THE END OF A VERY LONG ERA

I work across the street from two Chicago landmarks. One is the Chicago Cultural Center a beautiful building that was once the library. The other is Marshall Field's on State Street. As some of you know, Field's has been purchased by the May company and is going to become a Macy's any day now. They have been working like mad on this transformation. When I first heard the news I was rather apathetic. Although I spend more time in that store than is good for any human (shopping, eating lunch, browsing, walking to the train) I was not one of those people petitioning for the store to remain how it was. I kind of thought it was getting its comeuppance.

See, I am from Minneapolis. In Minneapolis we had this store called Dayton's. Dayton's was fantastic. Owned by the Dayton family who still lived locally it was classy, fashionable, and altogether wonderful. Then it was bought by Marshall Field's and was soon no more. People wanted them to change all the stores but keep the flagship Downtown Minneapolis store as Dayton's for history's sake. They didn't do that. People said the same thing about Marshall Field's on State. May didn't do that either. I figure you take over one city's history yours gets taken over as well. Karma. So I was one of the few people who didn't seem to care about the take-over. Not that there weren't many others who didn't care, it just seemed like I cared less to me.

Recently I have become somewhat saddened by this change. Primarily I am bummed that there are all kinds of sales going on and I am broke and can't partake in them. I haven't even ventured to the shoe department because I know I will see some deals and go home and cry. It isn't worth it. Secondly, I think the emerald green and white of Field's is a rather classy color combination while the Red and Black of Macy's is colder, more corporate. Essentially my fashion sense is slightly offended. Thirdly, well there really isn't a thirdly. Macy's is a fine store in its own right and I am sure that I will spend just as much time there as I have at Field's. I have just kind of shrugged it off and kept moving

This is why I was utterly shocked and amazed this morning that as I came out of the subway and saw a Macy's awning going up that I felt a deep sadness in my innards. I truly thought I didn’t care. Apparently I do. I don't know why I care, I didn't expect to, but I do. That pisses me off. What right does that store have to make me feel sad? None. I am thinking that things will slowly change the rest of this week and when I come back to work on Tuesday the 5th Field's will be no more. I won't even get one good-bye purchase. Maybe that's what gets me. The era ends and I won't be there to celebrate all the good times we had together. Maybe I'll go and have one last lunch in the cafeteria downstairs. They have a mean creamed spinach.

And now, an ode to Field's

Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears- Ok this Tears For Fears obsession of my shuffle function has to cease. I am being incorrectly represented. Today though, it works. Field's I am head over heels for you.

The Day The Niggaz Took Over, Dr. Dre- I am going to make this relevant somehow. Well Macy's colors are black and red right, the "guns go click the guns go bang" and the red starts flowing. As for the black...well it's too obvious and as much as I love racism I'm not going to say it. Oh, speaking of racism, on a blog that I unfortunately don't recall so I can't give it proper credit I saw this wonderfully racist ad for the Baylor College football team. You should look at it. It is great for laughs.

To Be With You, Mr. Big- Well this is just about the best song that could have possibly come on at this moment. I am the one who wants to be with Marshall Field's I only wish the lyrics were "waited on a line of green and white" so that it would be utterly perfect. Many people would be totally embarrassed by this song. While it is one of my many guilty pleasures I am not going to deny that I love this song. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Monica, you know you love it too
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