Another Version of Me
About 2 months ago, I had the chance to visit Chicago. It was a short trip, we drove down on Thursday and drove back up on Sunday, which made for a pretty exciting 20-hour round-trip drive. One interesting thing that happened was when the border bridge was temporarily closed due to “too many cars,” yet they still allowed about seven semi-trucks to pass, which was annoying.
The main reason for our trip was a Communications Conference, which was held about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. That left us with Saturday afternoon as free time, so we decided to check out some sights. We took photos at the Bean (Cloud Gate) and also visited the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain. The fountain is impressive—every hour, a gust of water shoots out, and when the sun hits the mist, it creates a beautiful rainbow.
As I stood there watching the water dance in the sunlight, I felt this quiet sense of peace, almost as though time slowed down for just a moment.
Like any good tourist in Chicago, we had one goal: to try Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza. We headed over to Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta around 4:30 pm. Despite not planning to eat in, we had to wait about 50 minutes for the pizza. We decided to wait it out.
The only place to wait was at the bar, and all the stools were taken except for three, squeezed between other people. I ended up sitting on the corner stool, next to an older lady on my left and a gentleman on my right. I made a passing comment to the lady, who was enjoying her meal, and mentioned I was just waiting for my take-out order. It’s funny how, sometimes, the most unexpected moments can lead to the most interesting connections.
About five minutes later, the man next to me struck up a conversation. We talked about the pizza, our jobs, why I was in town, future trips we each had planned, and more. It was my first time talking to a stranger at a bar, and we ended up chatting the entire time we waited. He even offered me some of his pizza, though I never got his name. Normally, I might shy away from talking to a stranger, but this time it felt different. I realized that, sometimes, the best conversations happen when you least expect them.
As we left, my friend asked, “Did you get his social media or anything to stay in touch?” But I hadn’t. It was a small, unexpected moment that made the trip even more memorable.
The conversation with the stranger at the bar ended up being much more meaningful to me than I initially expected. It showed me that the length of an interaction doesn’t matter nearly as much as the quality of the exchange and the joy you find in it. In a time when I’m figuring out where I stand in life, this moment felt significant. It reminded me that even brief encounters can teach us something valuable or leave a lasting impression.
This trip was more than just a getaway; it was a reminder that moments of connection, no matter how brief, are part of the bigger picture of growth and self-awareness.
Right now, I’m learning to appreciate the fleeting but meaningful connections that come my way, and this experience felt like a reminder that personal growth doesn’t always have to be tied to long-term relationships. It’s the moments of connection, however brief, that can offer the most insight. Every time I travel, I’m reminded of how many of these brief interactions I could have missed if I wasn’t open to them. It’s a part of travel that excites me the most, knowing that every place I visit holds the possibility of a meaningful exchange.
One of the biggest things I took away from this interaction is that anyone can be open to a conversation. If you’re open to it, you can start talking to anyone. Not everyone is going to judge you or be a terrible person, and I think that realization was a bit of a relief.
Afterward, when my friend asked if I had gotten any contact info to stay in touch with the guy, I felt a bit down on myself. I kept thinking, “What if I missed out on making a new friend? What if it would’ve been nice to have friends in different parts of the world?” But then my sister, who was also on the trip, chimed in and said something like, “Not all interactions are meant to be forever.”
That really stuck with me, especially now when I’m trying to figure out what relationships are truly important in my life. People come and go, sometimes just for a conversation. But the impact of those interactions, no matter how short, can stay with me forever and shape who I become. I left that conversation with the reminder that it’s not about how long someone is in your life, but the impact they leave behind, no matter how brief the encounter.
Some Other Places to Hit While in Chicago!
Giordano’s – The pizza here was much cheesier and more enjoyable than what we tried at Pizano’s. It even survived the car ride home and being reheated the day after! Truly, I’d go back for more!
While not in Chicago, we stopped at a dollar tree on the way down to Chicago. If you are from Canada like I am, you might not know that there the Dollar Trees in the U.S. have a frozen foods section! There, I found little Ben and Jerry’s ice creams for only $1.25 USD, which I think is a steal!
On the drive back, we also made a stop to try Raising Cane’s for the first time, per my sister’s request. It was quite good and very enjoyable! I’d definitely go back again. We also stopped in University of Michigan college town to grab take-out before continuing our journey home.
Of course, we had to make a stop at Olive Garden on the way to Chicago for lunch, opting for the never-ending pasta bowl. Only one of us, my sister, was able to eat 3 bowls, but it was great because we basically got a second meal to take home for free, which was wonderful!
The food on this trip definitely added to the overall enjoyment. Whether it was the cheesy deep dish pizza, the surprise ice cream finds, or the satisfying stop at Raising Cane’s, each meal made the experience even more memorable.
