My nephew visited me in September, before he went off to college in London. I was excited to explore Chicago and downtown Naperville doing touristy things I don’t usally take the time to do unless, well, I’m with tourists. Aidan was like a little kid. Almost nineteen, he felt like a 9-year-old as he raced off to check out sights I had never really taken the time to admire. At one point, he stood in front of a mural that I was convinced must be new. He looked for a date, 2012. How was it possible that this mural had been at a location I’ve walked past hundreds of times and never noticed? Another time he jumped up on a statue to shake hands with a bronze veteran. I laughed and took a picture, but instead of walking away I decided to take the time and read about the 5 veterans, who were friends and went to Naperville High School and all came back from World War II with honors. Then there was the stained glass wall at the parking structure on Van Buren. I knew better to assume it was new as I stopped, this time, to take it in.
In the almost 15 years of living in Naperville I hadn’t really taken time to look at certain aspects of my own town. How was it that I had missed so much important stuff? And what else am I not seeing that’s right in front of my eyes? I wondered if this habit stemmed from not wanting to be seen? Like a child playing hide and seek in plain sight, but closes his eyes, surely no one can see him?
How often do we do this? How often do we close our eyes to ourselves because we are afraid of being seen? My nephew left to attend Goldsmiths Univeristy in London—where he will be for the next 3 years. And while I would’ve loved to give him some words of advice, it seemed he already knew. Allow yourself to not only see the world, but allow yourself to be seen by the world.
So, thank you Aidan for opening my eyes to the world. You are one special kid, and that I see very clearly.
Your aunt,
Jill
