Knitting Therapy

or: My visit to my relatives.

We set out, we intrepid band of explorers (myself, uzbad, parisienne, and hadrianlivius) in search of delicious, delicious burritos. From our downtown locale, uzbad was to accompany me while we whiled away several hours in the delightful shops on State Street before taking the el up to meet my cousin and his cousin. Which I guess would make him my second cousin? Cousin once removed? Whatever.

Our search for food went well, though we had to park in expensive parking and stop at Chili's to get dessert and a parking validation. After our dear friends left for a Hyde Park return, uzbad and myself wandered down State and looked at suitcases, as I am in need of a carryon, then went to the dear Old Navy to purchase a light jacket against the chill. When inside of said store, my cousin and 2nd cousin called, over an hour earlier than anticipated. We hurried up to the second cousin's place and then jumped into his car so as to make our way to Hyde Park, as poor uzbad's car is MIA.

Thus began one of the most terribying hours of my life. You know that driver, the one who zips between cars and nearly causes accidents with every un-marked lane change? that is my second cousin. Though managing to NOT DIE on our way to Uncle Tom's, I nearly peed my pants multiple times.

Dinner there passed uneventfully, until uzbad and myself decided not to return to Chicago with said road hazard and to instead take the train back. As it was Sunday, the last train left at 10:17. We left a few minutes before 10, since the drive was supposed to take ten minutes. My aunt wanted to leave at five after, but we convinced her otherwise. We reached the stop light right before the station at 10:05, only to see... a train. Not ours, a freight train. A very very slow freight train. We sat and watched the train creep by, and the minutes pass. 10:10... 10:13... 10:15... 10:16... 10:17... The commuter train was late, though, so we held our breaths. Then, as the freight train left, the commuter came past. Yet the road-blocking bars didn't open. Finally, uzbad and myself jumped out of the car and ran for the train.

We ran. We made it... and the doors were not open. We ran up the side of the train, trying each set, but all of the cars were closed. uzbad reached the first car, the only one open... as the train pulled away.

We had to wait for my aunt to come get us. We stayed over at her place, intending to take the 9:05 the next morning, only two blocks from her front door.

Nor did we make that train, turning the corner to see it pulling away from the station. Instead, she drove us to the station for the 10:28 (a different line altogether) and we finally arrived back in Chicago. We had more burritos, I got my luggage... and it was over.

Note to self: never plan the transportation again. Leave that to uzbad.