Love in the Time of Chicxulub

Concession of elegance and majesty this night,

She waits in repose, a lovely sight.

She peers to the heavens from her second floor lair,

Will her dreams be answered instead of despair?

She has been moved, I can see her no more,

The separation a stab, the pain to the core.

Separated by millions, and now only concrete,

Reuniting with my love? An occasion, bittersweet.

If I'd known you in life, I can just see you now,

So vibrant and fierce, but earnest in vow.

A collision of spirits when we were brought to this place,

I will love you always, the essence of grace.

To: Sue

From: Maximo

Sue: Late Cretaceous Period, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Lived 67 million years ago.

Maximo: Early to middle Cretaceous Period, Titanosaur.

Lived 100 million years ago.

Please excuse me, I have something in my eye.

.

.

.

While I love a good love and ghost story (either combined or no), this just gives me pause. I've met Sue before. I've remembered her well. She's always called to me in a way I can't explain. Is this supernatural? Or just an intense interest? Of that, I have no clue.

We think of haunted places in a way that carry on the essence of the dead, but what about spirits that are this old - are they still here? I'll be honest, I like being scared (like haunted house scared) but I can say that I've never really believed in ghosts, not really.

But there's something about Sue.

Something that makes me look twice.

I met Sue while living in Chicago for a short stent in 2012. I finally made it back in 2024 for a conference my husband was attending. One of my first thoughts when planning this trip? I get to visit HER.

And I did visit her. I walked one mile in the light rain, alone (much to the dismay of my husband who was not aware of my plans.) I thought, "I've lived here before. I'm a grown woman. I'm independent and brave." That is...until my phone was about to die and I didn't remember how to get back to the hotel. Cue panic here.

Why is this important? I made sure I did what I could to see my old friend, but my love story with Sue also led to a very romantic scene from my husband. Just before my phone died, I told him urgently where I was and he showed up on a white horse!

Well, the Chicago equivalent is a taxi, but he showed up and got me back safely all without making me feel bad about my judgement ( I felt bad enough already.)

Romance presents in many different forms and I can't help but wonder if Sue constructed this herself.

Sneaky T-Rex.

Our beloved T. Rex was unearthed in 1990 in South Dakota by Sue Hendrickson and remains the most intact T. rex to date! (Also the largest- you go, girl!)

Sue loves being from the Cretaceous period, but she gets along just fine in this day and age.

She poses for countless photos with her fans...(like me!)

AND runs her own successful social media account!

No really, please follow her on Twitter (X). You can thank me later :)

Now, Maximo? What a cutie. This was my first time meeting this gentle giant.

Maximo is a newly classified Titanosaur discovered in the region that is now Patagonia, Argentina.

This Titanosaur (Patagotitan mayorum) did not gain such a large name by being so small - the titanosaurs are the largest dinosaurs ever discovered!

Ignore the Kelly close-up and the frizzy hair- it was raining, remember???

And the other cool thing about this herbivore? He's a social butterfly too!

You can text him at 1-844-994-3466 and he responds back!

How do I know this? Well... I can't not text a dinosaur if presented with the opportunity.

I mean... I am an old soul, but a kid at heart <3

Does anyone else feel this way? I bet Sue and Maximo do :)

The Field Museum in Chicago is a favorite of mine for many reasons: the curations are unique and I have my friends there. Check out https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/sue-t-rex to learn more about Sue.

Sue was moved to her new exibit on the second floor in 2018 to help make room for Maximo. Knowing this and seeing them in person had my imagination going wild (as per usual!)

WHAT IF their spirits met in the museum after millions of years underground and lived happily ever after? To me, it's a love story so subtle and outrageous that it's easy to overlook.

To Sue and Maximo,

A quiet place, a gentle space, a loving embrace in the depths of eternity.

The dust is displaced as wind blows, revealing the revenants in repose.

Happy Valentine's Day <3

Stay true to yourself. The rest will follow.

-Dr. V