In the last year I have purchased a new Apple MacBook Pro and had the hard drive replaced on my iMac. Historically, I've used a photograph as wallpaper on my computers. It was out of the blue last night that I had the thought, the wallpaper on my computer is disgusting. For whatever reason, it never occurred to me earlier that I could personalize both computers.
At one time, I had a photo that included five horses. The picture was taken on our property in Henly. It was by happenstance that each of the horses were about the same distance apart and the photo looked fantastic. I immediately had the thought; I'd like to use that again as wallpaper.
I know I have seen the photo since losing all my data, but I couldn't find it last night. I did find a photo file labeled "Chicago" and as I reflected on the windy city, I didn't intuitively hear the sound of "Take Me Back To The Ballpark" playing inside my head. I have passed Wrigley Field Stadium in Chicago more than once, but never had the thought that I wanted to see a game.
I love the architecture in Chicago and I could spend hours just looking at buildings. One of my favorite things to do in Chicago is to take the architecture boat tour. I've been on that tour at least five or six times. Of course, the weather must be just right, but that is also true of my being in Chicago.
For years I have fostered the fantasy of spending a couple of months in Chicago. Of course, I want to pick the months. I don't do cold! In my fantasy, my lodging would include staying in an apartment located on the 40th floor of a building overlooking Lake Michigan. In my imagination, I think the environment would be a great place to write.
I once changed planes in Chicago. I was flying back to Austin from Washington, DC. As my luck generally holds, I had my choice of any number of middle seats when I boarded the plane. I settled in between a man watching HGTV on his iPad and a woman in the window seat who was reading a book. In a perfect world, flying works best for me when I'm engaged in conversation with folks seated next to me. Neither of these people initially seemed that talkative.
At some point before we got to Austin, the lady in the window seat put away her book and I asked if she lived in Chicago. She said, "Not anymore, I now live in Austin." She shared that her family not an atypical family. She is works and her husband takes care of their daughter.
She went on to say that they previously lived in a highrise on the 40th floor of a building next to Navy Pier overlooking Lake Michigan. She left for work early, and typically got home late. She was gone in the morning before her daughter was out of bed and often didn't have a lot of time to devote to one-on-one time with her daughter before it was her daughter's bedtime.
At some point her daughter asked: "Mommy, when do I get to see where you live?" She found it an unsettling question, and determined they had to live differently. As it turned out, she also doesn't really live in Austin. She lives in Dripping Springs.
Her employer in Chicago would not let her resign, but agreed she could work three weeks a month from anywhere she wanted to live, but that she had to be in the Chicago office one week a month. That new arrangement is working well for her family. They now have two daughters.
It was my intent to subsequently invite the lady and her family over for dinner. I lost her contact information and that didn't happen. I've often wondered how you move from a place like downtown Chicago with a view of Lake Michigan and find yourself in a place like Dripping Springs? It had to be a huge adjustment.
Last night, I found the perfect picture to use as wallpaper on my laptop. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember how to make that happen. Rather than waste my time trying to figure it out, I telephoned Jake, my youngest grandson and he walked me through the process.
All My Best!
Don
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