Run for Something

 Kevin Ryan

This upcoming election presents a rare opportunity.  Because Jan Schakowsky and Dick Durbin have (finally) decided to leave, the ballot (finally) has some fresh faces.  I’m not talking about the ones who desire a better place on the chess board. The ones who know the game is to raise the money for TV and hope the spots are clever enough to do the job.  The ones who never knock on your door or show up at the corner coffeeshop or tavern. 

AOC and Mamdani made it all the way.  It’s so exciting when it happens.  And so rare.  I’m not expecting it to happen in Illinois, but I’m going to enjoy my vote.  If you haven't heard of Kevin Ryan for Senate, I urge you to take a look.  He’s for the “good things” we say we want and know we deserve and lament that we never seem to get.  I haven’t looked that closely into Kat Abughazaleh for Congress, but I applaud her willingness to “run for something” like Michelle Obama urged us all to do.

And these two did.

Bird on the Balcony

 My friend Naomi is a bird watcher. As we chatted about her interest, I remembered a time when I felt that a bird was watching me.  My condo in Oak Lawn had a balcony. At some point I began to notice a bird that just seemed to be there when I was sitting outside or when I looked out the window in the morning.

It wasn’t a fancy bird, the kind that probably captures Naomi’s eye.  Probably a sparrow. I began to feel “visited” by this little creature.  That, in turn, allowed me to fashion this story: The bird held the spirit of my father who had died when I was a child.  He had found me and come to keep me company.  

I’ve taken the opportunity to create these stories a few times. When an incident or oddity ignites a spark.  We all need something…

A Conversation

 

My friend Elaine said: "You should write more."  Which started me thinking of Eleanor Roosevelt.  She wrote a six day a week newspaper column -- MY DAY-- from 1935 until 1962!

As if it were a letter to a friend, she recounted her activities and expressed her perspective on current events, always encouraging activism, peace, and human rights.

I met her once.  It was when I was working for Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign and she came to our offices.  As she shook my hand, I noticrd she was wearing bright red nail polish!  Unexpected indeed.

My friend Elaine says she enjoys having conversations with dead ones she knew.  Good idea. I'm going to ask Eleanor about her courage, her compassion and, if we get around to it, her nails.

The Winning Shot

 Maybe it’s because, in Chicago, we loved him as a Bull.  Maybe it’s because his father, an educator, was murdered in middle east conflict when he was so young.  Maybe it’s because he forged championship teams out of young white, black and foreign men.  And especially because he has stepped up to articulate what should be the soul of our country when other voices quiver in silence.  

That’s why I think it’s totally understandable why Steve Kerr should be a great candidate for President.  And could win!

BEAR DOWN!

 

I'm in the "Go for 2" crowd.  After the miracle catch, before the Rams could beathe, the Bears could have stormed the end zone and sealed the win.  It was the Bear's moment.  The Bear's identity.  

And, even if they were stopped, even if they didn't make it, they would have been true to the moment. We would have saluted them for the try.

What do you think?

Pay Attention to Him

 

I'm going to vote for Kevin Ryan in the March Primary.  I haven't had a chance to get behind one of those loveable longshots in I can't remember when.  You know, the ones that you can only hope pull an upset.  Kinda like the Bears in the fourth quarter?

I heard him interviewed twice on The Ben Joravsky Show podcast.  Ben calls him the "authentic radical." You can find him there if you're interested.

He's gone to every part of Illinois in his bus and talked and listened to everyone. Imagine if we could get the big money out of politics.  Candidates like Ryan is why we ache for that day.  

Answered!

 

Great news!  I just heard from Pam!  She had changed her phone number and her computer is not working.  So sorry about the false alarm, and NOT SORRY.