a gyro at Pinky’s

The last time that I was in Chicago, Illinois, I had a gyro at Pinky's in the atrium mall of the glass-fronted Thompson State of Illinois Center next to the Daley Center complex. It was tasty with real tahini sauce. I wanted to unwind and replenish after some turbulent court hearings before my long drive back to Bloomington, Illinois. But when I am out in public, like at that food court in front of Pinky’s, I notice scruffy, desperate-looking young men casing me. It feels like they want to rob me. I try to look alert and strong, but I am frighteningly aware that this is impossible for me. The police know it too because when they see the miscreants speculating around me, they move closer to counter it. So whenever I am in public, there is a distant, yet closely focused on me, swarm of forces for bad (scruffy desperate young men) and good (wholesome young police officers), like vibrant electrons orbiting around a slow, old atom. Delusions of grandeur? Maybe, but I do know that I am very lucky to live in civilization.

I wanted to take a photograph of this awesome atrium, but even leaning against a pillar, I was too dizzy, so here is an image from the public domain, and my receipt.

Caption: Pinky's is in the Atrium Mall

of the Thompson State of Illinois Center

image in public domain 2018.