I'm goin to Graceland...

Well, I'm taking a much needed break from Chicago, City of the Century, to go in for a quick break of The Exorcist. I'm about halfway done and I just started it 5 minutes ago. So far so good, Regans talking to Capn' Howdy and peeing on the floor. As far as I can tell the movie was VERY true to the book. Like...I don't even really need to read the book. But what the hell (hee hee).

This weekend I went to Graceland Cemetary. It was one of the best things I've ever done in my life, truly. I went on Saturday and it was just the most beautiful day. Clear blue sky, perfect temperature, trees almost at the height of their color. I went wandering in, got a map from the very nice cemetary lady, and took off towards Montrose to check it out. The Cemetary is just lovely, tons of trees and bushes and crazy tombstones. I went wandering back, walking slowly until I got to the area where most of the Chicago VIP's are. There's a lovely man made pond where most of the Chicago guys are centered around, a beautiful pond with ducks!

I saw Phillip Armor, of slaughterhouse fame, George Pullman, Potter Palmer's is huge with huge crypts for Bertha and himself. Marshall Field's is pretty, Louis Sullivan sort of subtle with a cool headstone, Mies Van Der Rohe with a simple one (oh really?).

Then you cross a small bridge over the pond and wander into sort of a little grove, covered with trees and beautiful red bushes. There, marked by a rock, is Daniel Burnham. To think that he has this special place, in the most beautiful cemetary in Chicago, standing alone in the middle of this pond, with a simple rock marking his spot, well, it was quite emotional for me. I listened to the silence, put my hand on the rock, said "hello Mr. Burnham" and sat and listened. I sat and listened for the sound of nothing, for the sense that this was the closest I was ever going to get to feel the energy of so many great men in one place, and it was awesome. Truly awesome.

I left there with a lighter heart, with a love and a passion for Chicago that felt more..real, more subtle, more emotional, more understanding.

The long walk, the beautiful trees, the immergence in power, creativity and beauty led me to believe that there is more I can do, that I will do whatever I can to contribute to this city as these men did, and to always remember what they did, and where they can be found.