“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?
Blog Articles
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
Ireland with Sullie, Son John, and John Boles: We had No Choice
"Tá dul go hÉirinn cosúil le dul abhaile." (Going to Ireland is like going home.) And so it happened that just a few times in Ireland proved to be insufficient for the likes of John Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, and Patrick Sullivan. After all, Pat had been to the island before but left before he had … Continue reading Ireland with Sullie, Son John, and John Boles: We had No Choice
Obituary Addiction: More Popular Each Day
Yes, I read the Joliet Herald-News every day. Not for the sports, the local politics, or the news in brief since they are not as interesting as the obituaries. As Carl Reiner stated, "If you're not in the obit, eat breakfast." The habit of "obit checking" accelerates with each passing year for the "superannuated" generations. … Continue reading Obituary Addiction: More Popular Each Day
The Day That Coach Left Us
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon Alder If life is a game of nine innings, we were aware that Gordie had gone into extra innings. The outcome at the end of the game, as with all of living … Continue reading The Day That Coach Left Us
John and I Find Irish Relatives
“Curiosity is what separates us from the cabbages. It's accelerative. The more we know, the more we want to know.” David McCullough (Taken from my journal notes) My first trip to Ireland in 1994 merely whetted my appetite in the search for relatives, any relatives, from Europe. The trip had been a terrific success and a … Continue reading John and I Find Irish Relatives
When Baseball Cards Become Real
By the time I was 10 years old, my childhood had been thoroughly indoctrinated by baseball. Living within a few feet of a baseball field in Braidwood surely contributed to this state of mind since the town team and high school games ensnared me every spring and summer. It was evident from my lanky frame that I … Continue reading When Baseball Cards Become Real
The Game When Gordie Ordered His Hitter to Strike Out
Seldom does a coach tell his player to fail. Yet, Gordie Gillespie, recognized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as the “Baseball Coach of the Century,” did exactly that. Catcher Ron Fordonski was ordered to strike out. Baseball players hate striking out. For me and for most every hitter, that long walk back to the dugout … Continue reading The Game When Gordie Ordered His Hitter to Strike Out
The Moment I Fell in Love with Adult Education
“Lucky, indeed, are those who have a moment of discovery that shouts out, “This is what I want to do!” That moment when latent and, perhaps, unrecognized, personal strengths and desires are merged with an event that resonates within the very soul of your being. Congruent personal mission aligned with a need that pleads for your company leaves … Continue reading The Moment I Fell in Love with Adult Education
Into Ireland the First Time
Tom, Carole, and Kenny From the time that Elmo O. Barnes, itinerant writer for the Wilmington Advocate, asked me about certain of my relatives in that city and I had no idea how they were part of my personal history, I was moved to learn more about tracing my ancestors. About 1972, I spent considerable … Continue reading Into Ireland the First Time
Braidwood Beginnings 