Okay, so…crowds

I was thinking about how overwhelming it would be, for those not used to massive crowds, to be here during the parade.  Traffic would be worse than the usual nightmare and public transportation would be ridiculous.  Just being squashed between people would be a strange feeling for some.  You have to watch your stuff, phones, purses, wallets and other things as well.

If you’ve never been in gigantic crowds you can’t imagine what it’s like.  I’m not talking about the Cub’s parade, I mean moving crowds so big that you can get get washed away from the person you’re with, unless you’re holding on to each other and even then it’s hard to stay together. Crowds so big that once they start going there’s no way to tell where you are, or even if you’re headed in the right direction (that happened once and let me tell you, it’s not easy getting millions of people to make a left turn).  Deb and I have marched on Washington, DC a couple of times.  Well over 3 million people, literally shoulder to shoulder, screaming and chanting and flowing down the street.  It was a blast but not the place for anyone who’s claustrophobic, that’s for sure.  It’s fun being with all those likeminded people, or at least it can be.  I understand how people can be trampled, or crushed.

The thing is, if anything happened in/to Chicago and the suburbs, the transportation system would be unable to handle it, so would the city itself.  It’s like that everywhere.  No city, or place, could handle millions of people needing help all at once.  It’s impossible. Public services can’t manage the day to day stuff, let alone a crisis, or disaster.  We’re kidding ourselves if we think there are programs in place to help anyone (think New Orleans).  Two million people were there for a parade, that leaves seven and a half million of us who stayed home.

I love living in a place with this many people.  It’s exciting, frustrating, annoying, beautiful and well, my kind of town.  It’s fun, dangerous and home.  We just have to remember there’s never going to be enough medical care, police, etc., if we get into trouble.  Not enough drugs, qualified medical personnel, help of any kind.  If anything happens, we’re pretty much on our own.  All of us are, but I’m guessing it’s different in very small towns.  I could be wrong.  If anything ever happens the government, of course, will be safe in their bunkers, all snug and wondering if there will be anyone left to tax, once the crisis is over. Maybe, if whatever happens lasts until the food runs out, they will turn on each other and it will finally end.  🙂

Anyway, today’s a beautiful day. The skyscrapers in the Cub’s party photographs looked fabulous and made my heart go pitter patter with glee.    There is abundant  sun, yes, that’s what they call it, and all is well in this city that is so amazingly alive.