The Leap of 2024

Here we are again, perhaps jumping for joy on this Leap Day.

As we reach this once-every-4-year occasion, I reflect back on the past 4 years.  And I realize there have been many instances when I reflected on what's most valuable in life.

There's great power in our relationships, with family and friends.  So much of my family life is in terms of what happened at 1036 Clarence Avenue, which continues to provide me opportunities for reflection and even celebration.  In so doing, I've reinforced my sense of appreciation for living in Oak Park for so many years, as a unique spot in the larger patchwork of Chicagoland in the Great Lakes region of the United States, and for what my hometown has to contribute to the whole of the USA.

I've built my appreciation for what the USA is and its values through regular visits to Washington, D.C.  And I've enjoyed seeing other areas of the USA, like when I got some good laughs in Jamestown, NY, and had a varied weather experience in southern California from Huntington Beach's ocean-laden mild air to the extreme summer heart of Death Valley.  I still feel a sense of awe in the uncertainty of what words to use in describing the Grand Canyon, but totally convinced it is the quintessential natural wonder and a true national treasure.

I'm glad for the friendships I have, including with college friends that continue to span the miles and the years.  We've supported each other through challenges in our own lives and celebrated memorable occasions, like weddings.  I had so much to reflect on when I crafted my best man speech for Zach and Heather's wedding.  I certainly experienced a microcosm of life when I went to Las Vegas for the wedding of my cousin Jessica and her husband Kevin.

Furthermore, I think of relationships in terms of institutions, like the Church, where we connect with God through the people we know at Church.  Our times find meaning because God sanctifies time.  In each day, I see reason for purpose and even rejoicing.  I continue to derive purpose from handing on the great gift of faith to my Religious Education students, so that faith is something dynamic, constantly on the move.

Indeed, in my life, I see that there is so much of great value that it never fades into the background, but remains in my heart, giving me purpose.

Dear 1036: Tom the One and Only

Dear 1036 Clarence,

First of all, I'm glad that when some of our mail ended up at you, the new owners were kind enough to reach out to me about it.  And I was glad that when I stopped by for it, they let me come in for a moment as they gathered the stack.

As I muse on memories, I think about Tom Skilling, who retires as WGN-TV meteorologist today after more than 40 years.

My memories stretch back to when we used to get The Chicago Tribune, and he contributed content to the weather page.

When I was home during the week for a day off from school, I enjoyed turning on the WGN TV Midday News and watching Tom's weather segment.  I liked his enthusiasm for the details he shared about the weather.

I remember my Great Aunt June admired him.  When she was at Christmas Day dinner in 2012 at 1036, I showed her a photo of Tom and me from just earlier that same month, and I watched her light up as she said, "Oh, for Heaven's sake!"

Later, on June 27, 2013, after some rain in Oak Park, I took this photo from the back of the house of a rainbow and sent it to Tom.  He replied back to say how great the photo was and how much he appreciated that I sent it, like so many others who sent photos.

He's truly a one-of-a-kind TV personality.

I was in front of the TV that was in our backroom for so many years to watch his heartfelt final sign-off remarks.

Now he's entering the realm of memories, not to be too soon forgotten, just like you.

Indeed, with vivid memories of you, I declare that you shall not fade into the background but shall remain deep in my heart.

We remain connected:

All my relations.

God's blessings,

With gladness and gratitude for you,

With abiding love for you,

Paul

More than a Dentist: Dr. Grace Esposito

The end of 2023 brought the retirement of my dentist, Dr. Grace Esposito.  According to her records, I first went to see her as a little boy on December 5, 1995.

The story from my family is that my grandfather, Papa Martin, needed some dental work done in a more urgent fashion.  So he found Dr. Esposito, whose tagline was "Gentle Dentistry".  Eventually, the rest of our family started coming to see her.

I practically consider her a family friend.  She watched me grow up and once I got taller than her, she would remark at every appointment about how tall I've gotten and her memories of when I was so little.  Those were the days when Mom would schedule check-ups for herself, my brother, and me all together.  Later, I would schedule them on my own time.

While sometimes dental work could be intimidating, like getting the plaque off in routine check-ups, or even the more involved process of getting shots to numb me before extraction of teeth, she had some bells and whistles in her approach which truly made me enjoy going to dental appointments at her practice.

If I behaved during my appointment, when it was time to depart, she would give me the opportunity to pick out something from her prize drawer.  For routine check-ups, if I was without cavities, she would take my picture next to one of the stuffed animals she had thronging a bench and then I would be up on the wall for the "No Cavity Club".  My photo would remain there until the next appointment and I could get a new one if I had no cavities.

In all the years I've gone to see her, I have never once had a cavity, as she can confirm.  She can also confirm that I had a supernumerary tooth, which she removed since it only served to give me the chance to tell an unusual fact about myself, which I can still do.

When I got taller than her and outgrew the prize drawer and the No Cavity Club, I got to be in the Loyalty Club.

Indeed, I've kept coming back, even when she entered semi-retirement, because I've felt a good sense of connection to someone who's done a great service in taking care of my teeth.  And I congratulate her on retirement as she caps off a great dentistry career.

Thank you, Dr. Esposito!