new friend/windy city

i spent the weekend in chicago visiting my new friend ginger.  she and i met this past october when she and her family were visiting south carolina; we talked for all of five minutes after church that sunday and hit it off.  we've only emailed since then and talked on the phone once or twice, but have really enjoyed getting to know each other.  we figured it was time to actually have some conversations in person.

it was a bit like a blind date, really, and i was a little nervous going into the weekend.  (what if it's weird?  what if we totally do not get along?)  but when i walked up to her at the baggage claim, it was surprisingly normal.  just like, "oh, there you are, friend."  

we had a great time together.  we spent the first night in downtown chicago--went to a wonderful restaurant, putzed around a shopping center called water tower place, sat in starbucks and talked while we sipped our coffee.  the next morning we had breakfast at the hotel, and then walked around outside for a while.  it was cold but lovely, with snowflakes swirling around above us in the wind.  what was also beautiful was the four-story gap and the three-story crate and barrel. naturally, i had to investigate those little gems.

then we went to ginger's house in naperville.  while her adorable son bauer napped, ginger and her husband tj and i sat around and talked and read.  it was the perfect lazy sunday afternoon.  later, we all went to downtown naperville, which is right down the street from their cute little house.  we got a pizza from their favorite pizza place, and our dessert was cookie dough from this place called cookie dough creations.  they have eight different kinds of cookie dough, if you can believe it.  it was all delicious.

the next morning, ginger made us all one of her famous smoothies, and then she took me to the airport.  it was great to be away, and it was great to come home again.  i felt refreshed and ready to jump back into my life.  i also feel like i've solidified a friendship.  i'm definitely adding her to my collection.