I went back home...

...to Chicago this past week to say goodbye to my beloved Aunt. My family is a real life example that proves the adage about it taking a village. She was an integral part of that network. Who knew that it would seem as if even in passing, she had one more family doing up her sleeve. My family is guilty of being mired in separation due to pointless years of quibbling. Some still refuse to bury hatchets lest it be in the skulls of their perceived nemesis. But my aunt's funeral (or home going, as it is sometimes called) there were some who decided to let bygones be. We cried, prayed, ate, and laughed together. Those who strayed came back, those who drifted were back together. It even moved my wife and I to decide to come to Chicago once our time in Charlotte is up next summer.

This picture was taken on the lakefront. I snapped four, two in black and white and two in color. The black and white gave a better contrast thanks to seagulls and I picked this one as being the better of the bunch. It was sights like this that really made me take seriously the possibility of Chicago being home again. Charlotte has been great. It's given rise to things inside of my wife and I that we never knew were there. But now it's time to tie up some ends and move on. We're like fish that need a bigger bowl in order to grow. Each new post from here on out will move us closer to closing out one chapter and starting a new. To life, opportunities, and possibilities.