Grapes of Reflection 2021

This time of year stirs my heart because the act of reflection resonates with me deeply, and I do it often on this blog.  Even in a year that continued to be marked by the challenges of the pandemic and then some, probing deeply helps me feel a profound sense of gratitude and joy for this year.  We were still able to make things happen, like how the Olympics were still held after a year's delay, and the event certainly inspired me.  Additionally, I think about how even having my wisdom teeth removed gave me a different perspective on pain, with a purpose, and how we can still attain to the goodness that is all around us.  And so now, I reflect on this year of 2021 in the spirit of a Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes at the changing of the year.

Grape #1- I typically publish this post on my blog on New Year's Eve, and based on the time I'm doing it today, I haven't had the chance yet to write about the big event that's concluding 2021 for me that is happening later in the day, the wedding of Heather and Zach, my great friend from ValpU.  It's a special way to end the year by reconnecting with a great friend at an important time in his life.  (I may very well write something on my blog in the near future, so please stay tuned.)

Grape #2- The wedding of Leslie and Tyler was special as an opportunity to reconnect with ValpU friends and to also enhance my experience of the Roman Catholic sacramental life at the first wedding Mass I ever attended in my life.

Grape #3- My trip to Florida was a great time with family, enjoying the subtropical climate, and wonderful sightseeing, with a day-long layover in Washington, D.C. on the way back, as I enjoyed riding the rails.

Grape #4- My trip to Dallas in July was a fabulous opportunity to visit another presidential museum, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and to reconnect with my years growing up.  It was another great ride on Amtrak, and reconnecting with my first trip to Texas back in 2013.

Grape #5- I got to enjoy so much wonderful sightseeing on my Missouri road trip as part of celebrating its Bicentennial.  I also enjoyed reconnecting with the storm chase trip of May 2011 with a short visit to Miami, OK.  (I also had some good audiobooks for my listening pleasure while on the road.)

Grape #6- I had a great time on a day trip outing to central Wisconsin, especially to see Father Kevin on the first anniversary of his ordination.

Grape #7- I visited many other churches in 2021, which was a wonderful way to connect with places that hold some special meaning, and to reconnect with people there, like Father Ted, when I went to visit him the day after the 11th anniversary of his ordination.

Grape #8- Election Day on April 6 was another excellent day of serving my local community in southern Oak Park, especially fellow Ascension Parishioners, which included families I know from Religious Education.  I even had the pleasure of interacting with two first-time voters.  

Grape #9- Open House Chicago 2021 was an excellent weekend of sightseeing in Chicago, and I enhanced the experience by serving as a volunteer at the Nichols Tower.

Grape #10- Among the special family occasions I marked was the 5th wedding anniversary of Naomi and my brother Eric and Grandma Dottie's birthday at 90, with a special family lunch.  And my cousin Jenny in Colorado married back on July 14.

Grape #11- There were many other anniversaries of big events I marked throughout 2021, and one that stands out specially for me is Amtrak's 50th Anniversary on May 1.  The occasion reminded me of why I enjoy train travel so much, and how it inspires me as I take a different pace to really see the USA as I pass through it traveling from one place to another.  Fortunately, I enjoyed two Amtrak trips this year.

Grape #12- Every year of Religious Education brings something special.  Back in February, Confirmation day greatly inspired me, showing that even in the challenges of the pandemic, God is still at work.  And I marvel at how I continue to see Him at work so far in the 2021-22 RE year, and the wonderful connections I'm forging with this year's group of students.

I remain immensely grateful for the work I see God doing through my efforts in Religious Education, because it brings me most in tune with what's most important in life, encountering God, and giving of myself, especially so that others can encounter Him.  Indeed, I have found such a vital sense of purpose in life as I participate in the life of the church community, particularly with Religious Education.  IT speaks to the abundant life that Jesus desires for all of us to experience as we grow in relationship with Him.  And the reality of our relationship with God is something that nothing can touch.

It was definitely no accident, but a divinely-ordinated arrangement of circumstances that my birthday this year, March 16, when I turned 30, was on a Tuesday when I had class scheduled.  Even though I wasn't physically present to celebrate with my students, it was fitting that I was still gathered with them over Zoom to make part of my birthday celebration something that had brought so much meaning to the most recent of my 30 years.  Furthermore, during that class, I discussed Theology of the Body, the teachings of Pope St. John Paul II that describe the purpose for which God created us.

Fully aware of the ultimate reason for purpose in life, revealed in so many ways this year, I go forth into a new year while concluding this year with deep and joyful gratitude:  Thanks be to God!

Here I am posing at the clock floor piece at Chicago Union Station. Thanks to the fellow visitor who took this photo.

2021 News and Events in Review

The year 2021 started with the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president and Kamala Harris as vice president, the first woman in that office, and the first person of African-American and Asian-American heritage in that office.  The inauguration happened smoothly after a tumultuous post-election period, with a mob storming the US capitol on the day the US Congress met to certify the election.

President Biden turned the US government in an about-face direction from many of President Trump's policies, like the US government's response to the ongoing pandemic.  He also withdrew US forces from Afghanistan, just before the 20th anniversary of September 11, but many US citizens and others friendly to US interests were left behind as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan again.

Furthermore, Presdient Biden had a drastically different approach to many social issues, like LGBTQ advocacy and abortion.  Much discussion ensued on his standing to receive communion as a Roman Catholic because of his strong support for abortion, especially after his meeting with Pope Francis.  The US bishops discussed a document on Eucharistic coherence and their two meetings, in June and November, along with plans to implement a Eucharistic revival.

Two high-profile cases on state laws regarding abortion were taken up by the US Supreme Court.  The first was a Texas law, which was on the Supreme Court's docket in December, and then in December, the court addressed the Dobbs vs. Jackson case regarding a Mississippi law.

An effort in the fall veto session of the Illinois General Assembly repealed the Parental Notification Act, and Governor Pritzker signed it into law on December 17.

California's gubernatorial recall election was on September 14, and Governor Newsom was able to stay in office.

President Biden wasn't the only new leader in the world in 2021.  After multiple elections, Israel got a new prime minister, Naftali Bennett.  Angela Merkel ended her time as Germany's Chancellor, a position in which she served from 2005 to 2021.   

Barbados became a Republic, thereby ending Elizabeth's reign as Queen of Barbados, with Sandra Mason transitioning from her role as Governor-General to President of Barbados.  

After allegations of misconduct ended the tenure of Julie Payette as Canada's Governor-General back in January, Mary Simon was appointed, and then invested in July.  She is the first indigenous Canadian to hold the office.  Many concerns were raised that she lacked sufficient French language skills.  Soon after she was installed, Prime Minister Trudeau asked her to call for elections, wanting to give the Canadian people an opportunity to speak their minds about the direction of their government, and he hoped to increase his party's power in the House of Commons.  Opponents balked that Prime Minister Trudeau was engaging in political activity rather than focusing on addressing the pandemic and other concerns.  His party didn't really gain many more seats in the elections held on September 20.

In Oak Park, Anan Abu-Taleb concluded his time as President of the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees in early May, and Vicki Scaman became the new president.  OPRFHS District 200 Superintendent Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams, who came out of retirement to take the position on a temporary, then long-term basis, decided to retire.  Dr. Greg Johnson became the new superintendent.  District 97 Superintendent Dr. Carole Kelley moved to take a position in New Jersey, and District 97 appointed two interim superintendents.  Thursday Night Out was back on, and a new event in the autumn weeks started, See You on Saturday.

Those who departed from us in 2021 included Colin Powell, Rush Limbaugh, Larry King, Prince Philip, and Desmond Tutu.

Former Presidents Bush and Clinton both turned 75 in the summer.  Former First Lady Laura Bush turned 75 on November 4, and her twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, turned 40 on Thanksgiving Day, November 25.  Barack Obama turned 60 on August 4.  Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary on July 7.

Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, marked 30 years in his role on November 2.  On that day, he was in the midst of a days-long trip in the United States, which included a visit to South Bend where he received an award.

Disney World marked 50 years since its opening on October 1.  Amtrak marked 50 years since its establishment on May 1, and President Biden gave a speech at a celeration for the occasion, speaking about enhancements to Amtrak service.

In the natural world, there were significant ice storms in the southern United States during the winter months early in 2021, which caused widespread power outages in Texas.  Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Gulf Coast in August as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.  Tornadoes struck parts of the Chicagoland area on June 20.  In December, strong tornadoes struck parts of the Mid-South, especially Kentucky, some of which had long tracks over 100 miles.   Kilauea had another eruption on September 29.

After a pandemic-induced delay, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were held from July 23 to August 8.  Personally, I was glad to see that the athletic competitions were still able to happen, as I thought the pandemic would suspend the Olympics completely.  The female US gymnastics team garnered much attention, with Suni Lee winning gold, and raising the profile of the Hmong community in the USA.  Grace McCallum was a fellow Minnesotan who also competed as a female gymnast in Tokyo.  Simone Biles returned, although she sat out some of the competitions because of some personal issues, but came back toward the end.  The Olympics is an event that always inspires me, and I'm glad the games still went on as a sign of the resilience that will bring the whole world out of this pandemic, just as it drives spirited competition at the Olympics when the nations come together.

Courageous Service of Healing

While December 25 is the annual grand celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, this year, I also offer tribute to Clara Barton, who was born 200 years ago today, on December 25, 1821, in Oxford, MA.

It seems fitting that she was born on December 25, and would one day be known as the "Angel of the Battlefield", while courageously treating the wounded on battlefields of the Sectional War of the 1860s.

One story I heard said that she was determined to provide care on the battlefields, and went to speak with a Union general.  He declined her request, as the prevailing mindset of that time was that women had no place on the battlefields.  But she was determined, and so made her case again, and she eventually got permission.

And her resolve to care for those in need certainly didn't end with the conclusion of the war.  On an overseas trip, she learned about the work of the Red Cross, and advocated to bring it to the United States.

Ms. Barton is a person of great noble character because she was aware of the needs around her, and took action to meet them in courageous service, even in spite of limitations.  She embodies the spirit of the words in President Lincoln's 2nd inaugural address: "...with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

We have plenty of reason to be grateful to those who follow in the footsteps of Ms. Barton, especially those who work in hospitals and the medical field, along with first responders, in this pandemic, and long before it.

So as we celebrate the birth of the One Who brought full healing to the world, let us also give thanks for those who devoted their life's work to do their part to bring a healing touch to our world.  

Happy Birthday Clara Barton!  Thank you for your work.

The above photos are from a brief visit I made back in early March 2021 to Clara Barton's home at Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, MD, just outside Washington, D.C.

Another 21 for Illinois at 203

Inspired by my celebration of Illinois's bicentennial 3 years ago, I offer another list of 21 notable things about Illinois to celebrate 203 years of statehood today.

I was born in Illinois 30 years ago, and that got me wondering about other famous people born in Illinois.

1. actor Jim Belushi

2. actor Gary Sinise

3. TV host Pat Sajak

4. actor Bob Newhart

5. Helen Scot Hay, Red Cross nurse

6. actor Burl Ives

7. entertainer Jack Benny

8. actor Bill Murray

9. actor John Cusack

10. Arthur Goldberg, former US Supreme Court Justice

11. John Paul Stevens, former US Supreme Court Justice

12. actor Buddy Ebsen

13. musician Miles Davis

14. Mary Agnes Meara Chase, botanist

15. Patricia Robert Harris, former Cabinet Secretary, the first Black Female Secretary

I also think about some of the notable figures in the women's suffrage amendment movement, with markers at sites for them throughout Illinois.

16. Recently, a sign was installed for Grace Wilbur Trout at the site of her home in Oak Park.

17. Julia Holmes Smith

18. Ida B. Wells

19. Ellen Annette Martin, the first woman to vote in Illinois, on April 6, 1891, Lombard

I end recognizing that 125 years ago on July 16, 1896, at the 1896 Democratic National Convention at the Coliseum (#20) in Chicago, William Jennings Bryan delivered his epic speech ending with the words, "Cross of Gold!" (#21).

Happy Birthday, Illinois!

Let's party like it's 1818 all over again, with all the amazing people in the Land of Lincoln!

Sign at the site of Grace Wilbur Trout's home in Oak Park, IL

Oak Park's Contributions

The foundation for an important part of my identity was laid 29 years ago today when my family moved to our home in Oak Park, IL.

Ever since I started college, I've been adamant about telling people I'm from Oak Park, and not Chicago.  While it's true that Oak Park is defined by its proximity to the city of Chicago, I firmly believe that Chicago is also defined by Oak Park's proximity to it.

Today is a great occasion to reflect on what Oak Park contributes to Chicago and Chicagoland.

It has a dense urban feel with the way the housing is arranged on the blocks.  Yet it has a distinctly suburban feel, which may speak to how Oak Park developed after the city of Chicago, being beyond the urban sprawl for years.  Many of the residential neighborhoods have a quiet feel, and even the business districts have a somewhat laidback feel to them.  There's a great neighborly atmosphere in Oak Park, and we have an appreciation for diversity, with many in the village striving in efforts to embrace that quality of diversity.  I've liked how there are so many small businesses with an idiosyncratic touch, like the former Aripo's serving Venezuelan food, and places that remain, like Grape Leaves with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, and Khyber Pass with Indian food.

There are trees lining the streets everywhere, and it seems fitting that Oak Park got an arboretum designation a few years ago.  There are many historic homes, some with a special architectural touch, like Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes, especially those in the Prairie Style.  And the Oak Park Conservatory is also a historic structure, even as it's a wonderful place to step into some greenery.

I appreciate how walkable Oak Park is, which enhances that sense of neighborliness.  It's nice to walk to places like Church or the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library.  I'm glad we have that branch library that gives me easy access to library resources close to where I live.  And it's nice to bike the streets of Oak Park, too, making for a great way to leisurely enjoy the warm weather.

Indeed, this small village has a lot to offer Chicago, and I am grateful that it's been my home for a great quantity of years, and a great quality of years.

10 Years of Deeper Meaning

It was 10 years ago this weekend that the faithful gathered at Mass and we found ourselves adjusting, with a stumble here and there, to a new translation of the Roman Missal.  Mass felt a bit chaotic, but it was for a good reason as we embraced new wording.

As I understand it, the back story is that when the prayers of the Mass were translated into English after the Vatican II Council, the process was expedited and the resulting words were geared to get the gist of the prayers rather than a more precise translation of the original Latin.

Decades later, a new effort sought to implement the more precise translation of the Latin words.  Probably the most distinct phrase that is used multiple times as a response by the assembly was the change from "And also with you" to "And with your spirit".

Looking over the new translation, I thought about the few times I went with my friend Matthew to his LCMS Church for their divine liturgies, and the words in their prayers closely resembled the changes that were implemented with the new Roman Missal translation.

Yet at the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University, the prayers were similar to the old translation of the Roman Missal.  So once we Roman Catholics switched, it was somewhat humorous to hear the response "And also with you" still used at the Chapel.

Both my home parish of Ascension and St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center, my parish away at college, like other parishes, worked to prepare parishioners for this change in the months prior to the First Weekend of Advent 2011, and provided resources.

St. Teresa's distributed a packet of papers to explain the changes, including Scriptures references to the prayers, which had on its front cover a sequence of words to indicate the same prayers, new words, and "Deeper Meaning".

While some criticized this effort as making the church appear too focused on worship instead of acts of charity to serve those in need, I recognize that proper worship is an important part of our faith life and helps spawn charity.  These new prayers were an opportunity to rediscover the rich meaning of our prayers.

For one, I see deep meaning in the response "And with your spirit", which reflects how we acknowledge God's Spirit is upon the ministering priest at Mass.

The word "consubstantial" is used in the newer version of the Nicene Creed, which speaks to how the Son is of the same essence, or substance, as the Father.  Cardinal Cupich wrote a column on the meaning of that word, and it was insightful as he spoke to its richness.

In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest, praying with the chalice, instead of the cup, says it is the Blood of Christ poured out for "the many", a change from "poured out for all".  As I understand it, the idea is that the gift of salvation is not just limited to a few select people, but is for many more, and in some ways, still speaks to the sense of being for "all".

I also think about the response, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof..."  That phrase echoes the words of the centurion to Jesus when pleading for his servant's healing.

Just under 2 years after the new translation was implemented, I was sitting with a group of youths who were about 1 month away from Confirmation.  I had just been with them for several hours on a retreat.  We concluded our day with Mass back at Ascension.  When we got to that prayer response in the Mass, I thought about the impact of that day on me.  I had just concluded my time as a student a few months before with my college graduation.  In all those years, I was used to having someone over me to direct me, and having to seek their permission.

Now, on that day, it really dawned on me for the first time that I was in an overseer position, not only helping with that retreat, but also in my new role as a catechist.

Yet, even though I had a measure of authority, I was still under the authority of God--just as that centurion recognized he had charge of his soldiers, yet was still humble enough to recognize how mighty God was.

Indeed, throughout all my years of teaching RE, I have recognized how I had been given a measure of authority so that I may do what is in the best interest of my students, as I tend to their souls while leading them to encounter God.

And so we continue to gather at Mass to encounter our God, and embrace the ways we can enter more deeply into relationship with Him as we enter into deeper prayer with the words at Mass.

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2021

I feel so inspired on this Thanksgiving Day after having attended Mass earlier.  I have come to embrace Mass as a great way to set the tone for this US holy day.  The first thanksgiving celebrations hearken back in history before the Pilgrims, to Masses that Spanish explorers and settlers held in the 16th Century.

Then, in the context of history, once the USA was independent, President Washington issued a proclamation in 1789 for November 26 to be a day "to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be".

President Lincoln issued a proclamation 74 years later that established Thanksgiving as an annual holiday, "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father".

And President Biden's Thanksgiving Proclamation for 2021 states, "Thanksgiving provides us with a time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this nation, and each other. We are grateful for these blessings, even--and especially--during times of challenge."

Indeed, it's clear from these presidential proclamations that God is the source of all that is good, and how wonderful this holiday reminds us of that great Truth and inspires us to live it more fully that day, as we open ourselves to seeing God's goodness all around us, and those who show it to us.

I continue to remain grateful for the opportunity that Religious Education class has provided me over the years to demonstrate my ability to show care for other people and for the blessing my students have been.  I think about how two of my former students have birthdays today.  

And I even think about how one of my cousins out in the Denver Metro Area has a birthday today, too, and how wonderful it has been to know all those in the Denver area and beyond.

In just a few days, my family will mark 29 years since the day we moved to Oak Park.  I abound in Thanksgiving for a great home that has shaped me so wonderfully into the person I am.  It is indeed more than a home, as it has been the setting for formative experiences that have defined my identity through the events and relationships that have been part of my life in this home.

Just a few days ago marked 5 years since Moana debuted in theaters.  I was captivated by the story the first time I saw the movie.  Moana certainly had a special relationship with her grandmother, who helped me understand her calling that drove her on a mission with a great sense of purpose.  Surely our relationships define us and give us purpose in a similar way.

Today is also special for one family, as it marks 40 years since the birthday of Jenna and Barbara Bush, who are the only twins born to a US presidential couple.  I listened to their book via audiobook, which is entitled Sisters First.  Even though they've grown into amazing accomplished women who have achieved much and now have their own husbands and children, they still share a special bond that transcends time and space.  It was fitting that I listened to this book during my trip to Florida earlier this year to visit my family there, Naomi, Eric, and Weasley.  There was much about the journey there and back that took great effort.  And at one point, when it looked like I would miss my connecting train, my parents were ready to get me on a flight south from Washington, D.C.  Though I ended up boarding the connecting train, I was touched by their willingness to jump in and offer me help.

This week also marks 15 years since the opening of Buttered Bunns Cafe in Miami, OK--at least, based on a piece of artwork I saw in the restaurant with the date "11-24-06".  About 4 1/2 years after it opened, I went with the group on my storm chasing trip in college to share a meal there when we spent the 2nd night of our trip in Miami, upon recommendation of the staff at our hotel.  It was a great meal there indeed, but also a great time being together.

Indeed, there's something powerful about relationships, and points us to the great Truth that God is the source of all good.  Maybe that's why Mass this morning had such a transcendent quality.  While God is unseen, we know He's real as we take the time to recognize His presence and goodness all around us.  We call upon Him knowing that despite our sins and failings, He is merciful and heals us in the midst of sin and all troubles we face in this broken world.  And we marvel at the great bounty of joys and blessings that He bestows.

And that is a reality worth celebrating every day, even as it inspires us to make much of those blessings and those relationships.

Indeed, as they say in the Lakota language, Mitakuye Oyasin: All my relations.

Food donations surrounding the altar at Ascension Church following Thanksgiving Day morning Mass

Opening up Chicagoland Anew

Open House Chicago, sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center, is arguably my favorite annual event in Chicagoland.  It's a great opportunity to see buildings that showcase the great variety of architecture and sites in Chicago and suburbs.  Indeed, it enhances my appreciation for this place where I live.

So I always make a point to tour a few sites each year

But this year, I enhanced my OHC experience by serving as a volunteer.

Before volunteering on that Saturday, October 16, I first headed to Chinatown to see the inside of the Puk Tai Center.  Its history stretches far back in the Chinatown neighborhood, embedded in the larger Armour Square neighborhood on the Near Southwest Side of Chicago.  Currently, it's used as a community center and church sanctuary space for the Chinese Christian Union Church.

While nowhere near the tallest building among this year's OHC sites, there were splendid views of the Chicago skyline from the third floor balcony, not to mention great views of the main Wentworth Avenue business district of Chinatown.

Above is the view looking northeast from the third floor balcony. Below is the view from the balcony looking south along Wentworth Avenue.

Here I am, posing on the balcony. I thank the fellow visitor who took this photo.

Inside the Puk Tai Center

A few minutes after noon, I departed Chinatown, and went to get lunch at Just Turkey in Bronzeville.  As the name suggests, the items on the menu feature turkey.  It's a really interesting concept for a restaurant, and I felt it was worthwhile to stop by again after first going there a month prior.  This time, I got a grilled turkey wrap.

I went from Just Turkey straight to my volunteer site, the Nichols Tower at Homan Square, arriving shortly after 1 PM.  It was a cool and windy day, but it was sunny, so I sat outside the tower at a picnic table and ate my wrap.

I then entered the Nichols Tower and walked around inside to orient myself to the space.  I walked up to the 14th floor, which has great views of the West Side, looking toward Garfield Park to the north, to Lawndale and beyond to the south, downtown Chicago to the east, and the Near West Suburbs to the west.

Here's the view looking east from floor 14.  You can see the downtown skyline, with the Sears Tower in the middle.

Here's the view from floor 14 looking west with the West Side and toward the near west suburbs.

View of the space at the top of the Nichols Tower.

Here's the view looking southwest.  Near the center of the photo is the Hawthorne Works tower in Cicero.

Here I am posing by a window with a  view looking east, again with the newer Sears Tower.  I thank the fellow visitor who got my pose here.

Here's a view of the staircase inside the tower.

By 1:30, I was back at the entrance area on the first floor, and got myself ready to take over for the other volunteers.  For the next 2 1/2 hours, I welcomed visitors and told them what they could see at the building.  I felt rather energized welcoming visitors upon their arrival.  And it was fun to say, "Welcome to the Original Sears Tower."  At one point, I went up to the top again to post myself as available for visitors.

I also took a quick break to see the old Power House across Homan Avenue, which is now the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center, and houses the DRW College Prep charter school.

Here's a view of the interior of the Shaw Center.

I walked up to the top one final time around 3:50 to get visitors ready to depart upon the closing time at 4 PM.  After finishing wrap-up tasks, I went home.

Late the next morning, on October 17, Mom and I departed Oak Park for the Observatory at the John Hancock Building, arriving around 1 PM.  Because I volunteered at OHC, I got CAC member privileges, which included access to members-only sites like the John Hancock Observatory.  After getting our free tickets, we got in line, and went to the observatory.  Unlike the last time I visited during OHC 2019, there were clear skies this day, with fantastic views.  Certainly it was amazing to see the nearby buildings in downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan shoreline.  But it was also amazing to look inland from Lake Michigan and soak in the urban area and look for the suburban areas, too.

View looking east toward Navy Pier

View looking south toward the Loop and the lakefront

View looking southwest, with the Sears Tower toward the left

The shadow of the John Hancock Building protruding northward toward Oak Street Beach

View looking north along the lakefront, with Lincoln Park appearing as the greenish area near the center of the photo

Mom and I pose along the west side of the observatory.  I thank the fellow visitor who took this photo.

Looking up at the John Hancock Building from Michigan Avenue at street level

We departed after about 20 minutes at the observatory.  We returned to the Loop, where we parted ways.  

I rode the Loop tracks to Washington/Wells.  I ended up at the food court at the Ogilvie Transporation Center, where I got Panda Express for lunch.  It was conveniently served in a bowl that allowed me to eat and walk at the same time as I walked to the Bank of America building.  The third floor was open for visitors to see the board room spaces.  After briefly looking around there, I went to the top to take in the amazing views.  It reminded me of the topmost floor at 300 N. Riverside Plaza, just north of the Bank of America  Tower, with similar views from an unfinished space.

The Bank of America Tower along the South Branch of the Chicago River

On the 3rd floor of the Bank of America Tower

The open space at the top of the Bank of America Tower

Looking down at Wolf Point, the Y spot where the three branches of the Chicago River meet

View looking west, with the United Center appearing as a whitish top just to the left of the center of the photo

Here I am posing on the east side of the building, with the view of the Loop appearing behind me, including the spire of the First United Methodist Church with the Sky Chapel. The fellow visitor who took this photo recognized me from the Nichols Tower the day prior.

View looking south, including the Sears Tower, the South Branch of the Chicago River, and the railyards extending south from Union Station

Looking up at the Bank of America Tower from Wacker Drive at street level

Next up, I went to the Sears Tower to view the new Catalog food court and the outdoor terrace.

Looking up at the Sears Tower from Adams Street and Wacker Drive at street level

Inside the Catalog food hall

looking up at 333 S. Wacker building from the 4th floor outdoor terrace of the Sears Tower

View of the 4th floor outdoor terrace atop the Catalog

Here I am posing in the terrace.  I thank the fellow visitor who photographed me here.

View of Wacker Drive and Jackson Boulevard, looking west

View looking east from the terrace, with the Chicago Board of Trade Building, topped by Ceres, appearing near the center of the photo

I finished my OHC sightseeing at 300 S. Riverside Plaza.  The glass lobby provided great views of the South Branch of the Chicago River, as did the patio just outside, right above the river's edge.

View of the Chicago River South Branch from the Jackson Boulevard Bridge

View of the river from the terrace at 300 S. Riverside Plaza

View looking north from the terrace

Close-up of Upper and Lower Wacker Drives from the terrace

Inside 300 S. Riverside Plaza in the part of the building just inside from the terrace

Once again, OHC was a great opportunity to explore Chicago (along with nearby suburbs) in a deeper way.  When I completed the OHC survey, I marked for one of the questions that OHC definitely makes me feel proud and appreciate more greatly this area where I live.  I'm glad that I could enhance my participation in the event by serving as a volunteer, which I enjoyed as much as visiting sites.

There were other OHC offerings available throughout the month of October, before and after the weekend for sightseeing.

I continued the spirit of OHC just days later, on Friday, October 22, with my friends Matthew and Roy, who came to town for the wedding of our mutual college friend Tyler.  We went exploring Chicago in a way that allowed me to show them what I appreciate most about Chicago.

Matthew met me at home in Oak Park.  Then we rode the Blue Line east, and along the way, I pointed out many different landmarks and streets, explaining their significance.  We disembarked at Washington around noon.  From there, without a set plan for the next hour, we just started wandering around, while we waited for the time to meet Roy.

We looked around in the government buildings, including the Daley Center, City Hall, and the Thompson Center.  Matthew then wondered about walking west on Randolph, and so away we went.  We ended up down by Washington Boulevard along the south side of the Boeing Center.  Then, we walked north on Wacker, where I showed him the marker for the Wigwam, site of the 1860 RNC.  That marker was right by Wolf Point, and so we crossed Lake Street and went down to the riverwalk level.

We strolled leisurely eastward along the Main Branch of the Chicago River, all the way to the lakefront area by the Chicago Lock.  It was about 1 PM, and we decided to start heading south to meet with Roy.

We wandered through Millennium Park and then went to the Washington/Wells CTA station to board a train for hte short ride south to the Roosevelt Station, which happened to be a Green Line train.  Upon meeting Roy there, we discussed our lunch plan.  After I made some suggestions, we eventually agreed on Connie's Pizza--and Roy likes stuffed pizza.

So we waited for the next Midway-bound Orange Line train, and rode it to the next stop, Halsted.  As we rode along, I was reminded of how amazing the skyline views are from the Orange Line, especially between Halsted and Roosevelt.  We could actually see Connie's from the train tracks.  Upon reaching Halsted, we detained, and then walked northeast along Archer to Connie's, arriving around 2 PM.

We got seated and soon got in our order of stuffed pizza.  Then, we enjoyed each other's company as we waited for the pizza.  I was glad that we had the chance to share a meal at an iconic Chicago restaurant.

From left to right, Roy, me, and Matthew, as we pose outside Connie's Pizza

Following our meal, I suggested going to Canal Origins Park, since it would be a short train ride, and give us plenty of time to get back to the Field Museum to meet Roy's wife Rogenique.

So we walked back to the Halsted Orange Line Station, and rode it one stop in a southwest direction to Ashland.  From there, we walked a short distance north to the park, which is in the photo directly below.  It has great views of the Chicago skyline from the spot where the South Branch of the Chicago River flows into the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which replaced the Illinois and Michigan Canal.  The people who settled Chicago tapped into the potential of the waterways, which yielded the thriving city whose skyscrapers stand prominently in view from Canal Origins Park.

We returned to the Ashland Orange Line Station and rode it to Roosevelt.  From there, we walked east to the Field Museum to meet Rogenique.  Then, we took a leisurely stroll north along the lakefront, with gorgeous views of Lake Michigan and its blue waters, and also great views of the downtown Chicago skyscrapers.

View of Lake Michigan

We walked to Buckingham Fountain, and then to the 11th Street/Museum Campus train station, where Rogenique and Roy waited for the Metra Electric train south.  Matthew and I went back to the Roosevelt CTA Station, and went down below to board the Red LIne, passing displays about Earth's geologic time, a fitting installation for the CTA station that serves the Field Museum.  Following the short ride to Jackson, we walked through the transfer tunnel to the Blue Line and were soon on our way back west to Oak Park.  After we both shared a light dinner of crock pot pork, Matthew left for his hotel.

While having lived in Chicagoland for so long has helped me appreciate what's special about it, spending the day with my friends reinvigorated and reminded me of the reasons why.  And for similar reasons, volunteering at the Nichols Tower and being part of facilitating visits there also reinvigorated me in why I regard this area so specially.

Indeed, my visit with my friends, and Open House Chicago weekend, were opportunities to connect even more with the area where I live, such as visiting various buildings and seeing their architecture up close.  It's great that OHC had such a wide variety of participating sites, which really showcases in a greater way the amazing variety of what's here.  And throughout my sightseeing, there were so many opportunities to take in great views, from up high and looking up and out, from revisiting places like the John Hancock Observatory and Canal Origins Park, and new places like the Bank of America Tower and the Nichols Tower.

Connecting with these places, and getting a closer experience with them connected me with a significant part of who I am and what kind of place it is where I have lived my life.

Here I am, inside Chicago Union Station, posing on the clock artwork on the floor, including the year of my birth.  I thank the passerby who kindly took this photo.

The Transcendency of Matrimony

My experience of the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church broadened in a significant way on Saturday, October 23, 2021:  On that day, for the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to witness the sacrament of matrimony at the Wedding Mass of my good college friend Tyler and his bride, Leslie.  I had experienced the other 6 sacraments, including Holy Orders, in some form during my life, and this wedding was a chance to experience the remaining sacrament for me, matrimony.  And their wedding was the 4th wedding I've attended in my life.

I know Tyler starting from the weekend when we moved to Valparaiso University to start our first year back in 2009.  I got to see him regularly through participation in Republican Club, Christ College (the honors college), and at St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Student Center.  And I saw him often in the residence halls since we were both in Lankenau Hall our first year, and then in Wehrenberg Hall during the other years.

I kept in contact with him in the years after graduation, visiting him a few times in Madison, WI, where he moved for work.  Back in July 2020, I went to visit him before he moved to southern California.  It was during that visit that I met Leslie when we attended Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

I was so excited when they got engaged less than a year later, and then Tyler invited me to the wedding.  The anticipation went to a whole new level for me when earlier in the month, Tyler asked me to serve as a lector, for reading 2.

The selection was from Ephesians 5, in which St. Paul directs wives and husbands about how to live in their married relationship, as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church.  It's a great passage, especially in light of the words of verse 32, "This is a great mystery, but I speak of Christ and the Church."  I eagerly prepared for it during the two weeks before the wedding, aiming to use the proclamation of the words and phrases to speak God's message for the occasion.

My college friend Matthew came in the Friday before the wedding.  We went to downtown Chicago to walk around and enjoy the sights.  We then met with Roy, and had lunch together.  Then we went to meet Roy's wife Rogenique, and enjoyed a walk along the Chicago lakefront.  Matthew then came back home with me, and we had a light dinner before he went to the hotel for the night.  The fellowship in the spirit of great friendship we enjoyed that Friday set the tone well for the following day.

About noon on that Saturday, I got in Avila and drove to Holy Trinity Polish (Roman) Catholic Church on the Near West Side of Chicago.  It's a beautiful church, with every square inch covered in religious artwork, though certainly, it couldn't compete with the beauty of the bride.

Not only was it great to celebrate Leslie and Tyler's wedding, but it was also wonderful to see college friends, especially Matthew and Roy, along with Roy's wife Rogenique.

As I stood proclaiming at the ambo, with Leslie and Tyler to my left, seated in front of the altar, the words I had prepared for nearly two weeks took on a whole new meaning.  St. Paul directs that the wife should be subordinate to her husband, and the husband should pour himself out for his wife.  But these are not arbitrary commands.  They are directives that reflect the greater reality of Christ and His Church.  Standing at the ambo, and looking out at those gathered, especially Leslie and Tyler, put the reading in a whole new light.  As I proclaimed, I felt the movement of the Holy Spirit to emphasize how the actions of wife and husband reflect Christ, like the phrase in verse 23, "...just as Christ is head of the church...", and the phrase in verse 25, "...even as Christ loved the Church..."

The celebrant priest spoke so well in his homily when he said symbols speak powerfully:  Leslie and Tyler are a symbol of the relationship of Christ and His Church.  He also stated that unlike contracts, where people give goods and services, a married couple enters into a covenant, in which they give of themselves to each other.  Their marriage speaks to how, as the priest mentioned, the greatest symbol of love isn't the heart, but the Cross, from which Christ made the ultimate offering of Himself.  And it was inspiring to see how Leslie and Tyler care about their faith, which was emphasized multiple times in the remarks made at the wedding banquet that evening, and how that will contribute to an amazing marriage relationship for them.

Once the wedding Mass ended, as the wedding party posed for photos, the other guests lingered to converse, as I did with my friends.  

We continued that spirit of fellowship and celebraiton at the wedding banquet, held at a banquet hall in Palatine.  It was probably the first time I had been to a wedding banquet at a banquet hall.  There was a fine selection of food, and then some great festivities, including some Polish wedding customs, and a Polka band.

As I reflect back on the occasion, there was something glorious and transcendent about the wedding festivities of that day.  It's astounding to consider the seriousness of Leslie and Tyler's promises to commit their very selves to each other for life.  But that's what makes their marriage, and all marriages, so beautiful.

When I greeted Tyler at the wedding banquet, I shared with him my first memory of him:  He won a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" tournament with other residents of the 5th floor of Lankenau the evening of the day we moved to ValpU.  His prize was a sticker that read, "I won something that doesn't matter."

I then gave him a sticker that read, "I won something that matters: sacramental marriage life."  I gave a sticker with that message to Leslie as well.

Indeed, Leslie and Tyler are winners because they have pledged themselves to each other for life, and in doing so, they manifest God's loving presence among us.

Here is the St. Joseph altar inside Holy Trinity Church.  There is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, displaying the ultimate Love of God, which Leslie and Tyler now manifest as a married couple.

Grandma Dottie's Birthday and Timeless Principles

Joyfully I celebrate my Grandma Dottie's birthday today as she turns 90, making it time to party like it's 1931 all over again!  Besides celebrating a great quantity of years, I celebrate the great quality of those years.

My family had a small lunch gathering yesterday to celebrate the big occasion.  I offered a few remarks, which I now share in writing here on my blog.

From what I remember, she was born in Sweet Home Chicago, a city home to an unusual piece of art that Pablo Picasso gifted to the city--and Señor Picasso turned 50 the day Grandma Dottie was born.

Notably, 90 years ago yesterday, on October 24, 1931, the day before Grandma Dottie was born, the George Washington Bridge opened, connecting New York and New Jersey.  I've never seen it personally, much less crossed it, but I imagine it's done its job well as a sturdy bridge for 9 decades, providing access across the Hudson River.

There's so much reason to celebrate Grandma as a truly wonderful person.  She was a devoted wife to my grandfather Martin, and a hardworking mom to my mom, Aunt Terri, Uncle Brian, and Uncle Bernie as she raised them.  It was during those years she developed a strong ability to spot a good deal.  And the love she offered in all those relationships she has continued to pour out as a grandma to me, my brother Eric, and my cousins Megan, Greg, and Josh, and then to her great-grandchildren, Ava, Emma, and Micah.

I am glad that I have been the recipient of the love she shows in her own special way, which I often experienced in visits between the two of us.

It has been a custom during our visits to play Scrabble. Based on my speculation in a recent conversation between us at her birthday lunch yesterday, we likely started that custom when I was in middle school, and so we've played at least 20 Scrabble games, which usually happens at least once per year.

Those games started at the home on Blacksmith Drive in Wheaton.  They continued when she moved to Lexington Square in Lombard.  In fact, not only do we celebrate her birthday in October, but we also celebrate the anniversary of the day she moved there which was 17 years ago.  It was a fine day when we gathered together to assist in that process, on Saturday, October 23, 2004.  And notice how October 23 was on a Saturday this year in 2021.  Again, another example of a great quantity of years speaking to a great quality of years.  I have gained a great sense of the quality of her experience at Lexington during my visits with her there, which have often included the company of her many fabulous friends.

This month, back on October 15, also marked the 70th anniversary of the debut of the popular TV sitcom I Love Lucy.  I thank Grandma Dottie for introducing me to the Queen of Comedy, when she gave me a tape of clips from the show, likely as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of its debut back in 2001.  I didn't think much of it before then, but once I watched those clips, I was hooked, and I said to Grandma that I wanted to watch more.

Her favorite episode is when Lucy does a TV commercial for Vitameatavegamin--and she won't have to "pop" out of the party for this celebration!

It's fitting that Grandma would introduce me to Lucille Ball, because when I was a young boy and I stayed for a few hours at the house on Highland Avenue in Oak Park for a "babysitting" visit, we would get into laughing fits, and I would roll off the couch.

Yes, I celebrate today giving thanks for Grandma, for the gifts of her love, the laughs we've shared, and the longevity of her life, and her time at Lexington.

Faith has grown to become an important part of her life, summed up in principles that last longer than 90 years and are truly timeless, as expressed in Psalm 90:1 NIV:  "Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations."  And so we sing in the words of Grandma's favorite hymn, "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

Indeed, Grandma's life recognizes that God is faithful and His faithfulness is everlasting.

So we give thanks to God for how He has been at work in Grandma Dottie's life.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

May you be blessed today and always by God's great faithfulness and love.

Mom took the above photo of Grandma and me. I took the photo below of Grandma with her birthday cake, a raspberry orange zucchini cake made by Uncle Bernie.

Above is the final result of our recent Scrabble game back on September 26. Below is the score.