I’ve always had a certain feeling that my life would lead to wonderful things. I’m not trying to be cocky; it’s just this hopeful feeling I get every once in a while. Maybe I watched too many Disney movies as a child (and, let’s be honest, as an adult), or maybe always having a family encouraging me to dream big and work hard for that dream has something to do with it. It’s hard to describe, sometimes.

Every once in a while, that feeling surges. Being in the city of Chicago always swells that feeling of awesomeness. Coming from a small town in Illinois, I can still remember how exciting it was to take school trips to the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science and Industry. All of the possibilities and the hope that the city brings still keep this sense of a greater purpose for myself alive.

Now that I’m going to be living in Chicago on a permanent basis, I can already tell this feeling won’t be fleeting. I’ve been here just over two months, dealing with the tundra that is the city in late winter/early spring, and it hasn’t gone away yet. I love my little studio apartment, I love my job as a chiropractor, and I love my dog, Napoleon.

Chicago, you and I are going to do great, big things together. Just you wait and see. I’ve got a good feeling about this…

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Even after doing it every Monday through Friday for the past eight weeks, getting up in the morning was still the hardest part of my day. My phone started buzzing at 6 a.m., as usual, and I hit snooze twice, as usual. Napoleon looked up at me from his doggie bed on the floor, giving me a look worthy of my mother, practically telling me to get my lazy butt out of bed. I finally got up on the third round of buzzing and made my way to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

After showering, putting on some basic make-up, and drying my hair, I got into my work-appropriate attire. My outfit was simple, but I didn’t need things getting in the way while I adjusted my patients. Dangling jewelry and flowy, low-cut tops tend to be a problem when you lean over someone’s head as they lie down on your table. Not to mention, shoes should be worn for the benefit of your health, not to put it at risk.

No worries, though. I didn’t need to look like some fashion model. I just needed things to be functional. As I threw my hair up into a messy bun, I hooked Napoleon’s leash onto his collar. He had been following me around the apartment since I got out of the shower, and he knew the routine by now.

“Alrighty Leon, let’s take you out quick, and then it’s breakfast time,” I said to my mutt, who looked up at me with bright eyes and gave me a doggie grin. We went down the two flights of stairs and around the corner to a small patch of brown grass. Even in March, the grass hadn’t started growing back yet from its winter hibernation. Napoleon did his business, and I collected the resulting heap with an old grocery bag. I tied it up, threw it in the nearest trashcan, and back up we went.

I measured out Napoleon’s breakfast, and grabbed myself a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. I glanced at my watch, reading the time and figuring I had about 20 minutes to get to the office. I put my dishes in the sink, threw on my trench coat, grabbed my purse, phone, and keys, and gave Napoleon a kiss goodbye.

“Be a good boy while I’m gone!” And out the door I went.

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Work was going at the average rate by midday. Dr. Lance Seymour and I were taking each patient in the order they checked in as soon as we had one leave. I had just finished up adjusting a young pregnant woman who was six months along, and decided to see if we still had anyone waiting before taking lunch. I headed out to the front of the clinic, and found all of the seats empty.

“Well, I thought there’d at least be one more left for me to do,” I remarked to our receptionist, Sam. She just shrugged and smiled as I stretched my arms up.

“Sorry, Dr. Lance caught the last one before you just came out. Looks like you’re free to go eat!”

“I guess I am. I’ll be back in a bit. Did you want me to grab you anything?”

“Oh, no, I’m fine, Gianna. I brought my own today,” she said as she lifted up a little lunch box to show me.

“Nah, there’s no way you got everything you’d need in that tiny thing. I’ll be sure to grab you a cookie.” I gave Sam a slightly tilted smile as I went back to grab my purse from my own desk, and she just chuckled, knowing that I’d get her a treat even if she protested. As I was coming back out with all my belongings, Dr. Lance was leading his patient, an older gentleman with a nice looking mustache who I immediately recognized, back out to the reception area.

“I really appreciate your help with my back, Dr. Lance. I’ve finally been able to get back on the ice for practices now that I’m not so stiff.”

Dr. Lance shook his hand, and replied “No need to thank me Joel. I’m just doing my job. And anything I can do to keep the Blackhawks’ head coach in good condition is enough thanks in my book.”

“Well, you better believe that I’ll be referring everybody I know to your clinic,” Joel said as he made his way to the door, waving goodbye one more time as the bell above the door rang aloud.

Dr. Lance turned back around to find me with my mouth agape and eyes wide open. He just laughed at me and threw me a wink before saying, “See? I told you I had connections.”

Notes