From the age of 13, I collected baseball cards because I was a baseball fan. I did not collect and trade cards for any other reason. At age 85, my reason remains the same. My most poignant memory at that age involved a quick stop at Floyd Nielsen’s local drug store on Main Street on my 45-minute … Continue reading Conversing with a Baseball Card
Tag: family
My Nerdy Side: Music
Although education and coaching dominated much of my professional life, the persistent backdrop of my journey has been in the arts: music, theater, literature, and poetry. Much of my writing has focused on life’s transitions from childhood to adulthood to old age without appropriating justice to the arts’ roles in those transitions. Without apology, it’s time … Continue reading My Nerdy Side: Music
Elena’s View of Braidwood
Elena Bergman Hibler I attended the East School and Murray Scott was the principal. I also had Josephine Donna (wonderful teacher) in the 5th and 6th grades. In 3rd and 4th grades I had Kate Fallon. She was remembered as wearing long dresses all the way to the floor. We moved to Braidwood from South … Continue reading Elena’s View of Braidwood
Braidwood from Another Perspective
Richard Shaw Richard had read some of my blog articles on Braidwoodguy.com and informed me that as a couple of years my senior, he could add some insights and respectfully offer some differences as he saw things. I completely accept these opinions, perspectives, and insights. Aside from formatting the following letter, I didn’t make any … Continue reading Braidwood from Another Perspective
My Braidwood Memories
Dee King DeGroh I recently asked Dee (King) deGroh about her strong affiliation with Braidwood. Dee’s grandfather, MJ Donna, documented significant historical facts about our town, in “The Braidwood Story.” She cherishes the time she has spent in Braidwood where she actually lived from 2005 to 2016. But then Dee returned to Naperville to be … Continue reading My Braidwood Memories
Nicknames vs “Knocknames”
Nickname: an additional or substitute name given to a person, place, or thing usually descriptive and given in fun, affection, or derision, as “Doc,” “Shorty,” etc. a familiar, often shorter, form of a proper name, as “ Dick” for “ Richard” (Merriam Dictionary) Knockname: a substitute name meant to demean, dehumanize, or otherwise degrade another human being and perpetrated by a bully. (TRK) Dear Grandkids: If … Continue reading Nicknames vs “Knocknames”
A Conversation on the Porch
John Kalec This past summer I was sitting on our porch in Maine with our daughter Katherine and we were planning my Mom's 95th birthday party in Braidwood. I always have found that the best conversations seem to always take place on the porch and I remembered back to my grandmother's house which was right next … Continue reading A Conversation on the Porch
A Memorable Braidwood Thanksgiving
John Kalec During my visit to Braidwood to see my Mom earlier this month, we talked about the wonderful family Thanksgiving dinners we enjoyed over the years at home on Division Street. My grandparents would join us, as well as aunts and uncles from both sides of the family. But the most memorable holiday was … Continue reading A Memorable Braidwood Thanksgiving
The Hero We Didn’t Know
“My Dad would be very pleased to hear that his story is shared….hopefully it can help someone suffering with the type of issues that he did.” John Kalec In Braidwood, Illinois, on May 23, 1923, my grandfather Mathew Kalec died from a sudden heart attack. My grandmother was 8 months pregnant with my Dad and upon … Continue reading The Hero We Didn’t Know
Another Walker Street Story
John Kalec The following story by John Kalec was sparked by Carole Kennedy Robeson’s tale about an old gentleman bachelor who lived on Walker Street in Braidwood. My sister, brother, and I delivered newspapers to the Kalec house in the 1950s and 1960s. John has been a friend of mine since the Braidwood days and has … Continue reading Another Walker Street Story
Braidwood Beginnings 