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Bob Dove

Set your DVR? If you enjoy "making of" programs about major rock and pop music albums, tune in Thursday October 8 at 8 PM CDT when WTTW begins a new series of 90 minute programs on the creation of “Classic Albums” starting with John Lennon’s first post-Beatles album. If not in Chicagoland, your local PBS time will probably vary. A diversion for the COVID incarcerated.

Mark Wieting

Bob, thanks for the tip. I'll set my DVR!

Mark Wieting

OK, people.

We are about to experience the most different and probably the most difficult Christmas and New Year's in our lifetimes. Many of you--as Courtney and I--will have holidays without the family and friends we usually gather with. I hope you'll be able to connect through Zoom or another way that will bring you together to the extent it's possible in 2020.

By now probably all of us know someone [maybe you] who has tested positive for the virus. Sadly, some of us have known someone who has died of COVID-19. We all hope that 2021 will see some level of return to normality, despite President-elect Biden's warning that the darkest days are ahead of us and not behind us. The medical community is stretched to the breaking point in many parts of the US. I hope it's different where you live.

I guess in one way we're lucky we are so old--falling into group "1B" and likely to be able to be vaccinated relatively soon. I plan to get my shots as soon as they are available to me. I have no worries about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines. If they're good enough for Fauci, they're good enough for me. Being vaccinated will increase the likelihood that Courtney and I will be able to get back to some of the travel plans that we were so looking forward to in 2020.

So, though it's bound to be different in many ways, I hope your holiday season is rewarding and safe. Let's all look forward to a much better 2021. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Helene Annie Rousset (Goutal)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.

We all hope that 2021 will see the end of that virus that has spread all over the world, bringing chaos and distress with it. Like you Mark I'll get the vaccine as soon as possible, it is the best way to ensure a better life for all.

Take care..

Helene

Mary Lou Schmidt (Brunner)

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Hopefully we can get back to something that resembles normal in 2021.

Stay safe,  and wear your mask! We have had 7 famly members test positive for Covid. Luckily only one was hospitalized and all have recovered. Like Mark, we will be getting our vacine as soon as possible.

Mary Lou

Herschel Dann Harris

Mark,

Thanks for your continued administration of this site. It's truly amazing how fast life is speeding by our generation and you help remind us of good memories of our past.  Christmas has certainly changed over the years.  Who would have ever thought we would be in our mid to late 70's and ordering on Amazon?  One thing hasn't changed, it's the meaning of Christmas.  God in His grace and mercy sent us a Savior. 

Blessings to all,

Dann Harris

Paul Lewellyn Chouinard

Mark,

Thanks for all you do for this website.  Healthy here, so far.  I agree with you on getting a Covid-19 vaccination as  soon as possible.  We're getting a whole minute more of daylight now than on 12/21 !!

Best wishes to all this Holiday Season.

Bob Dove

Yes Mark, thank you for keeping this gathering place up and running. 

We are still hunkering down, but plan t get vaccinated ASAP. By then, I wonder if we will have any choice between Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and any other that might come along? Just grateful that very few in our extended family have had any infection or job loss.

Best wishes to all for the best holiday you can fashion from these challanging times along with hope and expectation for a better new year! 

Kerrin Anne Kinsey (Sgourakis)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you and your families.  Yes, it has been a very trying year.  As soon as we are notified, Victor and I will be getting our shots (no matter which one).  Victor's brother and sister-in-law in Greece both had Covid.  He is 85 she is in her early 70's.  Both were hospitalized.  He was in ICU on a ventilator for a good 7-10 days, then on oxygen and in the hospital for a like amount of time.  She was in the hospital for 5-7 days on oxygen.  Both are home now and seem to be doing well.  Mask wearing, social distanccing and as our local Trader Joe's sign says:  No "Sweet Caroline" reaching out touching me touching you.  Stay safe.  

Don Comfort

Thanks Mark and Merry Christmas to you, Courtney and family. Up until two days ago, we were going ahead with our normal Christmas family gathering at our house, but Patti's oldest son tested positive.  He seems to be weathering the situation OK, but we have postponed the family Christmas until January.  Hopefully we will be vaccinated in a week or so.

My Best,

Don Comfort

Thomas L. Bakos

James Alan Bullard

Wishing eveyone a great Christmas

Bruce F. Burianek

HAPPY NEW YEAR    Hope it is better then last year

William Gibson Heller

I'm up for a good 2021, Bruce!  I'd vote for that but am concerned Dominion is running the collection.

Thomas L. Bakos

Mark Wieting

Now, now, boys. 
We've pretty generally steered away from politics on this site and relegated our political opinions to emails and texts between and among the differing parties, which has been enlightening, disturbing and kinda fun. Remember that many of us have Facebook and Twitter accounts to waste our time on and to express our well-informed or not-so-well-informed opinions.

Bruce F. Burianek

Are you running for Mayor or something?

Thomas L. Bakos

Bob Dove

Thanks, Mark.

Mark Wieting

New topic:

I loved Hank Aaron. He and Eddie Mathews were, for a time, my heroes. I have to admit a dalliance with the Milwaukee Braves in the mid-50s when the Cubs Were Just So Bad. And the Braves won the World Series In 1957. Aaron, Adcock, Logan, Pafko, Bruton, Crandall, Burdette and, of course Warren Spahn. But Aaron was the best. His number, 44, meant 4 for 4. I remember a story in the newspaper when the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. In the Tribune probably. It started, "This is a story about people who love baseball." The photo that accompanied the story was of Matthews and Aaron from the back as they went down the ramp from County Stadium to the clubhouse. Hank was about excellence--he still holds records in total bases and extra base hits, and more--but he didn't forget who he was or how far he had come. 
For many years I thought it would be a good idea to send a letter to "Hank Aaron, Atlanta, GA" to ask him if I could drive down to shake his hand. I figured the Postmaster knew where he lived and would get my letter to Hank. 
There is talk of changing the Braves name to the Hammers to honor "Hammering Hank" Aaron. I hope they do, both to honor Hank and to get rid of the American Indian nickname. As he marched toward Ruth's 714 home runs he got all kinds of hate mail. He persevered. With grace. 
755 home runs .305 lifetime batting average, and third all-time in hits. What a career, what a man.

Bob Dove

Although never much a sports fan, I felt lucky to be at the Cincinnati Reds 1974 season opener when Henry Aaron tied Ruth. CBS had two crews there, one for Aaron, and my crew covered Vice President Gerald Ford tossing out the first ball. I still have an opening day ball signed by the VP. Strange to be thinking back to that era now. 

Jim Gauker

William Gibson Heller

Do you guys remember watching the World Series games of Braves, Yanks in the gym of Jr. High?  I remember Spahn pitched one of those games we saw.  Smooth.  Also we got to see Mazaroski hit his game and series winning homer the next year.  My fielder's glove was an Eddie Matthews model.

Jim Gauker

Mark Wieting

Isn't it interesting that we had teachers who thought it was educational to have us watch the Workd Series? BTW, Eddie Matthews was on the cover of the inaugural Sports Illustrated in 1954, when he was with the Boston Braves. Cities with two teams: NYC, Chicago, Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia.  Any others?