At the bottom of the hill that we lived on two years ago, there was a Kum & Go. (For those of you outside Iowa or the Midwest in general, Kum & Go is an unfortunately-named chain of convenience stores.) Some nights, right around one or two, Mark and Neil and I would blast down the hill to see if the Krispy Kreme truck had arrived. If it had, it meant we got free doughnuts during the changeover from last night’s to tonight’s. Day-old doughnuts, especially Krispy Kremes, are barely distinguishable from fresh ones. That particular K&G was also a favorite stop on the way home from the bar, of course, and Neil would go in and flirt with the girl who worked there while at the same time shoplifting ridiculous things like sunglasses, novelty pens, and at one point, a large stuffed bunny. One time he went right up to the counter, looked at her and said, “You’re beautiful.” He was drunk and, fortunately for him, she was flattered.

Two mornings in a row now I’ve seen the same kid on his way to school at Pritzker. He’s probably about ten, and pudgy, walking alone, and he’s got his hair immaculately combed into a sophisticated, sweeping configuration. It’s wonderful. Today I saw him getting off the train as I was getting on. I love the thought of him styling his hair meticulously and then marching off to the train. He’s like a miniature gentleman.

Last night I went on a small shopping expedition to North Michigan. I saw the first sunset I’ve seen in a long time: small pink clouds in a dark blue sky in the small spaces between buildings. Snow was melting everywhere, water dripping off the pedestrian canopies and onto people’s heads. It’s too early for spring, but already people are walking differently; “we walk with our heads up instead of down.” Already, there’s a change. At least until the next snowfall.