In writing, I am well aware of antecedents. In writing, I make sure that it’s absolutely clear to the reader exactly what I’m referring to.

Not so in life. My daughter and I could be talking about something five minutes ago, and now we’re talking about something else, and then I have a new thought about the previous topic, and I  pick up where we left off, and she simply can’t follow my train of thought.

Let’s say that previously we were talking about how wonderful animals are, and the second topic is about helicopters. So I might say, referring to dogs, for example: “They can really leap over tall fences.” My daughter’s face goes blank. And I know she is thinking: “What the …”

But this tendency of mine is getting serious now. Let me tell you what happened when I arrived at Union Station in Chicago, quite a large Amtrak station.

Lauren told me to call her the minute I got in and tell her exactly where I am so she can  find me. She would be at the train station waiting for me, but we didn’t know what track I would be coming in on and all that.

Before I called her, I thought I should identify where exactly I am standing in this busy place  so I could tell her exactly where to find me without confusion.

There was a friendly porter near me, so I went up to him, smiled, got his attention, and said: “Where am I?”

He looked at me so kindly: “Why, madam, you are at the Amtrak Station.”

I knew what I was talking about, but the nice porter thought I didn’t know where I was!

I said quickly: “Oh, I know I’m at the Amtrak Station, but where exactly at the Amtrak Station am I? Where should I tell my daughter to pick me up?”

He gave me a lot of words — South or North or something Canal Street — and some numbers no one would be able to remember. He smiled kindly, and then he went on pushing the luggage rack.

I called Lauren, and just as I was talking to her on the phone, she appeared.  We were reunited.

And while we were still there, this dear porter came by, and said to me: “Did your daughter find you yet?”

I pointed to her and said,”Yes, and here she is!”

And so my story ended happily, and now you know how nice people in Chicago are and how it is important to put your questions in context.