Last weekend, my Mama invited me on a bus trip to Chicago where her and some club-mates were going to see Memphis. Sounded like fun, but the bus was leaving from Fort Wayne. I wasn't keen on driving to the Fort, then riding over to Chicago so I purchased my first tickets on the Megabus from Indy. The scheduling times were going to work perfectly, or so I thought.
I left for Chicago on the 9:45am shuttle and met my group at the Millenium Park Grill on Michigan Avenue. It was a bit rainy but our table had a great view of the ice skaters just outside the restaurant.
Auntie Jane stayed with Mom and I, while the others ventured off for their own shopping before our show. Mom had to see the Macy's Christmas display where she also picked up 2 new sock monkey ornaments at 50% off! The Cadillac Palace Theater was just down the street within perfect walking distance.
The show is about a DJ from the 50s who was playing rythmn and blues music on rigid ole' cracker radio stations. He wasn't treated kindly by any ethnicity, but he made ratings. I liked the music and the story line. Been trying to read up to see what all is embellished or non-existent since I didn't really know a thing about the play before sitting down. I had asked a co-worker who attends many events like this, "Is it country music? I might not like it." She advised me of the soul-fullness of the music, which I was thankful for after the opening scene because it was all African American actors. I would have been quite confused staying with the country idea.
I had about an hour to kill before my ride back to Indy, so I put Mom on her bus and made my way (with the help of Auntie Jane) to Union Station. I wasn't very comfortable just sitting inside, so I did a lap around the block trying to find any bar, restaurant, anything that was open. It was all closed, even the CVS, and it wasn't even 6pm! I did grab a shot of Big Willy dressed up for the holidays, or maybe he just needs to see a doctor.
By this time it was 5:30pm, 30 minutes to departure. I saw a bus at my stop but it said "Not in service". I ventured over to find out that our bus driver cancelled at the last minute and Megabus was trying to locate a new driver. WTF?! They said we'd be delayed at least 30 minutes and a bus would be back around 6:15. Urg. Again, I was left with time to kill. Luckily I spotted some neon beer signs down the street. I bellied up to Beggar's Pizza and set an alarm to make sure I didn't miss the bus. Plus I had to eat dinner, so pizza was my only option at this joint.
6:15pm came and went with no bus. The Megabus was turning into being Mega-slow. Around 7pm, we got word we had a driver but we had to go pick her UP at 47th and the Dan Ryan. Seemed it would delay us even further if she tried to fight traffic to get to us. So we did, and we were finally underway. I walked in my door at midnight, instead of the scheduled 10:30pm I was expecting. The Megabus adventure sucked, but it didn't ruin my day with my Mama and her friends! Thanks for including me Mom!
