Arlington Million Horse Races and the Cubs

The best thing that has happened this summer would have been the experience of attending the Arlington Million Horse Race. This is like nothing I’ve ever done in my life! The entire crew was fortunate enought to spend the day at the Arlington Race Track. There were endless amounts of food buffets and VIP service. The girls were decked out in sundresses and oversized hats, with the guys in jackets and ties. We tried our luck at betting on horses, but weren’t too successful. The day was unlike any I ever had. We ended the day with dinner at a Tapas Bar in Lincoln Park, where we chatted and laughed for a few good hours. When the crew is all together on nights like these, we really have a good time.

A few days later, we were given tickets to see the Cubs at Wrigley Field. And it just happened to be that my cousin was in town over the weekend for a wedding, and she was able to join us for the game. It had been quite a while since I last saw her, so it was great to catch up over hot dogs and beer at Wrigley… doesn’t get much better than that! A few days later, a crew mate and I went to another game with left over tickets. These were 5th row on the 1st base line behind the dugout. I could smell the sweat from the players as they ran on and off the field. “Hey Chicago, whaddaya say.. Cubs are gonna win today!” And they sure did win.

A huge event in Chicago every summer is the Air and Sea Show that takes place over a weekend. The guests boarded the yacht for a day on the water, complete with deafening views and rumbles of the planes partaking in the festive air show. Twisting, turning, sky rocketing, flipping, and swirling are the only ways of describing the maneuvers that these acrobatic daredevils were performing. There were planes from Oshkosh a few weeks earlier that we had recognized. We sat anchored off of Oak Street Beach amongst the hundreds of other boats around us, not fitting in AT ALL. We stood out like a needle in a haystack! I didn’t know if people were there to watch the air show or be mesmerized by the sheer beauty of our luxury yacht. The Blue Angels came out of no where to conclude the magnificent show. After dinner on board and a quick ride on the jet skis, the guests decided it was time to head in and call it a day.

The summer came and went so fast. Now I find myself getting ready to say goodbye to my new family, not knowing if I’ll ever see them again! The thought of adjusting to the real world has crossed my mind, but I am so used to the yachting lifestyle. I have to start buying/cooking my own food, doing my own laundry, driving around a car and paying for gas, and find an apartment to live in (and also pay for rent, electric, etc!). Wow, I now realize how spoiled I got this summer, and what a remarkable experience it has been. Without the help of the crew and senior officers on the Blue Moon, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. They were role models to me, and I now look forward more than ever to committing full time to a boat sometime next year after graduation. Where will I end up next?! The amount of knowledge I’ve gained and the friendships I’ve made this summer will truly stick forever. Thanks, Blue Moon, for introducing me to a world I’m ready to go back to.

See More Photos At http://picasaweb.google.com/cooknh34

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