The Metra.

We see (and hear) the Metra train all the time. Rarely do we use it, so Jasan and I ventured out. When I mentioned to a few people what we had in mind for the day, they said, “Where are you going?” and I replied, “To Chicago!”

I got a look from one person who thought it was ridiculous that we weren’t going anywhere specific outside of the Ogilvie station. Some people just don’t get it. The cool thing about this adventure is that it is not about the destination. It is completely about the journey. The details about the train. The huge train station at the end of the line in Chicago. The elevators! The escalators! Oh. Endless things to check out without going out of the train station. Not that I was opposed to doing anything else once we got downtown, I just knew we didn’t need to.

I knew that would be plenty to fill him up with a day full of happiness…

Here it comes! The lights shining our direction and the anticipation of loud train sounds about to be near.

The top floor is where we gravitated to and it was pretty perfect. Empty. Just us.

I had tons of fun shooting him. Of course I was using my phone on silent; otherwise he would have had none of it.

(He is wise to me now…)

 

I loved all the nuances he was noticing…

The cute coat hook.

Light.

Numbers.

Watch your step…

We approach the end of the line.

His eyes lit up as we got off of the train. All of the people, the huge train wheels, the multiple trains on multiple tracks, the hustle and bustle feeling everyone getting where they need to go… Taking it all in.

We made it…

The screens! The clock! The light! The windows! (And that is just when you look up…)

“Mama! Found the elevators!”

“This way, Mama…”

and…out.

This was my favorite part of the whole day. There was about 45 minutes straight of up and down the escalators, and he held my hand almost the WHOLE time. LOVED THAT.

If you have read earlier posts, you know he is a fan of “OTIS.” He only knew Otis in elevator form. It was way cool to meet Otis in escalator fashion. 😉

Obviously we separated after a long while of hand holding and up and down to switch it up… Jasan up and Mama down… Mama following Jasan (go figure!) and Jasan behind Mama…

But then the elevator needed revisiting.

 

Otis escalators… Back for more…

Do you see a pattern here?

As boring as this could be for me, I choose to not look at it as so. I document him. I watch him figure things out. I Let him make his own choices. I let him lead the way and feel like a big guy. Independent. Showing ME the way. Letting me into his world. It’s beautiful.

But, adventures always need to come to a close…

I didn’t know this until Grammie told me when she picked us up afterwards…

Jasan told Grammie (on the way TO the train) to take us to “kiss and ride” so we can get on the Metra.

Love him and the way he explains what he sees………

<3