I’ve been looking at the view of Montrose Harbor for ten years. In all that time, I’ve never seen it with so much industrial sized activity. It’s usually just clear water with the occasional boat coming and going from its dock. Lately, there have been 2-3 barges hoisting a variety of machinery. This picture is a zoom in. I’m a good 1/2 mile over and 20 floors up from Lake Michigan. So, I can’t really make out what they are doing but the oddity of their presence has been enough to get me wondering. Why are they there?
I initially jumped to pirates. Chicago doesn’t appear to have a waterfront authority or at least not a threatening presence. Ships pulling into our gentle park-lined lake to invade and ravish our city seems like something we wouldn’t be ready for. Terrorists arriving by boat may not be as menacing as by air but still has a fright factor like in the movie “Captain Phillips.”
I also considered all the other possibilities. Maybe there was a hazard water contaminant. If left unchecked, it could wipe out the city in bio-something something infected epidemic of 2014. And because I’m not always dark, I also contemplated buried treasure. A long-forgotten shipwreck recovered with a “Goonies”-style cabin of jewels and gold. I’ve been noodling on all these possibilities for a couple weeks. Bill told me yesterday that they are repairing the seawall. Hmmm…
The obvious or logical answer isn’t always my first response. I don’t know if it’s my gender, my Irish heritage, my Sagittarius sign or the combo that points me to the adventure or drama first. I have an active imagination that leads me to conjure up all kinds of scenarios. I pride myself in being ready ‘if something goes down.‘ I’m continually reconfiguring my exit strategy to the specific time and locale I’m in.
I’m a grandiose soul and a bit of a thrill-seeker. I need to be more comfortable in the ordinary. I want to find solace in the mundane. It’s okay if life goes soft and quiet. I should follow suit. Every day doesn’t have to be life-altering. Sometimes, it’s just a typical day. I don’t have to seek out the dangerous or volatile aspect in any scenerio. I don’t need to rock the boat. I can just let it sail on. Arrr!