It's happy hour somewhere.

Friday, May 22^nd, 2015.

Los Angeles, CA and Chicago, IL

It’s 6:00pm and I am finally boarding my flight from LAX to Midway Chicago. I worked a full day and caught a ride to the airport, offered by a very generous co-worker. For the first time in my life, I am on my way to Chicago. Hooray!

I am meeting two old friends from AmeriCorps VISTA. I have not spoken to either Kelly or Erin for a little over ten years. Somehow I am not nervous though. I am excited to see them, but I am more excited to see Chicago.

My flight lands right on time; 11pm Chicago time. I call Erin on her cell and quickly locate her and Kelly in the passenger pick up area. They have just left an outdoor techno fest and I cannot tell if they are tired or want to go out. It’s only 9pm in LA, so I want to go out. Eventually we decide to head over to a local Irish pub, which is close to Erin’s house. 

Kelly and I order beer and Erin orders hard cider (just like the old days!) and we sit at a long wooden table to catch up. We talk about work for a while, the last time we saw each other we were all college new grads. Kelly is working as an immigration attorney in DC. Erin is a professor of Latin American Studies at a small University in Chicago. They both speak Spanish on a daily basis. I am officially impressed. Next we turn the conversation to guys. Erin is single and refusing to date online (this is a situation that I intend to rectify). Kelly is living with her boyfriend and cute dog. I catch them up on my current relationship status, primarily involving a former child actor and strong secondary relationship with an orange cat named Conan.

I finish my beer mid-conversation and realize that everyone else is only halfway done. Since I am Pacific Standard Time, I announce that I will be ordering another beer and I am not ashamed. I end up flying solo for round two.

Soon it's nearing 1am and we are all ready to head back. We will be staying in Erin’s house I’m not totally clear on the sleeping plan. When we were in AmeriCorps we traveled frequently and consistently slept on the floor. I am prepared to sleep on the floor, but secretly hoping that doesn’t happen. We arrive at Erin’s ridiculously nice town house around 1:15am. I see a very large blow up mattress on the living room floor, but there are 3 of us and two beds, so I am still worried. Eventually it comes to light that Kelly and Erin will be sharing Erin’s bed and I will get the living room air mattress. A situation that brings me great joy as I strongly prefer sleeping alone.

After a quick shower and a few FB updates I eventually drift off to sleep. I have the distinct feeling that I am being sucked into the gigantic air mattress but I am really too tired to care (also it is pitch dark and I do not know where the light switch is located).

I concentrate on sleeping. I will be waking up on central time tomorrow and want to be well rested for our first full day in Chicago!