Chicago or Bust

About seven months ago, Mary Margaret, my eight-year-old daughter, came in from outdoors all red-faced and sweaty. She informed me that she and her eleven-year-old sister and two of their friends were going to have a lemonade stand. “We’re going to raise money to go ice-skating,” she announced.

About an hour later she came in to get more cups. “We decided not to go ice-skating.”

“Why?” I asked.

“We’re going to go to the American Girl Place instead.”

I don’t remember exactly what I said. Probably something like, “Oh, that’s a great idea, honey.” All the while thinking, "Yeah, right. Like that’s ever going to happen." I didn’t discourage them, of course. I didn’t want to squelch four young girls' pipe dream.

Now here it is almost March and the girls have nearly $500. These four friends have raised some of the money by selling lemonade to passing cars and golfers in our neighborhood, but most of it they have raised by making jewelry and selling it. A few dollars here, a few dollars there, and the next thing you know they have more cash than Oklahoma's Indian tribes. (Well, not really, but they do have close to $500.)

Along with their stash of cash they also have a budget and a plan. They have mapped out the route to Chicago, have calculated how much gas money they need (they quickly gave up the idea of raising enough money to buy plane tickets), and they are working on a place to stay for free. They have budgeted for things they can do when they get there. They plan on seeing the show, eating in the café, and getting their pictures taken. They knew they wouldn't have enough money to do everything so they eliminated taking their American Girl dolls to the hair salon. They also each have a little money they’ve been saving individually so they can buy a doll oufit or whatever else may tickle their fancy once they enter the hallowed grounds at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Chicago Avenue (see photo above). The moms have also been informed that the budget includes enough money for the girls to eat in the café, but we moms will have to bring our own loot or we can fast.

So sometime in the near future four girls and three moms will load up and road-trip to Chicago. I can’t remember when it was that I realized this was actually going to happen, that their pipe dream was actually going to come true. This gives me a little hope. Maybe my pipe dream of going on a tropical vacation when my firstborn completes his homeschool education will also come true.