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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Friday, March 29

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Erica / April 17, 2007 9:14 AM

OMG. Kinda scary! I'll be 38! I plan to still be in the Chicago area, but with more traveling under my belt!

In 1998, I was a junior at NIU in DeKalb.

spook / April 17, 2007 9:17 AM

Why," Nawleans",

if every thing goes according to plan.

I'm gone miss yall, or at least some ah yall that made a Spook laugh

Andrew / April 17, 2007 9:19 AM

(Question suggested by Jen, btw.)

Nine years from now, I should still be here, possibly in the same home, but maybe not.

In 1998, I was living in North Center, hating my job and doing music publicity for a couple bands on the side.

thumper / April 17, 2007 9:34 AM

If I knew where'd I'll be nine years from now, I'd go there now. East Coast? West Coast? Europe?

Nine years ago I was in Evanston.

michelle / April 17, 2007 9:39 AM

i wish i had any sort of idea where i will be in 9 years.

9 years ago i was a junior in high school, listening to pearl jam, taking art classes and looking for a prom dress.

ken / April 17, 2007 9:46 AM

9 years ago - Playing in the band (the farewell tour if you will), finishing degree #1 and packing to move to Florida.

By 2016, I'll be back in Florida or the Virgin Islands (if climate change doesn't put them underwater) likely playing in a new band

Mikey / April 17, 2007 9:49 AM

If all goes as planned, in 2016 I will be married to my present girlfriend and living with her and her then-to-be 15-year-old daughter (God help me), and possibly one or two children of our own. The bigger question is whether I will be able to convince her to move to the Northside, or she gets her way and converts me into a Southsider. I'm not liking my odds...

Nine years ago, I was (unhappily) working as an account manager at a yellow pages advertising agency, renting a 3-bedroom apartment with two other guys across the street from Lakeview Links, and probably drinking too much. Just trying to find some direction, really...

Jill / April 17, 2007 10:11 AM

Whoa. Nine years ago I was doing just about the same job I'm doing now (research), only it was still pretty new at the time and somewhat exciting.

Since then I've moved from Old Irving Park and life with a roommate and massive credit card debt to Lakeview and life with husband and no debt. Same job (the benefits are AMAZING so there's not much incentive to leave), same desire to be a writer, though now I'm actually working more at it.

In 2016....I'm hoping there's kids in the picture, and man, it would be nice to have a house. Will I still be in Chicago? Really not sure about that.

G.P. / April 17, 2007 11:02 AM

Nine years ago I was doing the same damn thing I'm doing now. I had more hair and a smaller waistline.

In 2016 I will be 42. I hope to be alive, still married, still cooking and still riding my bicycle. I will probably have moved out of the city and into Norridge or Harwood Heights. By 2016 I will hope to have already seen Europe.

Peter / April 17, 2007 11:43 AM

Nine years ago I was in prison.

Nine years from now I will be dead.

Y A J / April 17, 2007 11:53 AM

9 years ago I was single and living in Palmer's Square before it gentrified. I worked incredibly long hours at a not-for-profit advocacy organization.

In 2016 I’ll still be living on the south side and still working for the government and I’ll have been married for 16 years.

e_five / April 17, 2007 11:59 AM

In 1998 I was finishing up a masters and working at a non-profit downtown doing their Annual Report.

Nine years from now, I expect to be the Warlord of the Central Plains, commanding a post-apocalyptic army of mutants scavenging the countryside.

jasmine / April 17, 2007 12:18 PM

nine years from now: i'll be 39 (yikes), probably still in chicago, hopefully happily employed with a couple of kiddos and a cool partner.

nine years ago: i was 21, seeing way too many concerts, drinking way too much, and was about to meet the man i would be with for the next seven years.

Thurston / April 17, 2007 12:23 PM

Nine years ago I was living in Seattle, enjoying the beautiful outdoors but wondering if I wasn't cut out to live someplace warmer. Despite that, I later moved to Chicago, where I remain, often chilly but happy.

Nine years from now I really hope I will be living in Mexico City or São Paulo, working for an airline.

adam / April 17, 2007 12:28 PM

Nine years ago I was freelancing, mostly in Schaumburg, and living in Evanston. I was on my last girlfriend before meeting my first wife (she refers to me as her current husband, just to be fair), and spending a lot of time at Kopi, Avanti, the Music Box, and Xoinx tea room (anyone remember that place?)

In 2016, I will probably still living in our house in Skokie, possibly working for the same company (if it hasn't packed up shop) although doing something different, I'll wager, and still be married. No kids, but should still have cats (we're getting some new ones soon, so they should still be around, especially since the previous ones lasted almost 18 years each).

I hope in 2016 I'm NOT watching a Chicago Olympics, but I've already weighed in on that subject.

Interesting question!

printdude / April 17, 2007 12:33 PM

Nine Years ago I worked in the loop, and lived in Ukie Village.

Nine Years from now I will be tending my garden on the SouthSide and hopefully(!) renting out the house for $2500 a week, possbily even making it a small B&B for the 'Lympics.

leah / April 17, 2007 12:50 PM

This month in 1998 I'd just had my heart broken and adopted a too-young-to-be-away-from-mom kitten from a factory in Indiana.

I lived in Uptown with 2 roommates & we had roaches the size of small dogs. It was a 3-bedroom for $785.

Nine years from now I will be 38 will probably be in Chicago. The cat will probably be dead.

Hopefully I'll own property either in Merida or Isla Mujeres, Mexcio. c'mon universe!

Taylor / April 17, 2007 1:02 PM

9 years ago I was a junior in HS and relatively miserable. I was looking forward to getting the hell out of Northern Virginia.

In 2016, I can't say where I'll be considering that I am not unopposed to moving away from Chicago and nine years is a long time. As of right now I love it here and have no desire to move.

jen / April 17, 2007 2:16 PM

9 years ago - i was 21, living in my first apartment in st. louis, while attending webster university. i'm pretty sure i was dirt broke and what little money i did have was used on booze. and it was right around this time in 1998 i found out i was going to london for a semester.

9 years from now - i better be a west coaster and loving it, in the company of my husband and our animals. and by this time, i hope to have found my true calling, but that remains to be seen.

jj / April 17, 2007 2:21 PM

Nine years ago I was in college, living on my own for the first time, working three part time jobs, causing trouble on campus, recently dumped, deciding to switch career paths, driving my grandma's hand me down car, not sleeping a lot but having the time of my life.

In 2016, I will be at the Chicago Olympics! GO TEAM CHICAGO! I will also have a different job, side freelance business, book published, different car, little to no debt, and a home. Also probably a puppy and/or husband. I'm optimistic.

Steve / April 17, 2007 2:23 PM

9 years ago I was an hourly flunkie doing proofreading at a professional services firm. interestingly enough, among the documents I proofread were studies on the feasibility of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics here in Chicago (the consensus was our facilities were inadequate and our mass transit system too patchy to host the games). how things change after a city adds a few planters to the busy streets!

in 2016 I suspect my life will be a lot like it is today, with perhaps a shortie replacing the mother-in-law under our roof. and we'll have pallets and straw down in our basement for the Olympic tourists that we'll be hosting thanks to our proximity to a Metra line.

spook / April 17, 2007 2:48 PM

Any one seen Allan? I mean if ever there was an "
Allan question", -this is it, make no mistake, this is it. the waiting is over, this is it...- I loved that song!

DCR / April 17, 2007 3:44 PM

Nine years ago I moved out of my parents' basement, sailed the British Virgin Islands, and then moved into a coach house in Bucktown and started my current job.

Nine years from now I will be doing something else somewhere else. Probably still in the area and still married.

sky / April 17, 2007 4:25 PM

9 years ago I was a junior in high school and was in love for the first time and subsequently, losing my virginity.

9 years ahead I will be 35, sweet jesus. I hope I will working for company that does international aid...I have a husband that loves me, and a child that learns to poop in a potty at a young age.

fluffy / April 17, 2007 4:35 PM

I don't plan my life that f ar in advance. I have no clue where I'll be - my life has taken so many weird twists and turns....
9 years ago- In 1998- I'd been living in Chicago for a year, was living in Andersonville with my then-husband. Mr. M's buddy was alive and kicking. I thought I felt loved and safe and happy, but soon after I started going downhill into a deep depression ...it all started falling apart after that. I realized I had become someone's shadow and nothing more. I never saw it coming - heartbreak.

I've since healed, I've moved on and I've learned a lot in the past 9 years. I doubt that I'll ever get married again.
I hope that in 9 years I'm healthy and happy (and selling my art).

Mr M will probably have a whole new show; new stunts; new outfits. He never ceases to amaze. The Olympics will be a side show in comparison.

fluffy / April 17, 2007 4:37 PM

oh, i also found the pure power of unicorns! yea!

HIM / April 17, 2007 6:26 PM

9 years ago I was doing the same thing I do every night, trying to take over the world!

In 9 years, I will have taken over the world and will be ruling it with an Iron Fist of Doom and a fully armed and fully operational Battle Station!

Mikey / April 17, 2007 7:08 PM

But if I'm not happily married with children in 9 years, then I hope to be embroiled in some sort of last stand against the murderous hordes of flesh-eating zombies...

kate / April 17, 2007 8:26 PM

I was an absolute terror at 17, hanging out in Wicker Park (when the pool table at Estelle's was ruled by junkies and dudes who wanted to fuck you up) and being kind of a shit. Ahh, teenagers - can't stand 'em.

In 9 years, I dunno... maybe I'll have a couple new pairs of kicks, will have read a few more books and made out with a few more dudes. I shoot for the stars.

Emerson Dameron / April 17, 2007 8:38 PM

In 1995, I was an surly, lonely, often stoned high school kid in Nebo, North Carolina.

In 2016, I will be more considerate of others.

Toni / April 17, 2007 9:10 PM

1998-Working for an internet company in Austin, TX

2016-Retired to the Hill Country

Mo / April 18, 2007 7:54 AM

9 years ago, I was in college at UNC Greensboro, and I had just come back from Plymouth, England on student exchange, where I had a ton of fun, but I would have gotten a lot more out of it had I been older when I went.

In 9 years from now I hope to have at least one book published, and I would prefer it *not* to be published posthumously. I also hope to be healthy and making enough money and spare time to have a pet.

printdude / April 18, 2007 8:06 AM

so Kate,
you remember the "fun House" pinball game that you could play for an hour on a quarter because the tilt was busted?
Ah, the dirty estelle's.
Miss that.

a / April 18, 2007 9:22 AM

9 years ago I had just graduated college in NC and was taking a semester off before I embarked on my first (soon to be) dismal teaching job in Asheboro, NC.

9 years from now I hope to have moved to another country and will be speaking to my puppy, kitten, and/or small children in French, Italian, or Spanish. Perhaps I will be teaching in my spare time, but running a bakery/bar/cafe/daydreaming space won't leave much time for that.

p / April 18, 2007 9:59 AM

9 ago you could find me just out of high school. the owner of a perry ellis america poly/cotton blend track suit. liked wu tang clan alot and worked nights as a package sorter at ups. i was marv albert for haloween and went to jail dressed as such. i had a name tag that read "Hello my name is marv" but all the cops thought it looked like mary so that's what they called me. i went on outward bound. i was relatively unable to grow facial hair. i had narrow perspectives. i developed a love of making milkshakes and bananamilks. visited manhattan for the first time.

9 yrs. from now- happy with and "all in" on my career. w/ my masters. having made the smooth transition from dreamy to handsome. probably back in chicago after having spent several yrs. in another city. in need of a humongous cognac glass to hold all the matchbooks of places i've been. with loads more stories. and also more personal designs and hopes that involve babies and the love that lovers love. and being a chicago ambassador for the 2016 Olympics. let's go chi tonw!

jerry 101 / April 18, 2007 10:06 AM

9 years ago I was in college, enjoying the college life.

In 9 years, I'll be in Chicago. Cursing the damn CTA. I don't know much beyond that.

spook / April 18, 2007 10:19 AM

I thought Estelle's was a fine upscale bar.

I mean if you got into three fights there in one night, you were OUTTA THERE.......for one whole night

Even after 2:00am yuppies didn't stray in
and they had Grolsh in the original bottle, alot better to smash over some body's
head with the metal cork connector.

yea I miss it too!

skafiend / April 18, 2007 10:36 AM

My memories of Estelle....
trying to read bad poetry on that tiny stage while drunk people where shouting shit and trying to take the cover off the pool table to shoot a game...

Mindy / April 18, 2007 11:06 AM

9 years ago i was a wee whipper snapper finishing up my year as a 6th grader.

9 years from now, when i'm 30, i hope to at least have a business plan for the bakery i'm going to open (location is yet to be decided).

Lucky Bastard / April 18, 2007 11:13 AM

9 YEARS AGO TODAY, my partner of 8 years and I were living in our dream home, in Florida. I was flying high in a consulting career, making great money, seeing the world. We were about 35. We threw some kick-ass parties and occasionally shared a bottle of wine on the beach at night. Our oldest dog had just died, which I thought was the worst thing that could possibly happen. That thought changed when he (my partner) was diagnosed with acute leukemia a month later. He had been a hardy specimen, lifting weights, swimming 100 laps a few times a week, when a twist of genetic fate intervened. After a six-week hospitalization, he died, in early July 1998. The shock and awe of the experience led me to relocate to Chicago.

9 YEARS FROM NOW I will still marvel at my great fortune to have had him in my life, and my stupidity for having taking it all for granted.

paul / April 18, 2007 11:14 AM

9 years ago wasn't much different than today.

9 years from now, I plan to be well-trained for some sort of Olympic sport that I haven't decided on yet. After all, I have a few years to think about it.

Oh, and I'll have a flying car.

eep / April 18, 2007 11:41 AM

Nine years ago I had transferred down to U of I and had no idea what I was doing with my life. Just kind of floating through classes, holing up with a few friends... College wasn't the wild party everyone else seemed to enjoy.

Nine years from now I'll be married and probably have a kid or two. My hope is to work part-time from home to be an at-home parent, because Lord knows my "career" isn't even close to my top priority. I hope to still be living somewhere around Chicago, because I love this city. But who knows where life will take me.

james / April 18, 2007 11:46 AM

nine years ago i was in high school. right about this time of the year, i was pining over two girls. i eventually made a poor decision on that front.

nine years from now, i'll hopefully have made some better decisions. i also hope to own a home.

Loadzone / April 18, 2007 11:58 AM

Nine years from now: I have no idea. I'm not really sure how I wound up here in the first place.

Nine years ago: Not talking about cats on my web blog. Realizing that calculus based physics was a horrible idea for a college freshman. Enjoying thursday-sunday weekends.

peanut / April 18, 2007 12:02 PM

nine years ago i was bumming around post-graduation champaign, had just gone vegan, and drank lots of beer.

nine years from now, i'll be 40, and if i don't have kids by then i'll probably never have them (which is okay by me). i'll be working in some amazing archival repository. hopefully i'll maintain my DIY ethic and youthful vigor.

peanut / April 18, 2007 12:03 PM

nine years ago i was bumming around post-graduation champaign, had just gone vegan, and drank lots of beer.

nine years from now, i'll be 40, and if i don't have kids by then i'll probably never have them (which is okay by me). i'll be working in some amazing archival repository. hopefully i'll maintain my DIY ethic and youthful vigor. if i'm still renting i'd be bummed.

peanut / April 18, 2007 12:04 PM

oops.

erin / April 18, 2007 12:07 PM

In 9 years, I wouldn't mind being somewhere warmer than Chicago. And hopefully making more money.

Nine years ago, I was a sophomore in high school. Driving a blue minivan. Lifeguarding all summer. Life was good.

Bill V / April 18, 2007 12:12 PM

Well I keep moving West, Clark St, Sheffield 9 years ago, probably Colorado in 2016. Or still in Chicago.

jaymce / April 18, 2007 1:26 PM

nine years ago i was living large in stockholm

nine years from now i will still live in humboldt park

DXO / April 18, 2007 2:06 PM

9 years ago i was on a poetry performance tour for camel cigarettes.

9 years from now i'll be organizing the Last Battle of the Corn Field, gathering troops to fight e_five's mutants, financed in part by stealing and selling paul's flying car

Lex / April 18, 2007 4:53 PM

In 2016 I will be an awesome 40 year old. Probably trying to figure out how to incorporate the Olympic hype into making more money for my company. And probably married with a kid or two.

9 years ago I was a pathetic college student at the University of Iowa, trying to figure out how to get through the week on Ramen noodles and the pizza we'd steal from the all you can eat buffet at Godfathers.

Thank God the present is better than my past!

C-Note / April 18, 2007 5:08 PM

In 2016, hopefully I won't have been disbarred, and I'll be running the show in my little corner of the world.

9 years ago I was a sophomore in college, deciding to double-major in music and philosophy, but mostly just playing all kinds of music all fucking day long, trying to get medeski martin & wood and the Flecktones to come down there, and trying to figure out how to get the hell out of the country.

jennifer / April 18, 2007 6:47 PM

nine years ago - I was a senior in high school in my small hometown in rural iowa. had already decided to go to college in new york. was likely working on finishing the yearbook, running tryouts for the dance team, getting ready to be in my last high school play, going to senior award ceremonies, attending hours of dance practice. yes, overachiever.

nine years from now - I will be done with this ph.d. program and will either be in my first couple of years as a professor somewhere or working for a human rights ngo. it's kind of scary to admit this, but I hope that I'll still be with my current boyfriend. whoa...I just put us on the indefinite path.

lori / April 18, 2007 10:28 PM

In a perfect world, in nine years I will have a 19 year old, a 16 year old and a 13 year old. We will perhaps have moved to a slightly larger house, and everyone will be doing what they love.

In nine years and 32 days I will have been married for 21 years. I'll be 49.

Nine years ago we had a two year old, were contemplating buying some land in WI and saying goodbye to the city, but fate intervened and here we are.

Nine years ago my daughter and I were making friends with a group of mothers and their one and two year olds who are still our friends to this day. I hope that is still true nine years from now.

mk / April 19, 2007 11:31 AM

I'll be heating my apartment with all of those damn fone books that are lying around my neighborhood.

Along with french fries feuling my bicycle.

mk / April 19, 2007 11:32 AM

oops! nine years ago, I was working at a startup interactive ad agency.

booooooooooo!

(I still work in the industry)

s / April 19, 2007 1:04 PM


9 years ago I was an angry teenager, listening to too much Tori Amos, shopping at thrift stores, burning omlettes, roaming the ravines, working at Ravinia Festival and Video Adventure and the Library, getting good grades, sneaking into bars, having sex with boys, playing with pin-hole cameras.
9 years from now I will ask my friend David if he wants to be involved in a sham marriage with me so that we can adopt and have a home and have all the fun in the world that we want without ever comprimsing any of our needs, morals, whims, fantasies or obligations to construct intelligent, jewish, liberal, community minded, aritistically gifted, hilarious, bundles of joy to give the world. Also, 9 years from now I hope my inheritance comes in because I think my humor will only get better with wealth.

-s-

Judy / May 25, 2007 3:11 PM

I know no one will read this because it's a month after the question was asked.

but Lucky Bastard's entry made me teary.

9 years ago my dad was still alive, I was happily married and had a nice, simple life.

I hope that 9 years from now finds me happy with a nice, simple life because right now I am not terribly happy and usually stressed out.

I miss my dad terribly and I know that while I will never ever not hurt, the pain won't be as intense 9 years from now.

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