I originally had other plans this weekend, but two days ago I found out about an opportunity to visit the Art Institute. The community college I work for partnered with the museum so all students and staff could attend today with up to 10 guests for free.

We were trying to work out the logistics of my friend coming home from work, changing clothes, and making it to the train station on time. If she got out at her normal time she wouldn’t have time to stop at home, and I was trying to see if we had any clothes she could borrow at home. We had 1 pair of sweatpants and leggings, a few shirts and sweatshirts, I didn’t look for underwear or socks though. For the first time ever, her boss let her leave early and she was able to stop at her house to change.

She had spent a bit of extra time then planned changing and showering and by the time she arrived at my house I had the engine on, my foot on the brake and my eyes on the clock. After speeding over to the train station I parked the car and had her run ahead to the platform as I went to the parking meter. I ran back to my car to find the license plate number. From the meter I ran back to my car a second time to get my sweatshirt. I ran back a third time to grab my phone. I asked someone if this was the right side to go to Chicago? He took his headphones out and I asked again. He said “yeah”, and I frantically shoved my card into the kiosk to buy tickets snatching them as the train pulled into the station.

We spent three hours inside looking at the impressionists, expressionists and modernists. We also spent some time looking at the Egyptian wing; by the time we were on the train home I realized I hadn’t taken my camera out of its case a single time. The only photos I had taken were with my smartphone of which I had taken exactly five. While walking around a saw a girl with a colorful scarf and her friend in a Canadian tuxedo. There was a cute girl in a Hufflepuff jacket and an elderly woman in a red trenchcoat that reminded me of Carmen Sandiego. All of these would have been great candidates for the 100 strangers project. I never worked up the courage to ask anyone. While it is mildly disappointing, I think I’m okay with it.

Working on the project is quite tiring and stressful; I had the entire day off work; a rarity since I often work seven days a week right now. I was with a friend at one of my favorite museums in the world and honestly, I wanted to relax. I enjoyed spending time losing my train of thought as I stared at the beautiful paintings and I was happy to find peace next to an ancient sarcophagus.

I do still plan to continue the project. It will just take a bit longer then I had originally planned, and I’m okay with that.