Friday, May 22, 2009

The unfamiliar face of an old friend -- jcarolek

Last week, as we were heading out from church, on our way to catch a quick lunch before returning to play and sing for a wedding, my friend and I stopped to chat briefly with a woman, in her mid fifties, wearing a bright red dress and looking great, full of energy and in great humor. I was noticing her new hairstyle, short and sassy and her obvious success at weight loss since I'd last seen her a few months ago.

Just as I was about to greet her, my friend, stuck out her

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Of Course, It was Mother's Day -- jcarolek

Last Sunday I shared a lovely meal at a local restaurant with my children and their spouses, and a friend. My daughter presented me with a bouquet of flowers, fresh from her garden, and my son and daughter-in-law, gave me their framed portrait, the first since their October 2008 wedding. The occasion, of course, was Mother's Day, and as always, the best gift they gave me was their time.



We told old stories,

Thursday, May 7, 2009

In three word sentences -- jcarolek

Last weekend, before leaving Chicago where I had been on business travel, I had the opportunity to meet an incredibly interesting woman. In her mid-eighties and widowed, she made it clear she was thrilled to see us, my friend for the first time in thirty years, and me, for the first time ever. She welcomed us into her home, ordering a pizza which we shared as we visited.

It didn't take long for me to feel completely comfortable, and soon we were covering topics from her husband, whom I'd never met, to her great grandson who'd made her quite a sporting Easter bonnet out of newspaper. To be perfectly honest, this young haberdasher's work was far better

Friday, May 1, 2009

Thirty Years Later -- jcarolek

Chicago hot dogs.... I've heard the hype for years. I've never before been to the windy city, so I could only imagine these renowned street vendor fare. Last night I took a walk with a friend who spent his teen to young man years here. He had not been back to Chicago in thirty years, and he marveled at what he remembered and what he did not. We went to the place recommended by the hotel doorman. It was interesting. The walk itself was delightful. The hot dog wasn't bad, but it wasn't "to die for." Still, we took loads of pictures of Chicago at night and the balmy night air was a welcome change from the earlier morning rain-snow mix.