Knitting in the Shadows: I ran away from home --

Monday, I boarded a train, and ran away from home....

sort of.

It's not like everyone at home didn't know I was going, and where I was going. ...

And what was I doing? HOMEWORK!

No, seriously. I went up to Oak Park to complete a homework assignment.

Among the homework assignments we have each semester is to get a massage from a massage therapist who did not graduate from our program. AND... this semester, we have to get a massage from a person of the opposite gender of the person we got a massage from last semester. So, having cast my eye around town, and having discovered that all the female massage therapists I'd heard good things about actually did graduate from our program, I conceived a plan -- to go back to Oak Park (from whence we came ten years ago), and get a massage from the woman who was my initial inspiration to go into massage school in the first place.

It was such a good idea!

I rode the train up, relaxing. And then I walked from Union Station to the Ogilvie Transportation Center (a whopping two blocks), and found that my timing was perfect -- I boarded the METRA train about two minutes before it left the station. When I arrived, it was a bit misty (having rained while I was riding the METRA), but I walked through the old area, enjoying recognizing old places -- and loving seeing this:

and this:

Honest -- I wasn't in Britain... I was in Oak Park, but there it was, none-the-less.

Okay, fine... you want proof?

Unity Temple (yes, it's Frank Lloyd Wright -- and yes, he built it to be a church in the first place).

I just love his style --

(And why exactly did I just NOT SEE this all the time I lived there -- I'd have joined in a heart beat).

I went out to dinner with wonderful friends, at a delightful little restaurant in Evanston called Trattoria D.O.C. I'm a little appalled by how much I ate, but DAMN that steak was good!

I stayed in the Write Inn -- a nifty old place, that houses the oldest elevator in town. And pet friendly even. See --

Just outside the kitchen door.

Alas, old also means old HVAC systems. Even though I arrived on the night in which the Equinox happened, it was HOT! And the hotel system, which they claim is a water system, takes three days to switch over from heating to cooling. Thus, they had no means to effectively cool the building. They gave me a fan, which was both loud and ineffectual. I slept poorly.

But breakfast at Hemmingway's was lovely.

And after breakfast, I walked down Oak Park Avenue to get my massage.

It was SO worth it! It was wonderful to see her again. And... her massage (though different) was every bit as wonderful as it used to be. I learned a yummy new stroke from her. And.... tee hee ... she learned one from me (because we traded!).

Not only that, but I found the wonderful place where folks like me should retire. My wonderful therapist works in the Oak Park Arms (a retirement center). I was actually compelled to take a picture in the hall that leads to the Massage Therapy center:

Yes, ladies and gentlemen -- this is a WEAVING ROOM! there is also a Needlework room. Who knows what else is in there!

On the way home, I noticed these decorations on St. Edmund's church -

I've never seen those before -- here's a closer look...

If anyone knows what these are, and what they signify, I'd love to know.

I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out in the gorgeous weather, sitting in the shade on a bench in Scoville Park, reading Hunger Games.

My day ended with the arrival of my family, who picked me up, and took me to dinner at my favorite Oak Park restaurant -- The Marion Street Grille. The frog legs are as wonderful as ever.

All in all, I say that my Equinox was glorious. A perfect balance.