderful family! And it didn't take her padawan long to warm up to me at all. (I guess I have more of a way with kids than I do dogs....)

After dinner Friday evening, e&hf5 and jp1 and I traveled a short distance to David Adler Music & Arts Center in a suburb of Chicago to hear the "one and only" Jediprincess77 sing. I had heard recordings of her singing before, but to actually hear her sing in person gave me chills! I was so surprised such a big voice came out of such a little person!

There, we were joined by greenandwhitejedi, padmeskywalker77, Nob01 and his lovely wife and Darth Kerfuffle, who took lots of pictures that I cannot wait to see. Nobby brought me some fabric he had gotten on clearance. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with it yet, but when I do, you'll be the first to know. Thanks, Mr. pidluk!

The next morning, I woke up fully refreshed and ready for our big day at the museum. E&hf5 and I got really lucky and found a good place to park, and went in. We were obviously the first to arrive, and stood in the great hall, looking around for faces we recognized. Little by little, everyone started trickling in. Melinda arrived and handed out our tickets for the exhibit. When I had that ticket in my hand, and all my friends around me, there was such an electricity in the air! And I had the rare opportunity to meet Kenobi-Fan and his wife, and Jedidz23, as well as Jimmy Mac and his son.

Finally, it was our time to enter the exhibit. Of course, we all had to gather around the sign to take a group picture. I'm sorry I don't have a link to Photobucket to show you all, but trust me, it was the picture of a lifetime! As I said, I had already seen this exhibit in Ft. Worth, but seeing it again with everyone was like seeing it again for the first time. I'm not sure my feet ever touched the floor! We stopped at the Star Wars shop and picked up a few things, although not as much as I really wanted, with my limited luggage space. I knew I should have brought that extra bag!

Later that evening, we all went to Giordano's (yum!), where we dined on fantastic pizza and pasta, and celebrated the birthday of JediPug, who was totally caught off-guard by our very loud singing. I really didn't spend as much time talking to everyone I wanted to, but I will forever treasure the time I got to spend with everyone.

I want to thank JediPug for the wonderful Irish ornament. It will have a special place on my Christmas tree right in front (and on my bookshelf the rest of the year!). Thanks also to PS77, for the Japor snippet. What a special sentiment! Hand made, too! And to Jediprincess77 for the candy-filled Vader head (yeah, I took an extra one--well, it was just laying there on the table!)

A very special THANK YOU to JP1 and e&hf5 for opening their homes to me. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten!

All too soon, it was time to say goodbye. There were plenty of hugs and tears (at least on my part). I wish that day could have lasted forever.

The remainder of my trip was spent with family, who live about 150 miles south of Chicago. I'm so happy I was able to visit them, I hadn't been able to visit any of them in about 5 years.

And that brings me back to the present, which unfortunately has taken a turn for the worse. While waiting in the airport, my digital camera, with all the pictures I had taken, was stolen from my carry-on bag, which is why I have no pictures to link. I checked the lost and found, and circled the terminal three or four times to see if maybe I just dropped it somewhere. But alas, not everyone in this world is honest and someone actually took my camera with my family photos on it. But I won't let this over-shadow my wonderful, once in a lifetime trip. I am so glad I decided back in August to make the trip! Thanks again, Melinda!!

I miss you all so much!

MTFBWY

GB

ps: I apologize for the length of this, it was very difficult for me to leave anything out.