For the first time this summer, I saw live fireworks. I didn’t feel like dealing with the crowds on July 4th so I just watched on television. Thankfully, I didn’t have to go down to the lakefront last night but just over to one of my best friend’s house who was having a roof top barbeque. This friend who lives about 1800 West from the center of downtown, has an incredible view of the city so we were able to see the beautiful Venetian Night fireworks without having to deal with the crowd which usually tops 1 million plus. The only thing missing was the music, but we made our own. Beyond the fireworks, it was good to see some of many real world friends and also meet a few new ones. I met a guy who had studied for a month with the Dalai Lama. Way cool!
Anyway, this was the first time I’d seen many of them since the Chicago Tribune article was published and I was a little nervous since hadn’t told any of them I was keeping an online journal. I had told my immediate family and a few friends mostly in far flung states, but no one I hang out with on a regular basis here in Chicago. I suppose I wanted to find my voice first. In any event, everyone was pretty supportive and that pleased me to no end. One of the reasons why I started this journal is that I tend to keep secrets about everything and I was determined to change that about myself. So I’m glad the article provided the perfect opportunity to share with my friends. Just so you know how out of character it is for me to be writing so openly and honestly about my wants, thoughts and desires, read this email I got from a friend. Hopefully she won’t mind that I’m sharing.

What the heck? I had no idea you were doing this! It seems so out of character, because you strike me as a private person. Anyway, you kept me up late last night because I was reading it. I relived Summerfest through your account of the Greyhound station. I laughed like a crazy woman- thanks for the entertainment. Thanks for the heads-up on the Tribune article. I almost threw out my Wed. Tribune without seeing that section. You were salvaged from the trash, my dear. Good picture- that shade of blue is flattering on you.

Yup! It’s totally out of character – but this is the new me! Hopefully I won’t revert back to my old ways.