1998 Dad Visit - Part 1

I think my dad had mixed emotions about me attending The University of Iowa. I remember the first thing he said to me when I told him that I wanted to transfer was something along the lines of "As long as you don't get any body piercings." Hmmm...better keep those plans to get a belly ring quiet. I knew that he didn't like it that I would be five and a half hours away from him instead of the quick one hour drive straight up I-29. I thought he probably also questioned why I wanted to change my major since he was a teacher and loved it his entire life. But nothing stood in the way of him supporting my decision. It wasn't until I received my packet of materials and breakdown of tuition costs that I really knew I was doing the right thing. The words "Transfer Scholarship" stood out to me. What? I didn't apply for a scholarship? After further examination of the packet I realized that someone in admissions just decided to give me a scholarship upon reading my application. As long as I kept my GPA above 3.5, tuition would be free until I graduated. That was more assurance than I needed; I knew that God was steering me towards Iowa City.

In the fall of 1998 dad came to visit me for a weekend at my new school. It was the first weekend visit that I recall without mom being along with him; the divorce had been finalized in the spring of that year. But that did not bother me. I missed my dad and I was really looking forward to some quality time together, just the two of us.

He hadn't been at my apartment long when we decided to go shopping and out for dinner. Aren't dad visits great for that? He insisted on spoiling me, paying for those splurges that I really wanted but couldn't afford to buy myself; clothing, brand name cereal, my favorite bottled juice, and eating out were just some of them. We went to the Coralville Mall where he bought me this adorable navy blue and orange striped stocking hat and matching orange fleece scarf at The Gap that would both accessorize my new navy blue winter coat and keep me warm on those long walks to and from class. After shopping we went out to eat at Bennigan's Restaurant in the mall.

We were sitting waiting for our meal when a killer idea popped in my head. Should I say it out loud? I wondered as I fidgeted with my silverware on the forest green vinyl tablecloth illuminated by a small lamp with a green glass lampshade. No, he won't go for it. But then it came back with stronger force than the first time. Yes, I should. It was a great idea. "Let's drive into Chicago tomorrow." The words practically blurted themselves out! Just as I suspected, as soon as they did, he tipped his head a little to the side and gave me that grin that he always does right before he tells me that I have officially gone crazy. He tried to talk me out of it but I had a strong argument. We had no plans for the rest of the weekend and all we really needed was a little gas money. I explained to him that I still had the scribbled directions from my last road trip there and we would just follow the same route. I didn't point my finger and shake it at him or tell him to "zippa zippa" his mouth shut when he gave me any excuses, but I did insist as if I was the parent and he was the child. I knew that he needed to get away more than he was willing to admit and I wanted to show him as much as I could in one day of what I loved and experienced from my first trip to Chicago. He caved. We were going!

We woke up early the next morning to drive into Chicago. It was a chilly fall day, perfect weather to test out my new hat and scarf. And I do remember that it looked adorable with my short hair flipping out from under it. On the way, my dad mentioned that he had driven through Chicago on the interstate before, but he never stopped. You were right there and you didn't stop? I wondered. His understanding of Chicago up to this point was mainly that it was a big, dirty city but none the less he traveled along with an open mind. I decided that it would be best to just do exactly as I had done on my first trip; drive through downtown to North Park College where we could park our car safely and take the train downtown for the day. It seemed a little ridiculous and out of the way, but we agreed it was the best choice for us since I really wasn't too familiar with how parking worked downtown and I knew that this way dad wouldn't be worrying all day about something happening to his car if we parked near the small college campus that our church supported.

As we got closer to the city, dad told me to look at the map and let him know when he had to turn on Lakeshore Drive. "Well if you start driving into Lake Michigan, you've gone too far" was my response. We continued to joke about that the rest of the way there. Our excitement started to build as we slowly drove closer and closer to the skyline. Soon the buildings began to hug us and we drove into the heart of the city. As we drove along Lakeshore Drive the view of the city was breathtaking. I don't know where I inherited it because I don't think anyone else in my family really cares much for large cities, but I must be a city girl at heart because for me this view is like driving up a mountain for a long distance and then turning around to see nature in all of it's glorious splendor behind you. It was cold that day, but the sun shone brightly, highlighting all of the buildings before us and sparkling on the aquamarine blue water of Lake Michigan. Dad commented on how clean and beautiful the city looked; I don't think it was quite what he was expecting.