Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some timely catching up with friends (old and new)!
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I just got back from a funeral for a phenomenal lady. Eleanor was a wise, vibrant, loving woman who opened her heart to all who knew her. I used to babysit for her and her kids were a joy, because they had great parents. She was a cool parent that I looked up to, but she wasn’t cool because she was lax, but because she exuded a joie de vivre. Her daughter, who was my sister’s best friend in primary school, gave one of the best eulogies I’ve ever heard featuring stories of her mom’s early life and praising her immigrant grandparents through every stage of life featuring stories, funny and poignant, while ending with the challenge to take a page from Eleanor’s book and explore a new place, read more, give more, be more hospitable.
After the funeral, we went to a lunch and by chance I saw a woman who was in my high school class. We weren’t in the same social circle, but knew many of the same people.
Last Saturday I went to the Eagle Scout ceremony for my brother Bill’s youngest son, Will. Will is the fourth brother to achieve this status. Three scouts were honored and one was the first girl in this troop. It was a neat ceremony honoring these teens for their work for the community, their knowledge and skills in everything from ecology to space exploration.
The ceremony was held at a nearby forest preserve and we were lucky that the rain we had only lasted 10 minutes or so. Afterwards we went to my brother’s for a celebratory barbecue.
On Tuesday my walking pal and I explored Pilsen, a Chicago neighborhood full of terrific murals. The day was sunny and warm. We found a good bakery and I introduced Ruth to my favorite Pilsen restaurant.