Lone benches seem to be a running theme in my photography. There is just something about an empty bench that seems to invite contemplation and meditation. The empty bench awaits company from a person full of thoughts. Muddled thoughts, racing thoughts, thoughts of their future, thoughts of their present, dilhemas, successes, hopes and dreams. Thoughts of their past and how to reconcile that past to their present. ………………………………………………... This particular bench is located right off of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. We were driving through this park, stopping at various intervals whenever we saw something that captured my attention, so that I could quickly jump out of the car and grab a picture. Now, normally, I would be walking around taking as many shots of as many things as humanly possible, but in this case we just didn't have time. We were on our way to the airport and this was my last chance to get any images of Chicago. I will admit that on this particular image, I didn't even get out of the car. Instead, I shamelessly directed my sister to pull forward/backward until I had the bench framed exactly the way I wanted. Did I mention that it was REALLY cold that day?