9. Hometown Bucket List

Sun through the trees at Lake of the Woods County Forest Preserve

I have never been to the top of the Sears Tower. (Yeah, yeah. Willis, Schmillis.)

Not earth-shattering, maybe, but you’d think that someone who’s lived all but a couple of years in Illinois—and one of them in the city of Chicago—would have visited that landmark. And if it hadn’t been for teaching loads of summer programs for visiting Japanese students, I probably would never have visited the St. Louis Arch, either. The thing is, when you live so close to something, you know that thing is always there, easily accessible, for any time you want to go see it. So...you don’t. Months and years pass, and you go about your daily life, and you think, yeah, someday I should go see that thing.

And then, suddenly you’re moving 11 hours away, and you clutch your chest and wring your hands, realizing that you have 83 days—give or take—to visit all those places, or you may not have the opportunity to do so, or at least do so easily, ever again. And so, you begin The Hometown Bucket List.

Now, you may already have a Hometown Bucket List. Maybe you’ve not had the opportunity to get out to places like Curtis Orchard to pick apples or a pumpkin, or Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch to do the corn maze, or buy anything you can imagine in bulk at Beachy’s Amish store in Arthur. Maybe you’ve missed the Ellnora Guitar Festival, or never been to Pygmalion, or never enjoyed the pipe organ at the Virginia Theatre during Ebertfest. Maybe there’s a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try—Masijta Grill for Korean Barbecue, or Kohinoor for Indian, or the new outdoor seating area at the Champaign Black Dog, or even brunch or an outdoors farm-to-table dinner at Prairie Fruits Farm (the baby goats are the highlight). Maybe you’ve never heard the strange acoustics in the outdoor Krannert amphitheater, or watched the vivid prairie sunset from there.

Perhaps you’ve crossed a few things off, like when you climbed up to visit the chimes in Altgeld Hall, or when you saw a favorite performer at The Assembly Hall. (Yeah, yeah. State Farm Center, State Farm Schmenter). Maybe you went sledding on the hill by Orchard Downs or picnicked near Japan House in the Arboretum. Maybe you ran a longer distance than you ever thought you could, or speed-walked with a group of friends at the Illinois Marathon. Maybe even in your wild undergrad days you found some of those folks who would take you into the underground steam tunnels on campus.

When I realized my time in Champaign-Urbana was limited, I started a bucket list. See all the shows at Krannert! Eat my weight in ice cream at Jarling’s Custard Cup! Visit all my favorite restaurants in C-U, especially ethnic favorites (of which there is a dearth in Stillwater)! Walk the dog in all my favorite places:  the arboretum, Lake of the Woods and Buffalo Trace, Meadowbrook, Crystal Lake! But when I thought more about it….a funny thing happened. I found that actually, I had seen the best of what my hometown had to offer. I have missed some events here and there, but on the other hand, I have had some amazing memories with family and friends, have attended outstanding events, and have explored some amazing corners of this little place that shows the breadth and depth of its character as a community. And I realized something:  it’s enough for me. I am content with what my life has been here, and that’s a great feeling.

Although if anyone wants to go with me to a farm-to-table dinner this summer, I wouldn’t say no….

What’s on your Hometown Bucket List?