back in the big city

Chicago looked ominous as we approached on the train. I could barely make out the silhouette of a factory spewing smoke into the air. One of the first things we see is a huge police station with hundreds of police cars against the backdrop of the skyline. And a lady coughing up a lung inside the dirty el train sounded like she was about to die. Not such easy living here. Thankfully the bitter cold seems to have passed for the time being. It is amazing how pleasant living can be elsewhere. Maybe it's best not to be protected from the ugly harshness. I have to remember that once spring comes, Chicago will seem a lot more like paradise than it does now.