Companion Stars, for the love of people

We best serve the world when we invest in nurturing our own culture. I’ll observe and participate in the TLC from where I belong: at home plate. Don’t worry, I’m not alone at base.

Don’t mess with the busy lives (and busy minds, preoccupied with so much right now). Provide some barbeque, chipotle and other smokey flavor kick.

I won’t mess with busy lives, either. Homemade pie assistance works. I love my own pie crusts as much as any baker, yet the 100%-ers can get snobby. Homemade baking with small steps, and pre-made pie crusts, amidst all of one’s daily schedule the rest of us know nothing about, is something to be incredibly proud of.

Let’s not mess with potential kitchen pride during food security assistance. Don’t forget the pecans.

Cheer up as the clouds part ways. Prolonged clouds on the beach are not a California thing, thankfully. And if we’re going that sunless risk route, I recommend Galveston, so you can try the best fish tacos ever.

I’ll skip the tacos and cheer up alongside you at Doheny Beach, though. The sun shining through makes everything especially bright these days.

Ask me for some of my time anytime and, even if I bemoan the ‘wasted’ years, you’ll find a way to focus on our future. The X designs are only as functional as your courage though.

I’ll ask you to accompany me to Hancock Center when the time is right. Let’s put our signature on a hot Chicago evening (snowy smooches work too).

Cut some time out for Chicago skylines.

I’ll cut a rug with you any evening you choose, you’re looking at a grade school square dance bestie. First, though, homemade dinner and apple dessert and an awkward stance so the kitchen light doesn’t show the lines I may have developed while the world witnessed a courage fail.

Lose the suit when the timing is right. We’re headed to Irvine and Alton later tonight. I know these communities reside in individuality, just as Alton, Illinois carries a unique steel town heartbeat.

There have been many times in my life when Alton, Illinois has been mentioned with normalcy, a sigh of relief normalcy about good community. I’d love to visit with you.

I’ll lose the suits as well, first readying for my state park outdoor hike. So here you go, the ultimate emergency preparedness for any potential unexpected journalism workdays. You can gift yourself those glasses holder straps….

Take me past Woodland Ave and I’ll take you for a trip down memory lane, with my grandparents and hometown and all the points of life I wish you could’ve known.

Look out for me as we take in the views of Mt. Whitney.

I’ll look out for you as I remind you that everything meant to be will be. There is no need to wonder what if we hadn’t been tossed around the past 4–5 years. Life happens, in proportion to your courage, as it is meant to. We’ll find out which way the happy endings go. Perhaps they’ll take us through Temecula.

*on a side note, I have missed the storms and rainbows that make up Illinois character. Today was really cool.

Steer me over to the Temecula Stampede. If you had all the right moves, you’d be on some tour as the most flawless spectacle.

You don’t have all the right moves, you make lots of mistakes. And I’m not touring, I’ve reminded you that I’m your equal and I look forward to your direct approach. A square dance breaks the ice, babe, so you could start there.

I’ll steer you over to Big Hat Rodeo company sometime, too, and we’ll dip our toes in gorgeous Wonder Lake before we settle for our Hebron day. Resist the urge to dunk that water tower…

Keep an open mind to Old Town Blues and I’ll keep an open Chicago heart for new sounds.

Take me for dinner, perhaps choosing Texas Lil’s. Temecula is a cool area, a friendly companion to Napa and a committed community to Old West vibes.

I’ll take you dancing and you needn’t buck the thought. Dinner and dancing with you would be so laid back here, or at the Lucky Star in Bartlett, or Silver Spur in East Moline, or Corner Dance Hall in Whittington. No need to even concern yourself with the VIP judgey crowds. And to be honest, I wouldn’t even give their humility lessons another thought, babe. We have two-steps to learn.

Offer me some shark jerky.

I’ll offer you some vegetarian alternatives.

Ask where we should share some tempranillo wine.

I’ll ask if you’ve ever been to Austin and the amazing wine country just outside of it. Not yet? Too busy being a cool kid in Marfa?

Well, when you’re ready, Austin’s more than just awesome music and an amazing place to settle in for life. Until then, how about we get neighborly with our own bests, including Miramonte, Lorimar, Danza del Sol, Masia de la Vinya or Thornton? Save some extra time for Briar Rose, you know that’s close to my heart. And we can plan some Illinois equestrian trips while we’re at it.

How about a ride, mister?

Keep your eye on the future and I’ll keep my eye on the same.

Take a quick moment to treat me to Bean Coffee Roasters on our way through Temecula. This place is awesome in design and expert in their industry.

I’ll take a leisurely moment to stroll the Bean in Chicago with you. It is cool, it is not the only cool design, and when we look up let’s remind one another of how good that accompanied reflection feels. About as good as joining Twitter with a supportive friend, and about as good as being honest about the sequel left unmade. Here, we’re all experiencing BTTF 2, as if I hadn’t tweeted out that Source Code wish so many years ago. Before the Twitter leadership switch and subsequent Star Wars jammies. I wonder what will be in the theaters the day your Chicago reflection looks back at me.

Observe the ways that Temecula winery landscapes remain different than Napa.

I’ll observe the way Southern regions love their fast-paced creatures. No wonder a Chicagoan feels so at home here.

Let me miss Napa. I hope they are doing okay in wine country, usually every day it is a morning thought.

I’ll let me miss Napa, too.

Drive me through, past the curveballs I welcomed in for the love of the game.

I’ll drive you through the Cardinal direction plans you thought were so clever, and we can talk it over on a trip through Kendall County. We can travel from Coal City to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie or from Morris to Minooka to get to Plainfield. We can go from Lake Renwick (goregous) to Romeoville, or travel Oswego to Montgomery to Yorkville to Plano. Every one of these towns is a community heart and there are not many states that have the crossroads scenery offered near Plainfield. The crossroads are understated, bordered in fresh water and forest and plain views, and Illinois is just the best. Don’t be afraid of the storms, I love these people so much, they are worth any risk. Save your clever plans and get real with me, for the love of people.

Take me to Romoland and be the commentator of my dreams, babe. Don’t get jealous of those hearts in my eyes, the fun ones are so great to listen to.

I’ll take you to an even cooler stadium, one that showcases more than one lone star, one that has supported my companion stars along every moment of these 7 years. It’s hard to find team owners we could care for more than the ones caring for our Chicago sports. They never need the spotlight, either, preferring instead to showcase the great unknown of our starry skies, preferring instead to prop up the cool solution chalkboards we get inspired by.

Keep our sports teams owners in prayer along the roads ahead, as much as we would our every day companions.

I’ll keep our sports teams owners in prayer even when I’m close to home, or wishing I was. The Glen Ellyn Sonoma house was as sweet as Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and everyone should have the experience of both. It is refreshing to experience how communities build their homes, it is nourishing to be welcomed in their small downtowns, and it is uplifting when these communities’ encourage neighbors too. Sonoma and Glen Ellyn, Illinois experiences await for you, particularly when life’s about to create a few unsolicited twists.

Calm me when we wade into the unexpected, extreme fog en route to Big Bear.

I’ll calm you through the rest of expected dystopia set up, and through all the politicians too selfish to call it in. Away from the intentional political theatre, we are reminded just how big this country is. And how many people could be leading our political sphere, voices included as a result of rotations through term limits.

I’ll calm you through the rest of expected Hunger Games dystopia by reminding you the United States is run by the people of the United States. It’s not our problem if the would be crowns need an avalanche of noise to learn how to cope with democracy.

Love the way the sun clears the fog. Pine recognition once more.

I’ll love the way the rocky scene is behind us, with only breathtaking and crystal clear views ahead.

Suggest we stop at Big Bear Mountain Brewery sometime.

I’ll suggest we stay for the live music; I’d love to meet some new friends.

Express your thoughts on shopping, antiques and tourist markets in amazing Big Bear. I had no idea there were so many places to shop, dine and hold business here, and it does seem to be continually evolving.

I’ll express my thoughts about another continually evolving business space: Merchandise Mart. The opposite of Big Bear, a lake with unexpected market, Mechandise Mart has unexpected office opportunity. Also, it is just a cool dimension and pops in my head when I miss Chicago sometimes. Then I start to wonder if my memories are becoming classic past, or if I will get to be a part of evolving scenes too one day.

Admire the Random California art in the alleyway. This one is grace.

I’ll admire the autumn reminders, much needed when staying in beach towns. Holy smokes is Big Bear worth it, and amazing, and totally the happy rest everyone claims it to be. The air is so fresh and crisp, the sun so clear, the life so invigorating.

Appreciate the excitement that accompanies all their signs.

I’ll appreciate the time to stop and paws as well.

Snap a photo of picturesque scenes right down from the crowded streets.

I’ll snap a photo once we visit Des Plaines and, yes, the busy streets of Chicago suburb shopping are a juxtapose match.

Wonder if we could visit every stretch of quiet rural campsite.

I’ll wonder again if you’d like to take a weekend away with me to Wonder Lake.

Tell me with sheepish grin that honey is your secret sauce.

I’ll tell you again how much I appreciate your authenticity, from the time I observed Cyber Dust conversations to the relatively soon time I’ll be dusting off my social media arrows, and every other point along the universe. I would not have predicted this long a time for the story; neither did you.

A benefit to accepting social ask of roles for a better world is that the time we dedicate needn’t be audited or accused. Nor can it be managed offshore.

Investing in everyone else in the world, through one’s self, is so much more authentic than only going through citizenry April motions. I love having grown more into myself, didn’t expect it so strongly when I answered the ask. And while I can’t speak for you, I’d surmise a match.

Everyone always argues about taxes versus philanthropy and obviously taxes are important for equality. No one ever argues the more important intrinsic value, having a heart for the love of the people. One can’t fake it for long and we certainly can’t off shore drill it.

Showing up for the love of people is a fated authenticity that surpasses even the love of the game.

Implant your row boat agenda with enough room for my bottom half, please. My legs are assets that my upper torso cannot compete with yet.

I’ll implant our day off near near Belvidere, a cool, hard-working Illinois community. And don’t blame the misplaced letters on the butler, babe.

Appreciate the fitting trim of Big Bear city hall. It’s a camping, resort and outdoor community through and through.

I’ll appreciate the fitting crowds, a union station as familiar as Oglesby. We can share stories of riding the rails away from urban work life, and hopping in four doors to get to state parks.

Big Bear is as kid-friendly, as couple-friendly, and as solitary an escape as Starved Rock. And both are a gorgeous reminder that, in the middle of the most urban cities and farmland communities lies government protected natural country. I’ll pack us a Starved Rock two-day meal plan and maybe pick up Burrito Beach for our drive, if weekday train time allows.

Wish me luck as I willingly return to fog smother.

I’ll wish you luck too, as we finish up with the peacekeepers as they keep tabs.

Tell me that the outlook is clear: sunny days, square dancing, mockingbird companionship, source code sequels (fingers crossed) ahead.

I’ll tell you the outlook is clearing up here, too. Future’s bright, shades.

Share that you wonder about the grace of the universe.

I’ll share that here by the grace of God we remain. And together, by the way. Not sure what God was thinking with the delay and stall, nor by pairing me up with your whole fascination with money-and media-attention-as-success VC hearts, but here we are.

God’s real so get real.

Visit the cool clock tower of Irving, California alongside me.

I’ll visit the Thompson Center on a Loop stroll with you sometime soon. Better hurry, clock’s ticking on redesigns, architecture and changes….and Illinois is ripe for architectural preservation and renovation commitment.

Walk the incredible landscape of Irving’s Memorial Park with me. I love the way your presence relaxes when you remind yourself to, and I’d love to spend the day alongside you.

I’ll walk you over to the incredible landscape of Millennium Park one day, explaining the acoustics I was schooled in, explaining how it felt when it first opened, explaining how important carpe diem is when you truly want to hang with someone.

Explaining how much I love Chicago. Not even statues of wild horses, nor mustangs of Las Colinas, could drag me away.

Stand up for your district.

I’ll stand up for the welcoming communities of and near Lake Forest, CA and Lake Forest, IL. How does the Ray Bradbury Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival in Waukegan sound, this or next summer?

Reunite with me under the Irvine water tower on Parson Brown, walking in this not so winter wonderland.

Reunite with me perhaps among some Dallas memories too. Oh, the Irvine tower isn’t as sparkly, nor does it have the height. I remember loving that Dallas visit, the only adventure I wanted, and enjoyed, solo. And when I think of Dallas, I think of nighttime lights and friendly people and a cool downtown.

Here, humble and unlit Irvine Water Tower is cool all it’s own.

I’ll reunite with you in Riverside, Illinois, anytime. Let’s do so around the holidays as we make time for a beautiful sight in Berwyn and Cicero Christmastime drives.

Stay with me awhile, perhaps sharing a Marriott chocolate chip cookie.

I’ll stay with you as we walk the downtowns and bars and fun, even if your taxi “mistakenly” takes me to the Periscope office.

Jump over with me, jump to better expressions. Although friendship is a good motto, perhaps we need a truer word. When I cried and said we couldn’t be friends, maybe the tears meant that it’s too late….that I’m into you and into the connection we have for the love of people.

I’ll jump over with you, not out of friendship, out of love of people.

Light up the night with the legit Spectrum vibrancy.

I’ll light up the night alongside you, planning our next American Airlines visit without delay. Colorful night life stays sharp forever in memory, and hopefully forever in future for these awesome cities. Also, Dallas outdoor bars are really fun at night.

I’ll quietly comment that we needn’t do the touristy things, especially in our new home state. As cool as this looks from afar, I’m sure you’d rather be elsewhere.

Quietly comment that you’ve saved the seat and there’s room for two.

Quietly comment that it’s sky time. Companions of stars light up the sky so much better than a lone star. Quietly comment on the design before us, too. No Olympics ring landscape is necessary when the entire included world is a much more beautiful sight.

The entire world included not for friendship, for the love of people.

See you on the square dance floor, by the light of the evening nova.

Showing up for the love of people is a fated authenticity that surpasses even the love of the game.