I occasionally write articles about my historical places, politics, family, axe tossing, families tossing axes at each other (just kidding), non-nature-oriented museums, and other topics. This section serves as a quick way to access these articles (in reverse-chronological order). Click on the links to read the articles:
Remembering Lin Brehmer and the Time I Made Him Laugh
The Most-Popular Non-Nature Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in 2022
An Elegy for Chicago’s Walking Man
Remembering My Community of Saints on Día de los Muertos
Remembering David Fode (The story of my nearly 40-year-old friendship with my friend Dave, who passed away suddenly this summer. He was a wonderful stained glass artist, nature lover, and excellent husband and father.)
The Flight 93 National Memorial Commemorates Bravery and a Momentous Time in U.S. History
George’s Desk: A Story About My Dad on Father’s Day
“Good Night. I Love You, Liam. God Bless You. Have a Good Sleep.”
The Story of a Father and Son in 55 Questions (poem)
A Quick Look Back at January 6, 2021, and a Call for Unity and Vigilance
The Most-Popular Non-Nature Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in 2021
Saying Goodbye to Our Lady of Victory and Hoping to Save an Architecturally Significant Building
Has the Murder of Children in Chicagoland Become Normalized?
Visit to Lincoln Cemetery Reveals Rich African American Aviation History
The Most-Popular Non-Nature Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in 2020
Remembering Matt Lignell (a celebration of a friend taken too soon)
Visit Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery Not Only for Spooks and Scares, But Also For Its Rich Local History
7 Stories About My Dad on Father’s Day
America 2020: A Few Thoughts On the Murder of George Floyd, Marching for Justice, and Looting
Remembering My Third Set of “Grandparents” and a Special Friendship
Neighborhood Walks During the Pandemic Bring Back Memories and Encourage a Bit of Hope
Fundraising Effort Aims to Preserve the Only Castle in Chicagoland
Need Gift Ideas for the Holidays and Beyond? I Have 16 Talented Friends
Sad Thanksgiving News and the Celebration of a Great Life
Elegy for a 100-Year-Old Red Brick House
Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing and Why the Moon Still Makes Me Swoon
Remembering My Father-in-Law Jim on Father’s Day
I Survived—and Thrived—on a 38-Hour Roundtrip Amtrak Journey
On the Death of A.J. Freund and Healing the World
Throw Your Cares Away by Tossing an Axe
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian: A Great Place to Learn About the First Americans
Take a Drive to the Volo Auto Museum for Vintage Cars and a Blast of Americana
12 Wonderful, Interesting, and Fun Things About My Mom
The Field Museum: Dinosaurs, Mummies, a Bug’s-Eye View of the World, and Much More
Would You Travel 6,200 Miles to Fight Evil?
America 2018: Thoughts on School Shootings, Gun Control, Gerrymandering, and Kindness
Visiting the Rose City in Jordan
Need Gift Ideas for the Holidays and Beyond? I Have Some Talented Friends
A Personal Ghost Story, Ghosts of Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs, and 11 Spots for Post-Ghost-Tour Fun
New Book Spotlights 111 Off-the-Radar Destinations in Chicago
The Importance of Authenticity: On the Eclipse, Tom Skilling, Crying, and Being Oneself
Nature in Chicagoland 