Bits and Pieces

Inaugural: the nasty deed is done. Unremarkable and publicly challenged by other events more important to millions of people. The transformation hoped for by less than a majority of voters will unfold in spits mostly unsuccessful. History will tell the story accurately in time. I fear a very failed presidency but in the end, one that proves that democracy is not dead in America. We the People shall prevail. It’s in the Constitution!

Moving Progress: a lot of things tossed out, in the trash. Quite a bunch of things donated to local charities like the local food pantry, churches, and such. Family and friends took some of these things, too. I discovered things I had stashed away that were better in the hands of my ex-wife; she took some of this while pointing out that she too, should be downsizing! The week before residency in the new apartment will be a whirlwind of activity as I transport many loads a day to the new apartment. The walker/rollator accommodates a good arm load of clothing and pots and pans. The grocery cart in the garage will take much larger loads. I suspect with a little help most of the small movables will change apartments quickly. The big stuff will be moved by two professionals in a couple of hours. The rest is settling in, making the bed, organizing the kitchen and bathroom, and then plopped in a chair to snooze between repeated tasks. I can see how this will go, and it is not daunting with so much help. Thank you for this!

Cold: Brrr! Well, this is winter in Illinois, and we will get cold weather. We have had a few bits of it so far this season, and that is to be expected. A few days here and there is normal. Hard winters deliver longer streams of days near or below zero. I remember days when the temperature high for the day was near zero or below. Yes, kids, this truly happened. And snow!

Well, let us just say that snow is a normal in Illinois, but the annual average is about 34 inches. I’ve lived in Syracuse, New York, where the average is 127 inches and above. The six years I lived there, snow piled up from 134 to 155 inches. Snowy? You bet. Not so in Illinois.

We’ve had some pretty snowy winters. I remember 1967, 1978/79 and a few other years when snowfalls were momentous. I know them because I lived through them while commuting into Chicago daily and doing a lot of walking. You tend to remember such when on foot.

This season should be fairly mild: warmer temps, some cold snaps, and snow about 32 inches in total. Maybe even less. That’s mild. So, grin and bear it in the meantime.

January 24, 2025

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more