I'm not going to lie. As I sit down to write this, I'm a little bit tipsy. I just got back from a small party at a young teacher's condo. Actually that is not totally accurate, I just got back from walking home from the train after being at a party at a condo. That is an important distinction. Because I have ADHD and anxiety, I don't spend a lot of time doing nothing. One of the few times I really get to let myself go is and enjoy the quiet and nothingness is when I'm walking back from a bar or a party. Because I refuse to ever drink and drive, I tend to find myself walking home a lot, and I love it!
Today on my walk back, I started reminiscing about life in my 20s. I have lived in or around Chicago nearly all of my life (I left for college but that is another story). The party I attended was in one of the "cool" neighborhoods in Chicago called Wicker Park. It was even cool way back in the 90s and it still is today.
Although the neighborhood (and the prices) have changed since I hung out there way back in the 90s, the vibe is still the same. There are still awesome restaurants and bars lining every street. If you want some of the best tacos in the world, you can just walk out your door, spin around, and walk two blocks in that direction. You will be guaranteed to find something delicious.
But it is different. Instead of the gritty feel, there is now a fancy Target, Starbucks, and Whole Foods. But that is OK. Neighborhoods change. As people move to a cool part of town, they need some conveniences so they will stay there. That is exactly where the host of this party finds himself. One of the first question I asked him,. and the other "young" people (anything under 30 is young to me) was what were the fun spots he liked to walk to from his awesome condo. He started rattling off a few places and then he got to Phyllis' Musical Inn.
Holy shit! That is an exact place I went to 30 years ago. My friends and I would go to see bands or DJs while enjoying a cheap drink. It turns out that Jackson is doing the same thing. Although I realize change is inevitable, it is nice to hear when something stays constant. I immediately started thinking of all the fun my friends and I had when we were a little younger that my host, Jackson.
That trek down memory lane got even better after a few Bourbon and Lemonades on the roof of his condo. It made me feel young again (which is priceless when you are in your 30s). On the walk to the train, I tried to drink in everything I saw. I tried to remember what was the same and what was new. Obviously, far more things fell into the new category, but there was just enough left of the old neighborhood to light the nostalgic fire inside me.
I used to be young. I used to have fun until 4:00 in the morning. It is never a bad thing to remember that.
I hope all of you have some moments this summer that allow you to reminisce about the "glory days".
What plans do you have this summer to remind you of your youth? What will you do for fun?