Freshman year, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, my new Andrews University friends and I went to Chicago for the first of many times during our stay at Andrews. (An extended explanation of our trip can be found here! WHY ARE MY PICTURES MISSING?? GOOGLE WHAT THE HECK? At least Facebook still has them :P) It was one of the best days of my life for many reasons, but one moment that will always stick with me happened at the end of the day.
A lot of people in our group wanted to get in some last minute shopping, and being a light shopper, I didn't want to do anymore shopping. So I left. While the majority of them walked into the H&M on State, I turned north and began walking up State. I didn't really know where I was going, just that I was going to wander Chicago by myself - something I had never done in my life. The only plan I had was that I wanted to get away from the Chicago Loop because we had been around there all day. I wanted to see something new. The cross traffic was moving when I came to the first intersection on Washington so I decided to hang a left to avoid waiting. I walked one block and happened upon a clearing in the forest of skyscrapers. It was Daley plaza. In contrast to the buildings towering above me, little booths were set up in the plaza, each one adorned with tinsel and emanating a warm glow from inside. A tall Christmas tree stood above the plaza... and yes, it. was. lit. (sorry, not sorry).
The booths in the "Christmas village," as I came to call it, sold various holiday foods and items that hearkened back to Ye Olde Europe: handcarved ornaments, alpaca wool scarves, you name it. I only took one picture of it because I hadn't tricked myself into thinking I could take pictures yet... haha... *goes and cries in a corner*
Haha, I don't even know who those random Asians are!
I wandered the stalls for a while enjoying the break from sightseeing. I stood and watched a guy play Christmas tunes on a saxophone for ten minutes. A Chicagoan came up next to me while I was watching the saxophonist. We struck up a conversation and talked about what we enjoyed in Chicago. Suddenly...
"Hey, you see that tree up there?" he asked as he pointed at the Christmas tree standing over the plaza.
"Yeah," I replied.
"That tree is f****** s***. They usually have one that will reach at least eight stories high," he proclaimed.
"Oh... really?"
"Yeah, I can't believe... *da da da yada yada yada* *something about the government*"
I was an innocent child, okay? That cussing scarred me for like three full seconds.
Since that day, I've learned that it is called Christkindlmarket. I've been able to visit it every Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving since then except for last year because reasons (I blame Apple Maps).
I went as a college senior this year, again on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The day hadn't exactly gone "as planned" because finding rides was a pain (I found a ride the night before we left). I ended up hanging out with a different group than I had in years past. Most of them were freshmen new to Chicago. I actually ended up doing a lot of things I hadn't done in Chicago because of them!
Hehe, I stole this from Easter's Facebook
However, my only goal that day was to visit the "Christmas village." So as we were taking the bus back from a restaurant half an hour north of the Loop, we began planning to split up for shopping. We were heading down Michigan Avenue and we were calling out shops in case anyone wanted to get off and shop there. Someone asked me where I was going to get off and I said that I was going to a "Christmas village" down by Millenium Park. I wasn't going to be doing any shopping. After explaining what the "Christmas village" was, a few of them decided to go with me. Did I say few? That's too many. I actually meant SIX of them. Did I say "too many"? I meant "too little."
Six freshmen/sophomores and I walked the few blocks from Michigan and Washington to the Christkindlmarket. I might've crossed streets a bit quickly along the way, and they might've tried to hang onto my backpack to keep pace, but I DIDN'T CARE. I was excited! Okay, I did care enough to slow down a bit. Calm down. I'm not entirely heartless.
Faces lit up as we came into view of the market just like mine did three years ago. Exploring the booths and taking in the holiday atmosphere added a Christmas air to the day. There's nothing quite like sharing something you enjoy with people you enjoy. Call it a "chain of joy" or whatever. You know I like to wax poetic... so yeah.
The purest of blessings cannot be planned. They cannot be boxed and delivered. The best blessings are unexpected and catch you off guard. Blessings are something you are blessed by, not merely given. I found a little blessing in Chicago a few years ago, and some more found it a few days ago, and the best thing about it is, none of us chose for it to happen...
... I just chose to hang a left on Washington.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes!
~Richie