A Real Chicago Girl
Certainly, Lorie was one of my very first fandom friends, both on-line and in real life. I remember what a thrill it was when she commented on Borderlines, way back in the old days when we were still on Yahoo Groups.
But I don't want to talk about fandom. I want to talk about the Lorie I knew in Chicago. I visited with her three times. She was truly my ambassador to Chicago.
The first visit was for Fellowslash. Hanarobi, Lorie and I snuck off several times to do some sightseeing, and Lorie took us to the Frank Lloyd Wright house. She drove us around and told us about various points of interest and tidbits of history. She took us for Italian beef and to her favourite ice cream place. She took us to the Aquarium. It was very clear that Lorie loved her city. She wished she had more time to show it to us. She loved it and she knew a lot about it. I remember once she referred to it as "my beautiful city".
There was also a period of several hours where it was just Lorie and me. We walked around the downtown area and talked. She took me to Garrett's Popcorn and insisted that I try the mini-mix (by now she had grown to understand that food was a serious preoccupation for me, despite the fact that I was overcoming a bout of food poisoning). Caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together? Okay, I'd give it a try.
It was delicious. I think it was the following summer, or maybe it was two summers later, when I was in Wyoming visiting with Hanarobi, and Lorie had a huge tin of Garrett's popcorn -- half caramel, half cheese -- shipped to us, because she couldn't be there. She was unendingly generous.
Anyway. We wandered down to the waterfront and discovered the Chicago symphony rehearsing for an outdoor concert. I nibbled on my popcorn (rather than guzzled, as my stomach was still chancy) and listened to the music. There was a lovely breeze off the lake, and a view of the magnificent skyline, and I was in love with Chicago.
The second visit was about two years ago, in March. Lorie was in remission from her cancer and I was in town for an academic conference. She agreed to let me stay with her and Rich.
The first thing that happened was that the friend who drove up with me from Austin ended up with no where to stay the first night, so Lorie and Rich let him stay with them too. Again with the generous! It will always stick in my mind -- after a twenty-hour drive being ushered to the shower and into soft robes and presented with fantastic Chicago pizza. And then of course Lorie continued to take care of me for the rest of the visit, showing me how to get downtown to the hotel where the conference was located and handing over what was no doubt a precious supply of quarters to feed the meter at the El parking in Oak Park...Thanks to Lorie it was all smooth sailing.
And then, when I at last had free time, Lorie and I had a day together. She made me breakfast -- chorizo and eggs -- and we walked about downtown Oak Park and talked. She was very aware of the history and political life of the place she lived in. We talked about her experiences and I was struck by her bravery and her positive outlook. She was determined to cherish life.
I've also always been impressed by her faith. She had a very strong faith. I think we had a conversation about it once, although the memories are vague. It was the kind of faith where you don't go around talking about it or proselytizing or witnessing but I know it sustained her and I'm very glad of that. I think it gave her a lot of strength.
My third visit to Chicago was two summers ago for the moot, as many folks will remember. We had a few glorious hours with Lorie. I wish we could have had more time. The best part for me was sitting with her in that Chicago restaurant, eating breakfast with her, because it was more like my other memories of her. I guess I'm just selfish that way.
I know that I will return to Chicago again the future and I will always think of Lorie with gratitude and a wistful sigh. At least you've gone to a place where the pizza has no calories, honey. Then in tribute to you, I'll chomp on some Italian beef and wash it down with a beer. And for dessert? Garrett's popcorn.
But I don't want to talk about fandom. I want to talk about the Lorie I knew in Chicago. I visited with her three times. She was truly my ambassador to Chicago.
The first visit was for Fellowslash. Hanarobi, Lorie and I snuck off several times to do some sightseeing, and Lorie took us to the Frank Lloyd Wright house. She drove us around and told us about various points of interest and tidbits of history. She took us for Italian beef and to her favourite ice cream place. She took us to the Aquarium. It was very clear that Lorie loved her city. She wished she had more time to show it to us. She loved it and she knew a lot about it. I remember once she referred to it as "my beautiful city".
There was also a period of several hours where it was just Lorie and me. We walked around the downtown area and talked. She took me to Garrett's Popcorn and insisted that I try the mini-mix (by now she had grown to understand that food was a serious preoccupation for me, despite the fact that I was overcoming a bout of food poisoning). Caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together? Okay, I'd give it a try.
It was delicious. I think it was the following summer, or maybe it was two summers later, when I was in Wyoming visiting with Hanarobi, and Lorie had a huge tin of Garrett's popcorn -- half caramel, half cheese -- shipped to us, because she couldn't be there. She was unendingly generous.
Anyway. We wandered down to the waterfront and discovered the Chicago symphony rehearsing for an outdoor concert. I nibbled on my popcorn (rather than guzzled, as my stomach was still chancy) and listened to the music. There was a lovely breeze off the lake, and a view of the magnificent skyline, and I was in love with Chicago.
The second visit was about two years ago, in March. Lorie was in remission from her cancer and I was in town for an academic conference. She agreed to let me stay with her and Rich.
The first thing that happened was that the friend who drove up with me from Austin ended up with no where to stay the first night, so Lorie and Rich let him stay with them too. Again with the generous! It will always stick in my mind -- after a twenty-hour drive being ushered to the shower and into soft robes and presented with fantastic Chicago pizza. And then of course Lorie continued to take care of me for the rest of the visit, showing me how to get downtown to the hotel where the conference was located and handing over what was no doubt a precious supply of quarters to feed the meter at the El parking in Oak Park...Thanks to Lorie it was all smooth sailing.
And then, when I at last had free time, Lorie and I had a day together. She made me breakfast -- chorizo and eggs -- and we walked about downtown Oak Park and talked. She was very aware of the history and political life of the place she lived in. We talked about her experiences and I was struck by her bravery and her positive outlook. She was determined to cherish life.
I've also always been impressed by her faith. She had a very strong faith. I think we had a conversation about it once, although the memories are vague. It was the kind of faith where you don't go around talking about it or proselytizing or witnessing but I know it sustained her and I'm very glad of that. I think it gave her a lot of strength.
My third visit to Chicago was two summers ago for the moot, as many folks will remember. We had a few glorious hours with Lorie. I wish we could have had more time. The best part for me was sitting with her in that Chicago restaurant, eating breakfast with her, because it was more like my other memories of her. I guess I'm just selfish that way.
I know that I will return to Chicago again the future and I will always think of Lorie with gratitude and a wistful sigh. At least you've gone to a place where the pizza has no calories, honey. Then in tribute to you, I'll chomp on some Italian beef and wash it down with a beer. And for dessert? Garrett's popcorn.