Teach Your Children

"You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye."

    “Teach Your Children,” Crosby, Stills and Nash

 

Post-Trib columnist Jerry Davich quoted from the David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash classic “Teach Your Children” in a column on the importance of family history, citing a 75-year-old Chesterton resident, Marvin Zelkowitz, whose Jewish parents did not want to talk about the horrendous situation in Europe that they escaped from.  Zelkowitz told Davich:

   After seeing Alex Haley’s TV mini-series “Roots,” I asked my father about our family history.  He told me he was not interested in his roots.  My mother said nothing.

In Zelkowitz’s possession, nonetheless, is a photo taken in 1911 of his then one-year-old mother Rachel Gorbaty, taken in Bialistok, Poland.

 

“Feed them on your dreams” seems apt parental advice from the trio who combined with Neil Young and performed at Woodstock 51 years ago.  When Ron Cohen and I launched Steel Shavings magazine, the purpose was to publish student family histories. Back in 1970, almost all IU Northwest students had parents or grandparents who emigrated to the Calumet Region from Europe, Mexico, Puerto Rico or the American South, mostly due to employment opportunities in heavy industry, mainly the steel mills.  While no longer able to make such assignments, I continue to publish family histories through interviewing IUN alumni and soliciting such information from Facebook friends such as Anne Koehler and Eleanor Bailey.

 

Being a resource person for the Valparaiso University Flight Paths project has also put me in touch with professors Liz Wuerffel and Allison Schuette, who have been conducting interviews about race, ethnicity, and migration from the industrial cities of Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago to the suburbs.  Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, for example, who is Multicultural Collections Coordinator for Indiana Historical Society, described growing up in a Mexican household, being introduced to a myriad of ethnic influences, and the initial culture shock of going to college downstate:

    When I was growing up, ethnicity was kind of static. And I didn’t really come to understand what “ethnicity” meant until I went to college, till I came down here in Indianapolis. A lot of people here in Indianapolis have German heritage. So, I went to a small Catholic college here in the city and so a lot of people at that time were from Indianapolis, surrounding Indianapolis, or rural areas. And so, the roll call, when they would say their names! Going to, you know, high school and hearing the roll call, you know, you have, you know, “Cichocki,” “Szczepanski,” “Ramirez,” “Gonzalez,” “Hernandez.” I mean, just like a mix of Eastern European and Latino last names. And so, I just kind of realized, like, “I am – Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.” And then, also, it didn’t really help that the summer before my twin sister and I started college the Latin explosion happened. J.Lo and Ricky Martin became mainstream. A lot of those folks that I went to school with, their entry point in understanding Latino culture. So everybody would say, “Oh, you look like J.Lo!” No, I don’t. And at the time – my natural hair is very curly – and so, I’m like, “One, I have curly hair. Two, I look nothing like her. Three, I’m Mexican; I’m not Puerto Rican.” And so, people just didn’t understand that, so that didn’t really help things. But I think it made people more curious and able to talk about it, so that’s when I kind of understood culture.

    I was born in 1980. I was born at Munster Community Hospital but I grew up in Hessville in Hammond, Indiana – that neighborhood in Hammond. I actually grew up right across the street from what is now Purdue Northwest. Back then it was Purdue University Calumet. I have a twin sister so I wasn’t born alone, so I always had a playmate. So, I just remember running up and down the block and then actually, like, riding my bike through Purdue’s campus before they closed in the streets on, I think, Wicker and I can’t remember what the other side street was. So, terrorizing the students there in the late 80s as well as – there’s a street called Knickerbocker and it’s just, like, this one continuous loop. I think it’s about two miles and so that was always kind of a thrill to roller skate or, later, roller blade in the 90s and ride my bike around. So just a lot of just being outside and playing. And then there was a deli a couple blocks down. I remember going there and buying candy, getting in trouble. I stole my mother’s checkbook once and wrote, like, 000.1 and tried to buy some candy, and it had my mother’s telephone number on it, and they called her. So, we were very sneaky and very imaginative children.

    In terms of, like, the ethnicity of my neighborhood, mostly at that time – mostly white. And there was another Latino family that lived down the street, somebody that my parents went to high school with.  They went to East Chicago Washington. And so, there was the Morales family, so there was Maria, Jose, and Pablo. Jose and Pablo were the younger brothers and Maria and I were the same age. So, we played with her but I mostly played with this Polish family, the Cichockis who lived just across the alley. And so, my backyard and their backyard kind of looked at each other. We both had sisters named “Kelly.” So, she had a little sister named Kelly so it was “Baby Kelly.” So, I grew up before going to school thinking everybody had a sister, and everybody had a sister named Kelly.

    So now that I look at it as an adult, a lot of Eastern European: tight-knit groups, always affiliated with church. I went to Catholic schools. Like, food events. A lot of food. I used to hate sauerkraut. I love sauerkraut now. And I used to always think sauerkraut was a Polish dish, but it’s all Eastern European. It’s, you know, German. You know, pierogies? Like, pierogies are, you know, the Eastern European version of empanadas, you know? So, there’s a lot of, like, cross-connect and shared heritage in a lot of these ethnic communities that I think about but I’ve only come to understand and appreciate when I was, you know, becoming of age as a young adult.

Teach your children has taken on new meaning during the pandemic. With schools delaying when they’ll open or keeping kids home to learn online, parents are being asked to be even more involved in the learning process than previously.  All types of so-called hybrid offerings are the “new norm” at IUN. The number of parents choosing to home school their children is also on the rise. Colleges, too, are being forced to develop and amend policies on the fly. Meanwhile, no leadership in forthcoming from the federal government, as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos prioritizes for-profit charter schools.

 

“The Eye Has to Travel,” is a fascinating 2012 documentary about the life of fashion designer Diana Vreeland (1903-1989), born in Paris the daughter of an American socialite and a British stockbroker. Beginning in 1936, Diana worked for Harper’s Bazaar and then Vogue. Rather than retire when her extravagance proved too much for her superiors, she seized an opportunity to design shows for the Metropolitan Museum of Art; her grand openings became the social highlights of the season – eye candy for sophisticates and social histories.

 

Kiley Reid’s “Such a Fun Age,” about an African-American (Emira) sitter employed by a rich couple (Alix and Peter Chamberlain), takes place in Philadelphia.  Emira lives in the Kensington neighborhood, near where Toni grew up; when Toni worked in Center City, she’d take a trolley to Kensington and Allegheny (the intersection was nicknamed “K and A”), get on the elevated, which became a subway as it neared the downtown.  Her boyfriend lived in Fishtown, not far from her North Philadelphia home. The Chamberlains resided in the fashionable Rittenhouse Square area close to where my stepfather Howard’s law book publishing business had its headquarters. I checked out “Such a Fun Age” after reading that it was a Booker Prize finalist, as was my previous novel, Anne Tyler’s “Redhead by the Side of the Road.” Both Emira and Alix lean heavily on a small group of intimates, who sometimes lead them astray.

Chuck Logan told me about “Pit Bulls and Parolees,” a reality show on Animal Planet network that’s beginning its sixteenth season.  It stars Tia Torres, who founded Villalobos Rescue Center for pit bulls and other supposedly aggressive dogs.  One of the show’s purposes is to demonstrate that pit bulls don’t deserve the bad reputation often attributed to them as result of disreputable owners.  Even so, I am always wary when I come across one, especially if kids or other animals are around, because their jaws can be deadly.

 

Thanks to classmate Pat Zollo, I came across the Upper Dublin Class of 1960 Facebook site and photos of our 50^th reunion a decade ago.  In one I was with childhood buddies Pete Drake, Jay Bumm, and Chris Koch, while in another cool dude Donald Stroup is flanked by LeeLee Minehart, my tenth-grade girlfriend Mary Delp, with friends Connie Heard Eleanor Smith and Flossie Worster nearby.  Biggest find: Mary Dinkins, the only African American in my college prep classes, whom I had a crush on, with Myna Pinkett.

Future Teachers

“The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward

 Arielle Keller 

Airella Keller started her journal by announcing that most people called her Air, that she turned 25 in January, and that she is adopted and an only child, although the family has three dogs and a snake.  She graduated from Hammond High and has worked for Strack and Van Til for almost three years.  Here are some journal excerpts:. 

    January 10:My boyfriend of two years celebrated my birthday early because he has to work tomorrow. At his place he gave me two eye shadow sets from Too Faced, Chocolate Gold and Just Peachy Mattes.  The one smells like chocolate and the other like peaches and figs. We ate at Chilis and saw “Pitch Perfect 3,”  a good end for the series.

    January 26:While at work fixing the beer and wine shelf, I knocked a wine bottle over that went crashing to the ground.  A little later a second wine bottle slipped from my hand onto the floor.  It made me so stressed and angry, I went on break. 

    February 2:  In high school I was in Anime Club.  My mom forced me to go to the senior prom instead of an anime con (convention) I had my heart set on that was happening at the same time. I had got dumped that year by my first boyfriend of four years, which really sucked. After some time, I ended up dating this junior for like two or three months and went to prom with him.  It was held at one of the Brookfield Zoo pavilions. Supposedly peacocks walked around the area, but I did not see any since it was kind of cold that year. It was not a happy time because my date was acting like a creep.  He also smelled me a lot, which I told him more than once stop, but he kept doing it. When in the bathroom to get away from him, I walked in on a couple screwing in the handicap stall, which surprised me but gave me a laugh.  I broke up with my date a day later, which led to a three-minute voice mail of him crying and begging me to take him back.  A couple weeks later, he showed up at my house with Mountain Dew and panda snacks, hoping I’d go with him to a football game. I accepted the snacks but didn’t go with him, a bitch move, I’ll admit, but if you’re going to be creepy toward me, I’m not going to feel bad about anything I do to you.

Air with stuffed hippo and in blonde wig at anime-con

          February 3:I still watch anime and attend anime cons when I have the time and money.  Over the years I have gone to at least 15, mostly in the Chicago area but as far away as Ohio and Georgia.  There are panels, photo areas, viewing stations, and at least two or three parties, such as a soap bubble, a rave, and a masquerade ball, often with live music from Japanese or Korean musicians.  Artist alley is the place to buy pictures, key chains, bookmarkers, posters, hats, pillows, toys, stickers, pins, comic books, jewelry, and handmade items. At nearby hotels are get-togethers and purportedly sex parties that have secret codes that you need to hunt for at the con.  At the market place one can buy wigs, anime, hentai (anime porn), cute toys, anime figures, posters, J-Pop, J-Rock, K-Pop, K-Rock (Japanese and Korean music), fur suits and parts, cosplay costumes, yaoi, manga (boys love manga), clothes (like shirts, hats, sweaters, blankets), kigurumi (which are onesies), fancy swords, and anything else you could think of, including videogames, which tend to be dating simulation games in Japanese, so I am not into them that much.  I own just one, a Death Note game, but really don’t know what it is about since it’s all in Japanese. I am into yaoi. I have a large collection of the mangas and own one yaoi DVD. Yaoi comes in three kinds of manga; soft core wIth light make outs; median core, a bit heavier in the make out session and touching; and hard core, which shows everything.  I used to have a larger collection of yaoi manga then I do now. I also have some yaois in Japanese.  I am into Japanese rock groups like Gackt, Dir En Grey, the GazettE, Girugamesh, and Miyavi.  I went to anwesome Dir En Grey concert with friends at Chicago’s House of Blues when still in high school. I even got a CD signed by the whole band. I like fur suits, but I don’t have the money for a set because they cost a pretty penny. I do have a black and blue rave wolf vest that has ears on the hood and a tail. I usually go crazy purchasing items.  I like getting in big group photos of cosplayers (short for costume players representing certain characters).  I also did small cosplays like gir from Invader Zim, Gloomy Bear who eats children, and L From Death Note. I go to the raves if not too sore from all the walking. Anime viewing rooms are also fun. I pretty much do a bit of everything if I have the time.

above, Batman cosplayers; below, Payn and Creeper

    February 16:For our anniversary my boyfriend and I So, we went to David and Busters for dinner and games. I got a blue narwhal plushie from the tickets I won. Then we saw “Black Panther,” which was cool. Back at my place, my boyfriend said some sweet things and then pulled out a ring and proposed.  I said yes!.

   March 12:It’s spring break  and I didn't do much beside laze around the house, watching TV in bed and stuff on the internet. Lunch was chicken-flavored Raman with soy sauce. Dinner was strawberry-flavored mini-wheat cereal. 

  March 13:I got up before 6, made coffee and got ready for work, which I started at 8 and  lasted till 1, stocking in different areas of the store. Then I drove myself home and let the dogs out. After lunch I watched some TV with my mom - that's how we bond. We made chicken and pasta for dinner and I went to sleep around midnight.

   March 14:I spent much of the day playing Monster Hunter World.

    March 15:  I took a 34-minute shower and got to work at 7:54 for another five hours of stocking. I went on break at 9:23 and bought myself a hot pocket and green tea. I relaxed in the afternoon and hung with a friend that night in Chicago.  I had Long Island ice tea, a bit of a strawberry daiquiri, a bit of a fruity drink, a bit of a mojito, and two shots of tequila. Also, pizza. 

  March 16:I woke up with no apparent hangover and worked another five-hour shift. Stocking things onto a high shelf while standing on crates, I fell and landed on my right hand, which buckled, causing my elbow to hit the concrete.  It hurt like a son of a bitch. I ended up filling out a work injury form and talking to a nurse, who gave me an icy hot pack for my arm.  Rather than go to a hospital, like I should have, I took pain pills and kept an ice arm pack on the rest of that day. 

    March 17:  Despite my arm still hurting, I went to work. Pain pills helped me get through the day.

    March 18:My mom noticed that my elbow was a different color due to my spill. I hadn’t noticed it before.  I cracked up looking in the mirror, but  my mom wondered why I hadn’t  gone to the hospital. She made a belated St. Patty's Day meal that was very tasty, but, god, did the cabbage smell up the house.

A 24-year-old Education major who asked to go by the name of Janee’ Desire moved from Gary to Merrillville at age 13 and then to Gary’s Miller neighborhood after high school. Here are excerpts from her journal:

 March 15, 2018:Spring break is not working in my favor. Yesterday, my room flooded after a pipe burst, destroying books, school work, and clothes.  We rushed to Menards for a plastic vacuum and sucked up as much water as we could, although by the time we got home, the hallway and living room were flooded.  An insurance adjustor discovered a hole in the pipe probably caused by a gopher. Most everyone's backyard on my block has holes due to those pests.  Fortunately, the pipe will be fixed tomorrow, but meanwhile we must shut our water off.  How do 2 women and a 5-year-old survive without any water (I live with my mom, older sister, and nephew)? Well, I guess we will make do.

   March 16:The pipe hasn’t been fixed, but we have water. 

   March 17:It took nine hours, but workers fixed the pipe.According to the insurance company, it's up to us to soak the water up. I've literally been using this plastic vac for hours and the carpet still seems saturated. I cannot live like this.  Damn, spring break is almost over, and I didn’t even get a chance to enjoy it. Or catch up on assignments.  

   March 18:This the last day I can sleep in. 

   March 19:I worked all day on school assignments. I hate being such a procrastinator, but at least I finally get it done.  I make plans to get them out the way early, but time just flows by.  

   March 20:I want to be a teacher but do not know how I'm going to wake up every morning. This semester my schedule starts at 8 am and ends at 6:45 pm.  The only thing I'm looking forward to today is my counseling session.  At IUN we have access to future therapists and counselors.  My counselor since January, a graduate student, has helped me deal with issues that I face as a young black woman. Early this semester, for example, someone singled me out for being the only black person in the room.  With the help of my counselor, I was able to speak with this person privately and let known my honest feelings, which is that I am not the spokesperson for African Americans. I'm unsure if the message got through.  

   March 21: My 10-week art education course ended. The binder that contained my assignments got a grade of B. I had perfect attendance in this class, so NO WORRIES! 

   March 22:At Longfellow Elementary I observed first-grade teacher Ms. Jensen, who has great classroom management skills. For math, she has students work on tablets and with flashcards, and she goes over different math concepts with small groups at a work station. For reading, Ms. Jensen divided students into three groups based on reading levels,but downplayed how they were arranged. 

   March 23:Today is online class day.  I'm barely able to comprehend the information because we have so little contact with our instructor. 

   March 24:My mom works at St. Margaret's Hospital. Although she isn't a doctor, our family tends to think so and often come to her before seeing an actual doctor. My grandparents are in their 80s and schedule appointments at St. Margaret's, so she can be there to translate “doctor language.” My sister and I have been through so much, including our parents’ divorce. She is like my righthand. The difference we have is her hate/like of education and her temper.  Other than that, we are two different people but like one of the same.  Her son is the light of all our lives. I call him my spiritual child because he is much like me (picky eater, youngest, spoiled.) but looks like his parents. He basically runs the house. That is why went to Walmart today, because it is his favorite store plus they have all the super wings toys he could find.  

   March 25: Every Sunday the family gathers at my grandmother's house for dinner. This is like a ritual. We never go a week without seeing my grandparents. My grandfather built this house on Gary’s west side near the Tarrytown subdivision long before my mother was born.  My grandparents were originally from Missouri and Mississippi and met in Gary after they moved North for better opportunities. Locke Elementary was right up the street, and my grandfather used to take me to school and pick me up.  He continued to do that at Tolleston and West Side until my junior when I enrolled in the Gary Area Career.  He has even driven me to IUN a few times. My evening highlight will be “Real Housewives of Atlanta. ”   

Charlemagne Tha God

   March 27: My morning ritual includes watching “Breakfast Club” with Dj envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God. I honestly do not know how I could function in this society as a young African American without the gems and jokes they give out. They have great interviews with such artists as Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, N.O.R.E, and Cardi B. The best part of the show is when Charlamagne gives his “Donkey of the Day” award for people who made dumb decisions.  Donald Trump (not my President) has received the DOD at least 8 times already this year. Class was too long today, or maybe I just was ready to go. I think I have the flu. Longfellow’s principal mentioned that a flu and stomach virus is going around. I think I'll  leave my counseling session early. 

   March 28: Thank god for  medication! As a child, I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, so any small cold could turn into the flu. Mucus builds up in the lungs and nasal cavities, which makes it hard to breathe at night, and I have trouble with catching my breath when I'm up walking around. My doctor gave me a prescription that will control my coughing and put me to sleep like a baby. Time for a nap.  

   March 29:My first-grade students are on spring break, so no field experience today. With the flu, I’ll just rest and catch up on shows.  I am currently addicted to the “Joe Budden Podcast.” He is a former rap legend who hates the industry and gives his take on media and celebrities   His predictions usually turn out to be true. He is a “Breakfast Club” fan and friends with Charlemagne Tha God. Each podcast is 2 hours, and the episode I am watching is called "Freaky Man lmao” (Imao stands for arrogant opinion). 

   March 30: Time to catch up in my online assignments.   IWith an early start, hopefully I can watch my Friday shows “Bring It” and “Marriage Boot Camp” and maybe catch up on “Drink Champs” with N.O.R.E (formerly Noreaga ) and Dj EFN as well. They interview rap legends such as Snoop Dogg, Irv Gotti, Wu tang Clan, and Ice Cube. This show is by far the most watched show on YouTube right now. 

   April 1:Before Sunday dinner, my sister and I ran an errand to but lottery tickets for my Grandmother at gas stations on Colfax and by Lake Etta. These are the only places she’ll get her "numbers” for as long as I can remember and seems to have good luck. Playing lottery and gambling are on the agenda when we have family reunions. Hmmm, I wonder what momma is cooking today.   

    April 2:I plan to stop at JERK2GO on Twenty-Fifth, by far the best place to order anything jerked for a decent price.  Or I might go to El Nortenoon Fifth Avenue, which has the best tacos. With that being said, I  may be greedy and go by both places today just to make sure I have enoughwhile watching“ Love and Hip Hop” and “Vanderpump Rules.” 

     April 3:What a day. For starters, one teacher forgot to tell us a discussion board was closing, so none of us did the assignment. Another teacher had us reschedule most of our due dates, so we are now even more behind than ever before. At least history is well organized; we are given the information needed to study for quizzes.  I had no idea I would enjoy this class so much. 

   April 4:My favorite Wednesday show is “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.” I've literally seen every episode and still am excited about what going to happen next. This episode involved an assault victim who blamed an African-American man when one of her acquaintances had committed the crime.

   April 5:Today for field, I focused on the classroom discipline aspects of Ms. Jensen's first grade classroom.  The three rules, displayed on a poster, are to “Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe.” The teacher came up with these after getting suggestions from students and had them sign the poster.   

   April 6:Chili's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rico's Pizza are the best places to get hot wings. Chili's and BWW are all over, but Rico’s is harder to find.  Fortunately there is one on West Twenty-Fifth, near the THIS IS IT station where my grandmother gets her lottery tickets. Since I must do online work, I’ll go to Rico’s later since they are open until 1 am.  

    April 7:Life coach Lyanla Vanzant currently had a show on OWN (Oprah's channel) called “Fix my Life.”  My interest increases when she assists people with father issues. I haven't had a father since I was about 13. I know how important it is to have a father in your life, but in my case, it’s best for my sanity that I keep this door closed. Still there is an emptiness. My therapist told me that women generally choose to marry either someone like their father or someone she thinks her father should be.

   April 11:“Law and Order: SVU” is not on today so I'll watch “Black Ink” on VH1, about a tattoo owner and his employees. Drama, drama and more drama is what this show is about, and I'm addicted. 

   April 12:In my field today, students introduced these little caterpillars to me and let me know they are raising butterflies. I think this is great idea for students, but I don’t do insects and kept my distance. The students also informed me about a field trip to the dairy farm.  I went to one as a child, but I doubt it’s the same experience today. Maybe I should talk to Ms. Jensen about it.   

   April 13:I decided to play Fortnite, a team online game that involves shooting, which was all the description I needed. OMG, this game is just as addictive as a reality show. The only problem is that you interact with different people of all ages.  I heard students talking about it one day. I was supposed to catch up on work, but six hours later I still want to play. No matter how old I get, video games will always be a secret love of mind. 

   April 14:Today we are shopping for clothes for our May trip to Missouri to watch my little cousin graduate. Boy, time flies. I can remember when his mother came to visit. He was the first baby I ever held. I'm so happy for him. He has a great head on his shoulders, and I really hope he plans to attend college.  

   April 15:My grandmother made roast and potatoes, fried/bake chicken, and, of course, greens. Collard greens are a guaranteed side to each Sunday meal.  My grandfather has two gardens where he grows greens, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and have grown pretty much everything he can. He has two tractors.  He claims one is for me and one for my sister, but we haven’t driven them yet. In the summer my grandfather drives them around the neighborhood and to and from his garden. 

    April 17:I had my last counseling session, and I am so sad that it’s over. I noticed an improvement in my behavior and self-esteem. I also like how everything is confidential, well, unless you say you're going to kill someone. 

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is touting a talk in August by IHS coordinator of multicultural collections Nicole Martinez-LeGrand titled “Our Latino Heritage.” It is geared toward those anxious to explore ways to find out about their ancestors.  I suggested she access the Calumet Regional Archives website for information about our Latino holdings and mentioned that Steel Shavings,volume 40, contained a master index covering all previous issues. She was familiar with the Shavingsissues on Latinos Louis Vasquez as well as “Forging a Community: The Latino Experience in Northwest Indiana, 1919-1975” and other books of mine on the subject, saying, “You are held in high esteem here at the Indiana Historical Society.”  I’m flattered and tempted to attend her talk and distribute free copies of my latest Shavings to participants. I’m considering submitting a paper for the 2020 IOHA conference in Singapore on interviews I’ve conducted with Mexican-Americans Jesse Villalpando, Abe Morales, Maria Arredondo, Paulino Monterrubio, and others.  Nicole Martinez-LeGrand grew up in Northwest Indiana and her grandfather was a prominent merchant in the Indiana Harbor barrio. She’s conducting interviews concentrating on old -country roots. 

Ruthellyn Hatcher (above) and Elaine McGregsry

Barbara Walczak’s bridge Newsletterwelcomed Wednesday game newcomers Elaine McGregory and Ruthellyn Hatcher.  Elaine worked for 20 years for the Chicago Transit Authority as a Senior Claims Adjustor. This what Walczak wrote about Ruthellyn:

Ruth was born in Booneville, MO, but since 1967 has lived in Gary and that is the time she began learning to play bridge.  She is currently teaching music at Banneker Elementary School. She has 3 daughters – all lawyers – and 5 grandchildren,  She has been married for 41 years to Richard Hatcher (first black mayor of Gary).  Her hobbies are bridge, golf and traveling.

In the Chesterton game John and Karen Fieldhouse finished first with 60 percent.  Oddly, their worst hand came against Dee and me when Karen bid 4 Hearts over my 3 Spades and went down 5 doubled vulnerable for minus 1400 points due, among other things to a 5-0 split in Heart. When Helen Booth and Joel Charpentier were playing the same hands as Dee and me, they were doubled a 3 Spades and made an overtrick for 930 points.  Imagine their surprise when they discovered they lost out high board to us.

 Brenda Ann Love

Brenda Ann Love’s latest South Shore lament: “It’s ‘Let your kid scream and run around on the train’ day. Oh, and if your kid shits himself, maybe take him to the bathroom.”

I’ve got the 2011 War on Drugs CD “Slave Ambient” on heavy rotation with Flaming Lips. Jimmy Eat World, Fountains of Wayne, and The Head and the Heart.  The sound of “Slave Ambient” is much like the group’s more recent efforts.  It was produced by the independent record label Secretly Canadian from, of all places, Bloomington, Indiana.  In 2011 Adan Granduciel and band members were living in Philadelphia.  Here is a verse from “Come to the City:

Burning tires on my street
Past the roar and debris, baby
All the kids dance around it
But he lacks what he sees

At an emeritus faculty luncheon, 86-year-old John Ban asked if I’d consider giving a talk to Merrillville seniors.  I suggested  I asked IUN Chancellor Bill Lowe about the possibility of having a plaque honoring Ruth Nelson’s 70 years of service to the university, an idea passed on to me by library staff member Anne Koehler that Bill said he would look into.  In 1934, after graduating from Horace Mann, Ruth became secretary to Albert Fertsch, director of Gary College and the school-city’s adult education program.  Promoted to administrative assistant when Gary College became part of IU, she was in charge of scheduling, purchasing, payroll, and veterans affairs prior to becoming bookstore manager.  After she retired, she did volunteer work in the library for many years. 

The Cubs won an exciting game against the Diamondbacks, 7-6, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth on home runs by Dave Bote and Anthony Rizzo.  They also traded  for Cole Hamels, who pitched for the Phillies when they won the World Series in 2008.  He won 14 games during the season and went 4-0 in the playoffs.  His last game with Philadelphia in 2014, he hurled a no-hitter against the Cubs.