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About Chicago

Today’s my dad’s birthday, and of course I’m not in Chicago to spend it with him. Birthdays and holidays are important to him, at least more so than they generally are to me (which isn’t saying much, I suppose). If I understand the situation correctly, I think he values the timing of action over its type, which means that honoring the day on the day is critical. Completely unlike me!

In trying to figure out why I’m different, I see a lot of possible answers. The most useful analogy I can come up with is pairing it with how I don’t enjoy dessert, or sweets in general. I’m still not quite sure what that actually means, but I see the two qualities as similar.

Following this line of thought, not liking sweets means I should like their opposite (I should post on the nature of opposition sometime), such as a good beef stew, or pierogies. I do like both these things very much. So what’s an analog of beef stew on the calendar? Probably Thursdays. And indeed, I have nothing against Thursdays.

My father, on the other hand, who understands wine, chocolate, risotto, and just about all else olfactorily pleasing (like soupy chicken!), probably has a different favorite day of the week. And you know what? I accept that he views the world that way.

Happy birthday, Dad.