Happy Monday all. A friend and I started making an annual trip to Chicago 14 years ago to take a brief sabbatical from our hectic lives. Each year we returned we added to our knowledge of the city until Chicago became like a second home to us. I think it was during our second year we were directed by a native Chicagoan to Rush Street. Back then Rush Street was filled with live jazz venues that were still authentic and not part of some national franchise. Sadly, as the city has changed so has Rush street. It seemed each year we came back another old haunt was leveled. During our trip in 2012 we discovered the very last of the old jazz clubs was scheduled to be demolished to make way for high end retail. Now on that side of town a majority of the clubs only have DJs spinning techno or house music. One of my greatest memories was a little Italian restaurant on Rush Street where my wife and I got up and danced to a jazz trio playing a classic Nat King Cole song. Time marches on. We still have our memories and what memories they are! —------------- Rush Street (2004) Here we are on Rush Street amongst all the beautiful people tonight, much too tall to be blue these eyes appear to be lying because after all this time, we seem to be the ones theyre watching dressed to the t, they think we have it nice and easy but the strongest might get queasy At the struggles weve seen Jillys was soaked in Sinatra, contentment seemed a lonely dancer I, an easy fool....because for a second it felt like we had made it to the other side here we are on Rush Street amongst all the beautiful people and city lights, much too tall to be blue awash in merlot and a King Cole tune theres not a problem in this world that couldve eclipsed my grin not even another one on the chin from reality, Ive become immune last night left me longing how I wish I could remember her name instead I sit wondering what it all means and file it all away under, some day. Because, there we were on Rush Street amongst all the beautiful people, what memories, now to make them true. ~Eric Vance Walton~
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:11:48 +0000