Chonkasaurus

People clock me real fast as being from the United States. What can I say, wherever I go I’m not from around here.

I keep telling people that I came from Chicago. Most recently, Chicago. It comes out naturally, and unless they crack on questioning I don’t say Illinois, or Kentucky by way of California or all my other inbetweens of wandering.  I think it helps that Chicago is the only place I think about going back to (home to) which is a comforting degree of certainty. I have had home bases in the last 20+ years but my intention has never been committed like it is to Chicago. And the city shows up in funny ways in my daily life here, which feels synchronous.

This evening I wanted to show my new flatmates what a snapping turtle looks like.  I pulled up an image search , and then got inordinately excited to see Chonkosaurus as the first search result. The quintessential, essence of, snapping turtle distilled. Wrapped up and delivered across the globe care of Joey. 

Photo credit: Joey Santore (Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't).

In the moment it felt like seeing an unexpected friend, or celebrity.  My old Chicago buddy, the river monster.