I was born in Chicago. For the first ten years my family lived in a diverse tenament with the ‘L" tracks in our backyard. It was loud, dirty and much fun. My Italian Immigrant grandparents lived on the 3rd floor while we were on the first. Above us were Persians, next door classic Hill Billie folk, a few doors down the Greeks, the Irish, the Germans…quite a place to smell the world as they cooked dinner. We all got along and hand many outdoor parties and gatherings. Kids were everywhere and adventure awaited with every new sunrise.
My brothers and I spent many hours at the Boys Club, learned to swim naked at the Lincoln Turner Hall pool and roamed our square mile freely which included Lincoln Park, and some of the best alleys in the city. We had loads of freedom and fun.
Once I left Chicagoland I never returned other than for visits. I maintain great fondness for this city and welcome the familiar sights when visiting my family right in the same neighborhood where I grew up. Much changed of course but many things remain.
My ex wife's son is now a Chicago Police Officer and when I heard an officer was shot yesterday my stomach jumped. Not this time but he is in a danger zone. Over years of bad political management, my kind of town has become no one's kind of town. This degeneration is not unique but common in the once great US Cities. This is one reason why I was elated to see some good sense rule in kicking Lightfoot to the curb. She was a terrible Mayor. But as the song sang, meet the new boos same as the old boss. One can hope that trend gets broken. We'll see.
You might have seen the film No Country for Old Men…well, Chicago is no City for them either. But I still wax nostalgic for it. Go Cubs!
Best,
Donn Marier
DM-Your Own CFO