Make It Happen | 2008

Growing up, my mom used to tell me stories about Chicago,

the lights, energy, the people.

She dreamed of coming here and being a dancer.

That's where you got the moves from.

Yep. She studied to be one.

Chose to be a mom instead. So she passed the dream down to me.

Is she still in Glenwood?

No, no. She passed away.

I'm sorry.

She got pretty sick when I was about 10,

and it took a lot out of us, especially my dad.

After Mom, he just... spent all his time in the garage.

He said it kept his mind off missing her.

And then one night, three years ago,

I was coming back to the garage after a recital.

Joel was in Indy picking up equipment and he'd asked me to stay with Dad.

But some dancer friends wanted to go out to dinner.

Later when I did get to the garage...

...I found him on the floor.

He'd had a heart attack.

I always wonder if I'd just got there 10 minutes earlier...

You can't do that to yourself.

After that, I put school on hold to stay and help Joel out with the shop.

Since losing Dad, it's just been the two of us.

That had to be hard.

You know, all of it.

Yeah.

So what's in there?

This? This is the best sweet and sour shrimp in Chicago.

Really?

Want some?

Sure.

Yeah, that's Lincoln Park,

where all the kids hang out with the students and what not.

Then you got downtown, where the bankers are.