First stop was at Navy Pier, where I took a sightseeing cruise. The Angles of Music interviened again.
On board was a group of older ladies who had enough energy and fire to rival The Quad in our college days. They were hammered and loving life. It was still raining slightly so they were festooned in plastic garbage bags as ponchos and a margarita in hand.
I asked where they were from and they said St. Louis. Well that happens to be my next stop and soon we were chatting away. They were so excited to hear that I was traveling around on my own, and Patty, the self appointed leader instantly adopted me as a daughter. She was havingme pose here and there to get the perfect shot with the Chicago skyline in the background.
These women, who were old enough to me my mother and grandmother soon invited me to not only spend the rest of the day with them, but because Jackie, the soon to be 70 year old party girl, had an extra bed in her room, I was invited to stay the night in their hotel!!
After the cruise, the St. Louis Ya-Ya's took a taxi back to their hotel and I drove the men of their group, Ivan and Jim back. Poor Jim, someone's grandfather, was wedged behind me in the backseat with my dog's hair keeping him company.
The group met up in the lounge - where else. Patty, 48, has the mouth of a truck driver and a heart of gold. Jackie, 69, was the sweetest person I've ever met. Her line was "I love it", unless she was talking about her dearest friends, in which case she addressed them as "you assholes". Patty had called Jackie's husband on the phone. Patty handed the phone to Jackie and she responded:
"Who's on the phone? Dave? F-U-C-K." She took the phone, "Hi sweetheart, you asshole."
Marlena, also in her 60's was the middleground between Patty and Jackie. She could cuss with the rest of them, but seemed a little more innocent than Patty.
Patty, Me, Jim, Marlena, Ivan and Jackie.
We had dinner at Miller's Pub where I had a great steak and Jackie and Marlena made friends at the next table with a Chicago native who lived there for 70+ years.
After dinner we went to the John Hanckock's Signature Lounge on the 96th floor to watch the fireworks. It was so beautiful to watch the sunset over Chicago and the flickers of fireworks all over the city, like fireflies. Patty and I left the others and went to a table on the other side of the building to watch the fireworks display over Navy Pier. We wound up losing the group, so we had one more drink at the bar then took a cab back to the hotel. But Patty and I weren't done yet. We wanted to hear some Chicago blues.
We walked to a blues club a few blocks away, but unfortunately it was closed. Actually it was probably a good thing as I was exhausted and with Patty it was bound to be an intersting night. The ladies asked me if I was sure what I was getting myself into going out with Patty.
I finally called it a night and joined Jackie up in the room for a good night's rest. This morning, I packed up my gear, thanked Jackie for her hospitality and got the name of the bar that Patty owns outside of St. Louis so I can be sure to vist.
Now, the city of Chicago is calling me and I have a lot more to see.
