"Belonging is our blessing; tribalism is our burden. Belonging is a crucial human need, but it can descend into dangerous tribalism." Saul Levine It wasn’t much of a gang. We didn’t even refer to ourselves as gang members, but rather a few friends enjoying life on East Main Street in Braidwood. Shortly after moving to … Continue reading Gangs of Braidwood: 1953 Version
Author: braidwoodguy
Born and raised in Braidwood, Illinois. Worked in secondary and higher education since 1962. Have 5 kids and 14 grandkids. Avocation is writing and genealogy.
Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family
“There lives more faith in honest doubt, I believe, than in half the creeds.” In Memoriam, Tennyson I suppose I inherited my parent’s attitude about religion in ways that surprised me in later life. Retracing my spiritual steps, it might be easier to look back over the past 60 years and see a reasonable, understandable evolution … Continue reading Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family
A Year That Joliet Junior College was Gym-less: 1970-71
Coach Gordie Gillespie seldom had only one coaching job. Beginning in 1951, he was coaching and teaching fulltime at Joliet Catholic and part-time at Lewis College. By 1959, Gordie was at Lewis full time, coaching basketball and baseball, athletic director, and teaching a full load of college courses as well as head football coach and … Continue reading A Year That Joliet Junior College was Gym-less: 1970-71
Calluses on the Feet? Not on the Heart!
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."Leo Tolstoy If you ever had calluses on the bottom of your feet, you will know how painful that can be. Caused by walking unevenly, the thickness grows, layer over layer, until the core of the growth painfully penetrates the nerves. Likewise, our … Continue reading Calluses on the Feet? Not on the Heart!
Life: A Dash Between Dates?
“The dash between dates holds the essence and spirit of the deceased. It doesn't take long for memories to fade. Precisely why every family needs a historian to capture and relate stories of each member.” Sharon Mosier, Educator* It was my last visit in the hospital before Dad had surgery for throat cancer, a result … Continue reading Life: A Dash Between Dates?
Doctor’s Orders: Don’t Play Basketball Right After Surgery!
"Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives."William Dement Ordinarily, doctors wouldn’t need to tell a 75-year old guy that he shouldn’t play a game 6-months after back surgery. But the guy did it anyway and nearly wrecked any recovery and rehab. He had … Continue reading Doctor’s Orders: Don’t Play Basketball Right After Surgery!
Musings about Braidwood Ghosts
"There may be no secrets in small towns, but there are no strangers either." R. A. Mathis Where did they go? They lived in our town and we knew all of them, either by nicknames or where they lived. Lower Braidwood, downtown, or the East side. Near the high school or near the church. Where … Continue reading Musings about Braidwood Ghosts
Party Labels: We Never Cared
"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines … Continue reading Party Labels: We Never Cared
Why Write a Journal? Why Let Everyone Read It?
“All writers are vain, selfish, and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives there lies a mystery.” George Orwell Because I have written continuously over the past 50 years, I recently asked myself, “Why do I write.” “Who is my audience?” “What is my purpose in jotting things down?” At first, I assumed that … Continue reading Why Write a Journal? Why Let Everyone Read It?
TJ Kennedy: Family and Union Mattered
“The only effective answer to organized greed is organized labor.” Thomas Donahue Dad was always proud of us kids. As an independent truck driver working in construction, he had his own way of doing things. He handled his operation by purchasing and maintaining equipment, estimating jobs, billing, marketing, and advertising. Customer feedback was immediate upon the completion … Continue reading TJ Kennedy: Family and Union Mattered
