Chicago/El Paso connection

You're going to hear this line alot from me, sorry, but it's a part of me and it's not like a coat I can take on and off.

Being from Chicago...

Being from Chicago is alot like being from El Paso (especially the NE). There's a certain rough-and-tumble attitude we carry here and a good amount of pride. Anyone can see that pride when they pass by EPCC Trans Mountain campus and the HUGE flag whipping in the wind. Nothing brings a smile to our face quite like when the poppies are in bloom for a few short weeks in the spring... only in the NE. We didn't plant those poppies per se, but we sure take credit for their decided boundaries- they picked us to live by!

In Chicago you see people huddled at bus stops in the winter, battling the wind and cold, yet smiling and laughing and chatting with their fellow survivors. In El Paso you see the same survivors doing the same things. Only they're battling the winds and extreme heat

In Chicago there's a cool rivalry of Northside vs Southside. Northside Cubs. Southside White Sox. Northside Irish neighborhood pubs vs the Southside ones. There's even 2 St Patrick 's Day parades. El Paso has it's separate 4th of July parades, and the NE is proud to host one of them.

In Chicago you can get great Mexican food, even though menudo and caldo de res are usually served with corn tortillas. El Paso has GREAT Mexican food, too, of course, though the above are usually served with delicious francesitos. I prefer the latter.

Chicago had Jane Byrne as mayor, a real tough-as-nails broad. El Paso has Joyce Wilson, city manager- don't think I'd want to meet her in a dark alley unless she was on my side. I have seen her giggle (almost) like a schoolgirl one time, though, when paid a compliment on her outfit one day by a citizen of the male persuasion. It was quite refreshing and unexpected to see.

Chicago has Blagojevic, Ryan, Walker (all past governors with sticky fingers) and Fast Eddie (city councilman) -who reminds me of Cobos in tactics and drama. El paso has (Cobos- lol) Ketner, Jones etc. Guess the FBI is really racking up the frequent flyer miles between our two cities!

So when I go on and on about Chicago please don't be offended. Our cities are more alike than not. Chicago has the stigma of being the Second City (compared to NY) but they turned that around into a positive- the biggest little city, the city that works, the city with big shoulders etc. So I hope El Paso can finally come together and be proud of what she has to offer- great food, great weather, great everyday people with true grit, great music and history..............