Adrienne Washington:  

A TALE OF TWO CITIES I'm so proud to claim Chicago as my home town. Each neighborhood had it's own unique diversity. It was lots of fun to go to annual block parties with tons of delicious food,music, dancing and comraderie. Each season offered fun activities. The "L" was a quick way to get around. Summertime Chi-Town: picnics in Washington Park,beach parties,shopping downtown on State St.boat rides on the Lake/Chicago River,going on every ride at Riverview Amusement Park,concerts in Grant Pk,4th of July fireworks,baseball games,horseback riding through Midway Plaisance,bike-riding,lots of dance parties,goo-gobs of ice cream,hanging out with friends & trying to keep cool in the the 90 degree/100% humidity! Wintertime Chi-Town: making snowmen, sledding in Dan Ryan Pk, tobaganing,ice skating at Midway P.& warming up in the little huts,making walls of snowballs then throwing them at the passing CTA buses & each other, wearing 4 layers of clothes to keep warm when the "Hawk" blew off the Lake & temp was -30 degrees,Bears' games at Soldier's Field,shoveling tons of snow,trying to find our car,slip-sliding on icy roads (Dan Ryan Expwy)/sidewalks,smells of spiced cider & hot chocolate,waking up Xmas morning to a white winter wonderland,enjoying all the incredible Xmas window displays at Carson's & Marshal Fields, & exchanging gifts with family and friends. I always wanted to be a mom when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a wonderful idea. As it turns out, they were right. I was blessed with 2 incredible children: Dantae Alexis (Lex) & Tamara Delana (Tami).Now that we're a "blended family", I am stepmom to 2 more awesome children Danielle (Dani) & Jonathon (Jon). I like to relax with music, meditation yoga journaling & playing with my cat, Molly. Two of the wildest things I did in school was play hookie to go to the circus. In 4th grade, I had an all boy birthday party. Mrs. Clay, my teacher at A.O. Sexton, was absolutely appalled my mom even allowed that! My Mom told her it was MY party and none of HER business! If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have opportunity for professional growth, good communication, and strategies to be able to deal with the day-to-day. My mom was my best friend and greatest inspiration. She went back to school to get her nursing degree, worked full-time at U. of Chgo Hospital 3rd shift and took excellent care of her family. She did all this when women rarely worked outside the home. I have her sense of humor,creativity,adventure and comittment to service so what I do makes a difference in other's lives. The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Fred Miller. He was my 1st boyfriend at A.O. Sexton School (3rd grade). I lived in a 17 floor high-rise across from school. We used to race each other to the top floor,non-stop! I usually let him win.:) Molly my cat, anything that's chocolate,gourmet food HGTV,internet, and French culture are my obsessions. The biggest surprise ...Expand for more