Only in Chicago...

Hancock Building

Chicago LOVES its TALL buildings. It has 12 of the tallest 100 in the world. New York city is second with 6 in the top 100.   The Hancock building is 100 stories tall.  While the Trump tower is 92 stories tall. Both however are smaller than Chicago's tallest building, the Willis (formerly the Sears) Tower.  It rises an incredible 110 stories above the ground.  It is still the tallest building in the U.S., but has fallen from #1 in the world to being only the 3rd tallest.

Willis Tower

The Willis Tower was built in 1973 and receives millions of visitors each year.  Sister Beck and I first toured it in 1983 when we came back East to do a church/country historical trip with the Rigby's. It was amazing then and perhaps even more amazing now (looking out of our window and seeing it every day and night). For those of you that live in SLC, the Willis Tower would be like have FOUR Church office buildings (26 floors) stacked on top of each other!

We had some good friends come through Chicago a week ago, Scott Child, his two sons, Geoff & Andrew, and Scott's son-in-law.  We arranged for our preparation day to be the same day they were here so we could spend some time with them. They had flown into Chicago to drive down to South Bend Indiana to attend the Notre Dame - University of Utah football game.  While the game didn't turn out too well.... we had a lot of fun (missionary speaking) spending some time with them.  They wanted to see some of the sights of Chicago.  So we started off with perhaps the number one attraction, the Willis Tower.  They've made some changes since Sister Beck and I were there in the 80's.  On the one side of the building, they have built 4 "ledges" off the side of the building with Plexiglas. 

Scott on the LEDGE

When you enter these ledges, it gives you the feeling that there is NOTHING below you.  It's quite a shock to enter and look down.  Here's Scott checking one out.  The trick was to try and get Sister Beck out on the ledge.  

Some family members will remember the episode on the Pyramid in Chichen Itza.  Sister Beck is "a little" afraid of heights, especially if there is noting around her for support.  She climbed to the top of the Pyramid and then turned around and almost died.  I wasn't sure how I was EVER going to get her down.  I finally had her sit down and slide out to the steps where the rope was for those needing help in getting down, cling onto the rope and slide down one step at a time.  

In the tower, she was getting lots of pressure from all of us, finally she backed onto the ledge, making sure she didn't look down. She just kind of backed out looking up at the camera until we all got in position for a picture.  I was SO PROUD of her... Here's the proof she made it!!

All of us on the LEDGE

I even ventured out and took a picture looking STRAIGHT down, that REALLY gave you an eerie feeling!  

110 Stories STRAIGHT down

It was a little hazy so we didn't have the best views of the city, but it was still fun to see the city from up above.


Sister Beck and I were surprised we could see our apartment building from the tower.  However, I guess we shouldn't have been surprised, since we can see the tower from our apartment.

Finding our Apt

After spending about 90 minutes in the tower, we found our way down and headed out to see the famous "Water Tower." In the  Chicago Fire of 1871, the Tower along with a couple of churches were the only buildings that survived.  It's a cool old building RIGHT in the center of town. 

Water Tower

We checked out the tourist center and the Child's decided they wanted to take the Subway up to Wrigley's Field.  Even though it was closed they felt like they needed to at least go up and take some pictures of it.

After visiting "Cub's Land," we went back into the city to find a "REAL" Chicago Hot Dog.


We found a little "dive" just off of Michigan Ave, where we all tried one of their DOGS.  Not too bad.


We spent about 4 hours with the Child's and then headed back to our apartment while they checked out more of Chicago before heading back to their hotel near Midway Airport.t

While walking to one of our appointments one day, we came across this bus stop with the BEST SEATS any where, so I had to stop and take a picture.

While Chicago has a lot to see and do, one of OUR FAVORITE buildings and sights is the one below.  We have been able to keep our streak alive, of going to the temple once every week (for the past 8 1/2 years).  While it's a little more difficult to do here because the temple is about 35-40 minutes away, it's still something we hope to be able to do all our mission.  Unfortunately, not too many Chicago members attend.  Too bad for them!