A Chicago Star

A tale of loss and endurance, in a 'normal' place...touched by advice for the bold.

An offbeat but 'normal' fable about enduring tragedy, inspired loosely by Sleepless in Seattle (Rob Reiner). Enjoy, 

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Amlan/Ezzy lived together in Chicago (United States) while he worked on various political-science matters at the University, visiting the park with his architect-wife ('Ezzy') on Saturday afternoons.

He was very much in love with his wife, and he considered his time-shared with his beloved wife special and magical, and he wondered how he might add some extra charm to their life of love-and-marriage. She introduced him to the wonderful world of Facebook and photo-sharing.

AMLAN SATAN: I love Facebook...but it's because of what 'Ezzy' has shown me about the grand dance of Chicago life/photos!

Amlan had a special painting made by a commissioned artist to celebrate and laurel his wedding-ceremony, and Ezzy hung it up in their shared Chicago condo-place, and she told him, "This reminds me of that day, ya know!"

Yeah, in fact, their Chicago condo-place was quite nice, folks, and every sunset in the summertime, Amlan/Ezzy sat in the front porch fire-pit area to drink wine and chat after-work, and he realized everything in his life was simply...cool/nice.

AMLAN SATAN: When Ezzy was afflicted with the Coronavirus, we're shattered...she fought it hard...but her body couldn't!

AMLAN SATAN: I'd been developing a special fascination with sports/Cubs-art in Chicago (for 'Ezzy') before she passed!

The funeral was quite nice, and it was as nice as their wedding-ceremony, and Amlan/Ezzy were considered a very idyllic American couple in Chicago, and the death/tombstone reminded this Chicago man of the value of moving-on and thinking about the tragedy with a much more 'deliberate' heart/brain.

After the tragedy, Amlan began collecting various items, symbolic of American life/culture, like sports-cards and comics, but he wondered if this newfound 'fascination' was a way to simply forget about this horrid tragedy in his life, and he nevertheless started thinking this was an after-all worthwhile personal/spiritual activity.

AMLAN SATAN: One of my favorite 'gems' is a Kerry-Wood Cubs card, and I keep it now in my wallet as a special 'gem' for life.

PSYCHIATRIST: Does the Klonopin help ya, friend?
AMLAN SATAN: I certainly feel relaxed/set-in to deal with my brain/emotions!
PSYCHIATRIST: Are you more relaxed or settled-in to confront your memory?
AMLAN: I can't get over it...doc.
PSYCHIATRIST: You miss Ezzy, don't you?
AMLAN: I was advised by a coworker to 'seek' a new love, a 'true' love.
PSYCHIATRIST: What's your reaction/response to that?
AMLAN: Doubt...I can't see through this.
PSYCHIATRIST: Alright, well, what're you developing with your hobbies?
AMLAN: I've got this awesome Cubs-rookie card (Upper-Deck!), and it helps me forget.
PSYCHIATRIST: More than a 'new' love/romance, Mr. Satan?
AMLAN: Yeah...and call me Amlan, why don't ya?
PSYCHIATRIST: There's nothing 'unique' about being a widower?
AMLAN: Nothing...but it's unique to me, ya know, doc?
PSYCHIATRIST: Alright...just get into your private-hobby consciousness (Facebook/baseball).
AMLAN: That's the 'right-stuff' bet...I think!
PSYCHIATRIST: What's the dilemma now, then, Amlan?
AMLAN: Maybe it's just me...I feel like an 'alien' in my own life...doc.

What do you think will happen to Amlan Satan? Do you think his newfound hobbies will help him get over being a widower in the Windy City? This is a sad-tale, but it's a normal one, really. We all face loss or trauma or challenges. However, it's the stuff of resilience that may see us through our somewhat 'abnormal' everyday decisions following the winding turns of American destiny. That's life...for Amlan (or for us!).

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"Money is everything" (Ecclesiastes)