The Great Chicago Fire

 In 1972, my ex-wife, Bonita, and I bought a brand new Fiat 124 Sport Coupe and embarked on a fabulous three-week cross country adventure.  On the way back from California, we stopped off in Chicago, our first time there.  I remember seeing the Sears Tower from the street level.  

About 1990, we returned to the Chicago area for a family bar mitzvah.  In actuality, it took place in the suburb of Evanston.  The highlight of the trip was the temporary disappearance of my son Bret (at a Toys "R" Us).  

A couple of years later, I took Bret to Chicago to see a baseball game at the historic Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs.  I was afraid they were going to tear it down and I wanted my son to see it before they did.  They didn't and they haven't.

In 2007, while working for the Office of Sponsored Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I attended a seminar at another Chicago suburb (Northbrook).  One evening while there, some of my colleagues and I went to Comiskey Park in downtown Chicago to see the White Sox play baseball.  

A few years ago, Cristina and I flew to Chicago from Sao Paulo in order to visit my son Bret who was in nearby South Bend, Indiana on business for the LPGA.  We were there for only a few hours before we rented a car and left the windy city.  But, we had a great lunch at Labriola's.

On October 8, 1871 (about one hundred fifty years ago), a fire started at about 8:30 PM in Chicago "in or around a small barn that bordered the alley behind 137 DeKoven Street. The shed next to the barn was the first building to be consumed by the fire." 

"City officials never determined the cause of the blaze, but the rapid spread of the fire due to a long drought in that year's summer, strong winds from the southwest, and the rapid destruction of the water pumping system, explain the extensive damage of the mainly wooden city structures."

"The fire destroyed an area about 4 miles (6 km) long and averaging 3⁄4 mile (1 km) wide, encompassing an area of more than 2,000 acres. Destroyed were more than 73 miles (117 km) of roads, 120 miles (190 km) of sidewalk, 2,000 lampposts, 17,500 buildings, and $222 million in property, which was about a third of the city's valuation in 1871."

"Of the approximately 324,000 inhabitants of Chicago in 1871, 90,000 Chicago residents (1 in 3 residents) were left homeless. 120 bodies were recovered, but the death toll may have been as high as 300. The county coroner speculated that an accurate count was impossible."

I'm glad my first visit to Chicago was 101 years later.  

The Quiet Man

In 1952, legendary director John Ford made the film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McLaglen.  Filmed on location in Ireland, The Quiet Man is the story of an Irish born, Irish-American (Sean Thornton played by Wayne) who returns to his roots to live in the house he was born in.

The Quiet Man was the second of five films that Wayne and O'Hara made together.  The others were Rio Grande (1950), Wings of Eagles (1957), McClintock (1963) and Big Jake (1971).  

The Quiet Man was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two: Best Director (Ford) and Best Cinematography - Color.  The other five nominations were: Best Picture (Ford - won by Cecil B. DeMille for The Greatest Show on Earth), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (McLaglen - won by Anthony Quinn for Viva Zapata), Best Writing, Screenplay (Frank S. Nugent - won by Charles Schnee for The Bad and the Beautiful), Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Color and Best Sound - Recording.

Thornton is met at an Irish train station by his guide Michaeleen (Fitzgerald).  Later, Michaeleen describes the newcomer to his Irish friends as, "a nice, quiet, peace-loving man, come home to Ireland to forget his troubles.  Sure, yes, yes, he's a millionaire, you know, like all the Yanks." 

Shortly after arriving in rural Ireland, Thornton spots, along a country road, the beautiful Mary Kate (O'Hara).  It was love at first sight.  The scene reminds me (in The Godfather) of when Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) first sees Apollonia (Simonetta Stephanelli) along a country road in Sicily.

Unfortunately, Mary Kate, as is the custom in Ireland at the time, needs her brother's permission (no father) to marry Thornton.  Squire Danaher (McLaglen), the brother, is angry at Thornton for buying the piece of land he also had his eye on.  He forbids the union.  "Never!"

Later, the Squire is tricked and allows Thornton and Mary Kay to marry.  However, when the trick is revealed the Squire refuses to give Mary Kay her dowry, which represents "her personal value to the community and her freedom."  

Growing up in America, Thornton doesn't understand what the dowry means to his wife.  Without her dowry, to her the marriage is invalid.

Having killed a man in a boxing ring, Thornton hesitates to fight his brother-in-law.  But, when Mary Kay abandons him the day after their wedding, he gets the message.

Thornton follows Mary Kay to the train station and drags her all the way to the Squire's home.  There, he demands either the dowry or he will return Mary Kay to her brother.  

The Squire grudgingly gives Thornton the dowry in cash, but then ensues one of the longest fights (eight and a half minutes) in film history.  In the end, Thornton and Mary Kay are a happy married couple.      

      

Two Women, Chapter 9

 After their drink, Mona walked Monica to her car which was parked in the Carolina Inn's lot.

"So, what do we do about Ted?" asked Mona.

"I forgot about him."

"I think we should come to a decision about Ted.  You and I can become friends, but he could come between us.  What do you think?"

"I agree.  Have you slept with him?"

"Yes.  What about you?"

"No, but I was thinking about it.  He's a very attractive guy."

"I agree.  And he's good in bed."

"Really!"

"So?"

"I think sex is great, but friendship is better.  I can forget about Ted.  As they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea."

"Yeah, let's forget about Ted."

Drivers License

 In 1962, at age seventeen, I got my first drivers license, from the State of New York.  My mother strongly encouraged me to get it.  I could have gotten a permit the previous year, but I was a little fearful.  It seemed as if everyday when I got home from high school my mother would say, "Let's practice driving," and we would go out driving.  

I was having difficulty parallel parking, so my mother insisted we especially practice that which we knew would be on the road test.  I remember when I did it on the test, it was the best parallel parking I ever did...ever.  Thanks, Mom.

After graduating from college I moved to Michigan for eight months and got a license there.  When I moved New York City in 1968, I needed to get NY State license again.  Without studying the rules of the road, I failed the written test and was embarrassed.  I passed the second time after studying.

One time while working at Seagram's, my wallet was stolen.  I had foolishly left it in my office unattended.  I lost about $50 in cash, credit cards and my drivers license.  Luckily my credit cards were never used by the thief.  I informed the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) my license was stolen and requested a new one, which they provided.

However, I started getting letters from the DMV informing me that I had to pay a fine for various moving violations, which were committed by the person in possession of my stolen license (no photo ID at the time).  I was fed up with this ongoing situation and decided to fight back.  

I took a day off from work and went to Brooklyn Traffic Court, in the borough where my stolen license was being used.  The offense I was accused of was going through a red light.  At the trial, the police officer who gave out the ticket six months before was there and gave his testimony first.

I didn't quite understand the necessary protocol, but before it was my turn to testify, the judge through out the case in my favor.  However, before everything got shut down, I jumped up and asked the judge to let me speak.  I presented evidence my license had been stolen before the incident in question occurred.  I also pointed out that the driver, when asked by the police officer to sign his name, signed, "Lasky Blair," the way my name was written on the license.  Moron!

The scary part came next.  I asked the police officer, in front of the judge, if I was the driver he gave the ticket to and he answered in the affirmative.  I was wearing a beard at the time (1978-1988) and he said he didn't remember the beard, but he was sure it was me.  Really!  You're sure...beyond a reasonable doubt?

In 2007, I moved to the State of North Carolina and needed another drivers license.  To get it, I only had to pass a written test.  I sat in front of a monitor and responded to 20 multiple choice questions.  I had to get 16 correct.  After the first 16, I had already made 4 mistakes.  I had to answer the final 4 correctly...and I did.  Whew!

I don't want to drive any more and I no longer have a valid drivers license.  Cristina drives when we need to use her car.  Or I call Uber.  Much better than me.

  

We Choose to go to the Moon

On September 12, 1962 (fifty-nine years ago), US President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University (Houston, Texas) in front of a crowd of about 40,000 people (Rice Stadium).  Below is an excerpt from the speech.

We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. 

Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say that we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours.

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again. 

But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas (in American football)?

We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon...We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.

On July 20, 1969, two Americans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, were the first humans to land on the moon.  JFK's promise came to fruition.  And where was I that fateful day?  

My ex-wife, Bonita, and I were attending a performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Stratford, Connecticut's American Shakespeare Theater.  At the conclusion of the performance, one of the actor's came on stage, still in costume, and announced to the audience that "they landed on the moon."  

Cocoon

 Cocoon is a 1985 drama directed by Ron Howard.  It had a ensemble cast of veteran actors including Don Ameche (won Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Brian Dennehy, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy and Gwen Verdon.  The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

In Cocoon, three senior citizens at a retirement community in Florida, Ben (Brimley), Art (Ameche) and Joe (Cronyn), come in contact with aliens (who look like humans) from another planet.  Swimming in the pool at the house the aliens are renting, the three seniors are rejuvenated, feel younger, stronger and relieved of their ailments.

The aliens are on a mission to retrieve life forms that had been left on earth 10,000 years ago.  The life forms (in the shape of cocoons), temporarily stored in the pool, are the source of the seniors' rejuvenation.

When the aliens' mission is completed, they offer a number of the senior citizens they met the opportunity to return with them to their planet.  There are pros and cons to be considered.

Ben explains the pros to his grandson: "You'll never be sick, you won't get any older and you won't ever die."

On the other hand, it's a one way ticket.  The seniors will never return to earth, see their friends and families again.  They'll be going to an unknown world.  Will they be able to adapt?  Will they like it there?

What would you decide?  I'm not sure of my own answer.  

 

Two Women, Chapter 8

 "Caipirinha" Monica requested when their waiter approached.

"What's that?" Mona responded with curiosity.

"A cocktail made with cachaca, sugar, lime and plenty of ice.  Cachaca's made from sugarcane.  Very popular in Brazil.  Try it."

"Okay.  Make it two."

"That was beautiful what you played tonight.  I was trying to remember where I heard it before."

"Did you see the movie Brief Encounter, a classic British black-and-white film from 1945?"

"Yes.  That's it.  I'm sure that's it.  How long have you been playing the piano?"

"Since I was five.  My parents are both musicians.  They encouraged, but didn't push.  It became my passion.  I really enjoy performing and the travel that comes with it.  What about you?  Why did you become a dentist?"

"Everybody in my family are doctors.  But, I wanted to try something a different...a dentist.  But first, I came here.  America had been my dream since I was little.  And now, I can't imagine going back.  I've been here in Chapel Hill since my undergraduate days."

"Wanna get married and have a family?"

"Not really, not now anyway.  I meet men occasionally, have some fun, but nothing serious.  Serious is my work and my small circle of Brazilian friends in the area.  What about you?"

"Same with me.  My career comes first.  Hard to have a relationship with a man like that.  I've lived in Philly my whole life so I have a lot of friends and family there.  Do you have to be Brazilian to get into that small circle of yours?"