how i spent my summer vacation on the east coast





















on porches and rooftops, in classrooms and forests, with crazy little kids and some even crazier old ladies- i return to chicago exhausted, but i have greatly cherished these weeks in this place that will never fail to feel like home.

made hiking plans with dan the other day but left the destination up to him- he's from a different neck of the woods, you know, and i do like to cover new ground.
but when he led me through the forest to an old and rusty fire tower on top of a mountain, my stomach sank a bit. i am very afraid of heights!
however! as the incurable humanist that i am, i sort of tried to shove my silly phobia aside and began to climb. with a good deal of deep breathing and dan spotting me a few steps behind, i eventually made it to the top, 1,400 feet above sea level.
THIS is what i saw!






it started drizzling while we were up there, but the wind and the view and the butterflies in my stomach felt great. i'm not much one for intense thrills but this afternoon of conquering my fears ran at just my speed!