Wilmette resident Sylvia Kete was out enjoying the autumn sunshine downtown with her dog Emma on Nov. 9, but she took time to speak with Pioneer Press about the reason she likes Thanksgiving, the music she listens to when she wants to relax, her dream vacation, and more.
Q: You’re out here with Emma. Tell us a little bit about her.
A: Emma is 10 years old. She’s a mutt, and she’s quite extraordinary. She’s my first dog – I always had cats before her – and she is my trainer. When she has to go out, that’s that, and so I’m out walking with her. She has quite a personality. She’s very good for me.
Q: Since the holiday is coming up, can you tell us if you’re a Thanksgiving fan?
A: I love Thanksgiving. I love the food, I love that you don’t have to worry about getting gifts for people. My favorite Thanksgiving food would be pumpkin pie. My son-in-law makes a great pumpkin pie for me. I love it, and it should have whipped cream on it, too.
Q: Do you have a cause or charity you’d like people to be aware of?
A: I would say, very simply, education.
Q: In school, what was your favorite subject?
A: Believe it or not, social studies. I love history, and I loved the thought that we could move the world, if we could inform ourselves and keep active in it; that we could help the world.
Q: What music do you enjoy when you want to relax?
A: Classical. I like jazz, but in the end, it’s always classical. I’ve even become something of an opera nut. And for music that calms me down, I’d have to say Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, they’re all wonderful to listen to.
Q: And finally, what would be your dream vacation?
A: I would love to visit all of our country’s national parks. I’ve got my (National Parks Program) passport book – I’ve had it for years – and I would love to use it, so yes, definitely I’d go to the national parks.
–Kathy Routliffe, Pioneer Press
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