Life 2.0

Buy The Book

Yesterday, we attended the annual book sale at a famous library in Chicago, and once again I was in overwhelm at the sheer number of titles that are literally (no pun intended) at our fingertips. The answers to life's biggest questions and challenges are often found in-between the covers of a book, and yet, humanity seems stuck in place, in so many ways. Can't do a show about books, without mentioning the impact that "Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer" had on my life, at the age of ten. 

Never Forgotten

The S.S. Eastland, known as the "Speed Queen of the Great Lakes," was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for a day of fun and fellowship. But the festivities were short-lived and quickly turned tragic.

On the morning of July 24th, 1915, the Eastland was docked at the Clark Street Bridge, but never left the Chicago River. Tragedy struck as the ship rolled over into the river at the wharf's edge. More than 2,500 passengers and crew members were on board that day – and 844 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families.

Two of those that lost their lives, 107 years ago tomorrow, were Niels Petersen and his little son Royal.

In 2008, one of the strangest experiences of my life took place (with witnesses) in one of the edit studios at Oprah Radio, in a building that was across the street from Harpo Studios, that was the Second Regiment Armory at the time, and used as a morgue for the victims of the Eastland.

Some of the security guys I knew reported strange "phenomena" in the main building, but that was across the street...right? 

Remembering that morning, and those who perished, and the beyond incredible intervention from the other side, in this episode of the Life 2.0 podcast.

 

Keep The Faith

After going toe-to-nose with my 2nd bout of Cyrus The Virus this past week, I was once again regulated to couch patrol, and put on a few of my favorite movies-including Batman. All that was overshadowed by yet another "senseless act of violence" on July 4th, in Highland Park, that has me once again insisting that we become what we allow. In spite another tragic headline, and Covid-19, hope and faith are still the most important ideas that we need to hang to, when the headlines disrupt the lifelines.

A Little Further North

It's been a long time since I was able to spend a week away from the push and pull of media demands, electronic umbilical cords and deadlines-and just focus on the lifelines. A few days in the glorious Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my son was right on time. There's something sacred to me, about getting to a place where there is more trees than people, that resets my inner GPS. Add to that, some major synchronicities involving my old friend John Denver, a wonderful woman on a flight, (who flew to New York just to bring her father some chocolate candy) and sleeping 12 hours a night, has me feeling like a major amount of rust has been removed from my reptilian brain stem.

Cellphone Rage

Some of my earlier life experiences have me well acquainted with PTSD. So, when I find myself turning from Bill Bixby into The Incredible Hulk over a new cellphone, I have to remind myself to switch from reacting to responding, all because someone thought 5G was a good idea. Can't we just go back to wall phones?

FULL CIRCLE

I was unprepared for the feeling of overwhelm that awaited me, upon entering my former grammar school for an alumni open house. Rolling back the years, over a half-century later, brought some things to the surface, like a splinter working its way out. It was the perfect lead-in to Father's Day, as I heard from some kids on the tour, about how much they enjoyed my dad aka "Dracula" and the great times we all had on Halloween. Not all memories for me are good, there's some bad and the also the ugly, but above it all, the lessons I learned from my dad, have had a profound effect on me, and continue to do so, decades after he passed.

FIELD OF DREAMS

I often pinch myself, in marvel at the route my life has taken me, and the people who have crossed my path at various times. When I was a kid, I would wait at "The Corner" to get an autograph from my Chicago Cubs heroes, in particular, the ironman catcher-Randy Hundley. As it turned out, my first paid writing assignment in 1993, was to cover the "Fantasy Camp" experience Hundley created after he retired from baseball, and we've been in each other's orbit ever since. Great conversation with one of baseball's most iconic and celebrated catchers.

TEDDY!

An interesting week for your host to say the least. After consuming multiple hours of Teddy Roosevelt on The History Channel, I was able to pinpoint where I grabbed on to the notion of "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" and how that has played out in my life, and career. That concept has a real life connection to a late friend, and had me a bit bound up emotionally in front of a live audience at my high school, handing out scholarships in his memory. 

LEST WE FORGET

There's nothing "happy" about Memorial Day. It was originally created as "Decoration Day" shortly after the Civil War, to commemorate those who lost their lives. Somehow over the years, its become a three-day weekend, and an excuse from retailers to sell more tires and televisions. But, for two families, memorial day is filled with the memories of their sons, who gave their lives in service to our nation. 

NO EXCEPTIONS

I came across a blog post that I wrote three years ago-that I have zero recollection of writing-and it turned out to be right on time. There are just some universal truths that need to be recognized, and paid attention to, that affect all of us, without exception. Might want to write these down-just in case you need them in three years too-or maybe-today.