Chicago
It was a January day of all days. I had the audacity to invite my new date to a winter walk on Chicago’s Lakefront of all places. That would impress her, I believed, if she knew how much I was eager to take on the notorious winter of her hometown --- for her and for her only. She would give a serious guy a serious chance.
Indeed, she was impressed, although a hint of doubt did make her brows knit for a few seconds: “Are you sure about that?” I nodded, smiling --- or rather, grinning.
In summer, it’s easy enough to cover the walking distance between Grant Park and the Navy Pier in a breeze. On that snowy winter day, however, the temperature was free-falling. I wasn’t sure I had bundled myself up against the biting cold.
No surrender to Chicago or North Pole.
Suddenly, my new date waved her hands. A rolling Navy Pier trolley stopped for us.
Snow drifted by when she pointed me to all the landmarks on our trolley trip around the Windy City's Loop. I had never been so quiet, listening to a caressing voice.
I'm still listening to that caressing voice, my wife’s voice.
Author: renqiulan
Hong Kong
