My Impromptu CTA Date

I was headed home from a BBQ Saturday night when I decided I’d rather take a CTA bus home instead of a cab. Partly because it was about to pull up to the corner I was stationed at and partly because I had $1 to my name. When I mentioned this to the driver, he was kind enough to let me on for free.

I used to take Chicago public transportation all of the time. However, I’ve never hopped on at 1:30 a.m. I was shocked by how crowded it was and had to head to the back of the bus to find a seat.

Unlike the #36, which would have dropped me off a block away from my house, this bus started veering in another direction when it hit Diversey, so I got off. A young man, carrying a gigantic blue lawn chair, also got off.

We started walking, in the same direction, basically right next to each other. My obvious question was, “What’s with the lawn chair?” Mike was heading back from the Blues Festival, hence his large accessory.

A few blocks later I knew all the basics about Mike. His hometown, age, college, and job (I’m avoiding specifics if he ever happens upon my blog and kills me for including the details). So, when he asked if I’d like to grab a drink at a neighborhood bar, I decided to say yes. I’ve actually been trying to be more of a YES person lately and it’s working out well. He had to leave his lawn chair outside; it was too big for the bar.

Mike was nice, sweet, and respectful. When I mentioned I thought they were playing a Green Day song on the jukebox, he corrected me and said it was actually Oasis. But quickly added, the only reason he knew that was because Oasis is one of his favorite bands, second to U2.

When we walked out of the bar, Mike’s lawn chair was spread out. Someone had decided to grab a seat. I had to smile. That lawn chair got way more action than Mike was going to get that night. I said goodbye and walked home, laughing the entire time about my impromptu CTA date.