You can blame the Park Forest Historical Society and its upcoming “show and tell” program for what has happened in our Shack on Shabbona.
Not even two months gone in the calendar, and that great New Year’s Resolution about tidying up the desk and getting rid of the accumulation of clutter, litter and just plain “stuff” that we store for future use – for a time that never seems to arrive – has almost been abandoned. It was never more evident than the day “The Woman” who inhabits my life showed “The Son” a few old photos of our then much younger family.
When asked where these pictures were hidden in the last 40 or so years, the answer came with an icy stare that could start a snowstorm on the equator.
“The back room,” she said slowly and with emphasis on the word “back.” The temperature in the house immediately dropped 20 degrees.
That room, nestled in a corner of our domicile, has long been the keeper of mementos, clippings, programs, files, books, pamphlets, stuff in boxes and other stuff in other boxes. It takes years to build this treasury of things once thought essential to our life but now all but forgotten.
“You need to do something about it,” she said, with a hint of frost warnings.
No sooner said than almost done. We did away with the property tax receipts from 1996 through 2002. We shredded some of those forgotten but at one time “invaluable” printouts. Boxes of photos depicting our life in the same house for more than 50 years were sorted into neater piles. Books were stacked so they can be put on shelves perhaps in the next week or so, or maybe later.
All this because the Park Forest Historical Society is holding a “show and tell” program at 2:30 p.m.Sunday )in Ryan Hall in St. Mary’s Church at 227 Monee Rd.
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Sharing memories is the topic and people are asked to bring something from their past in Park Forest to share with others.
Thanks a lot, Historical Society and please pass the dust mop.
Mike Safcik
We only knew Mike Safcik for six years; the last years of his life. We only knew Mike Safcik because he and Judy Lohr found each other while playing the same game on the Internet. But we knew that Mike and Judy found in each other the great love of their life.
They were a marvelous pair, this Jewish woman and this Catholic man whose devotion for each other transcended all else. Mike was a big man; big in size, in spirit and in heart. In the end, however, his great heart failed him. He died in January and last Sunday his memorial service was held in B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom in Homewood.
Family and friends talked about Mike’s qualities; his kindness, his gentleness and his humor. He was even forgiven for being a Green Bay Packers fan. Because of his medical problems, Mike, an avid hunter, championed work being done by various disabled hunters’ groups. He once suggested to Rabbi Carmit Harari (“He called me Sister Mary Carmit,” she recalled.) that hand rails be installed on steps of the bima (altar) in the Temple. They were erected and will be dedicated in his memory.
There is this photo of Mike and Judy. He is more than a head taller. She rests her head on his shoulder. There is a look of absolute contentment on both their faces. If you saw that picture, you knew what love is really about.
Jerry Shnay is a freelance journalist and can be reached at [email protected]