Saturdays

The last two Saturdays I have spent with Jessica Martensen, a friend I met while in Nicaragua. Jessica will be 23 in about a week so we are the same age. It is such a blessing to know someone here. Last week we went to Bucktown, one of Chicago's many neighborhoods. I met her friends, Barbie and Bobby, which are brother and sister. Their family has been involved with the American Legion, an organization that supports veterans of foreign war. The Bucktown post was having a fundraiser. They were playing bingo and having raffles. Okay, one how often do you play bingo, two, how often do you play bingo with 70 or 80 year-olds, who have defended your country. There are two different ways the night could have gone. I could of made the worst of it and hated the whole event, or I could make the most of it and dive right in. I decided to choose the latter.
I played about seven games of bingo at 25 cents a card, four cards at a time. I almost had a bingo but I accidentally marked a number that was not called. I was so upset, well not really. Then, now this is the exciting part. There was a raffle for a huge salami. I mean I could eat off of that for a month and still have some left over. I spent five dollars on tickets. I was so bummed by the end of the night because I did not win the salami. I wanted it so bad. I also bought tickets for the 500 dollar raffle but did not win either. I am okay with the money I spent, because I am supporting veterans who have fought for my freedom, and the posts will be needed in the future and I have so many friends that are in the military, so I am supporting them too. Oh I also got to draw some of the winners for the cash prize raffle. The whole event was fun, but sadly I did not win anything. Maybe next time. There is also another event on September 12. Maybe the bingo cards will work in my favor. I will keep my fingers cross.

Yesterday, I worked until 1:30. I was not suppose to work but I did to help out the family. I was picked up by Jessica and Laura, another friend from Nicaragua We went downtown. It is beautiful. I saw the bean. No I did not take a photo. I will but, not yet. We walked all around downtown. I saw Lake Michigan, grand park, and several other things I do not remember what they are called. I went to Garretts. Garretts, is famous in Chicago, I was told that the line is normally out the door.Garretts have been selling popcorn since 1949. It was the best popcorn I have ever eaten. The tree of us shared a small Chicago Mix, which is their caramel popcorn mixed with chedder popcorn. I still have some popcorn left from their small, and we all had our fill. I would make that on the top 5 places to visit in Chicago so far.
We continued to walk around and we went to buy Frango mints. These mints are also famous to this area. After tasting them you will know why they are famous. Okay, to buy the mints we had to go into the first Marshal Fields, which is now a Macy's. This store is an entire city block, and several stories high. It was amazing, the women's shoes had its own half a floor. I picked up a pair of slipper shoes, they were 230 dollars, I put them down saying, "I can't even afford to pick these up."

We walked some more and went to a pizza place. This placed was packed. We had a 25 minute wait and then a 45 minute wait for our pizza. The wait was worth it. This was my first time eating Chicago style pizza. I love it. It was the best pizza I have ever eaten. I was so happy. I had a beer and pizza with friends. We finally left after talking and eating for a few hours and I got home around 9:45ish. I walked in and Maria was surprised I was home. She thought I would be out longer. I am not a late night person, and because of my room with the light, I have been getting up at 5:30-6:00 on my own. So I was tired. Maria said she would be out late all the time when she was my age, I told her that I did not really stay out late when I was in college, why would I now. Maybe that will change but at the moment, when I have to work the next morning at 8 I need to get up earlier so I can spend sometime with God.

God has been so faithful to me. He has given me friends in a new city, a flexible family because I am flexible, and the opportunity to grow outside my comfort zone. Pray that my social anxiety will calm down. I miss you all and I love you.