'Da Coach

 Yes friends you are looking at the picture correctly! That IS Mike Ditka. Zack and I had a night downtown together to celebrate both of our birthdays. Payton had a sleep over at "Ya Ya" and Grandpa's house while we did and overnight in a beautiful historic hotel and dinner at Ditka's restaurant. We started the day by checking into our hotel , The Allerton, and walked up and down Michigan Avenue window shopping. It was a gorgeous day and it was nice to not be on a nap schedule,lol. We both got each other new outfits to where to dinner which I blame on meeting 'Da Coach! I felt amazing in my new digs and was ready for a night out on the town. We decided to walk over a little early to the restaurant to have a drink and relax be fore we order dinner. We were seated right away and ordered some drinks. We did not even get half way through our first drinks before the bartender came over and said we were in the Coach's table ,he was on his way, and we had to move. I was shocked but of course my pessimistic self told Zack "oh sure! They tell everyone that so they wait around and spend more!",LOL. We were moved to the table right next to them and before we knew it dinner came (which was amazing) and so did Ditka's wife. At one point I truly had to tell Zack to stop staring. Then we both started to get excited and nervous. Question #1, What do we have for him to sign, we will just have to buy the menu.Question#2 Do we want to bother him while he is having a nice dinner with friends and family Question#3 Is this truly happening right now!? Lets all remember how big of fans we are of the Chicago Bears as well as the Coach (Ditka) of the '85 bears. We did not take the spelling of Walter Payton's name for Payton for no reason. Zack immediately went to check out the souvenir shop for anything for Ditka to sign and I immediately starting texting my dad about how would we approach him. Still Ditka was not at the restaurant and I started to lose hope. Zack pretty much made me order dessert to wait it out,LOL. I decided to go to the bathroom and , a little buzzed, started talking up a lady i met. Knew her life story by the end. I walk out to my table and Zack has the biggest grin on his face and there is "Da Coach arm length width apart. Zack told me someone already got a picture with him and i immediately told him to go down and buy Bears jersey throm the souvenir shop downstairs!Next thing ya know Ditka looks down at me while taking a picture with other people and say "What are you doing?, I want to take a picture with you!". He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and said he would wait for my hubby to get back to get a pic! So excited , Zack came bouncing up the stairs and couldn't believe we were already talking! We got a great picture and autograph signed Jersey! So amazing and 'Da Coach was a very nice guy! Hear is to our "Lil Payton, as in the 85 Bear Walter the great!

What a FUN dinner! After that we were pretty tired from all the excitement and drinking of waiting Ditka out! We headed back to our hotel and called it a night. I love my hubby very much and glad we both got that great birthday gift!