Dosty-begone

Dear Dan, Josh, Anne -

Yes, I think we will not find it difficult to separate the beautiful concept of Immanuel (my preferred spelling, since Bejou) from Mayor Rahm. Although, why not remember the meaning at every turn?

I am writing a short piece for an assignment from my pastor, who is asking congregants to share 2-3 minute talks during Lenten services, one person per service, on something in our lives that God has helped us get through. I knew right away what I wanted to talk about — parenting! (to which Andrew commented, Duh, Dad, that’s what the pastor wanted you to talk about!) But I also thought quickly of Immanuel and how this assignment was really about how God is with us in all things, and we just need to see the constant reminders.

Dad constantly reminded Bejou that God was with us. He wanted our church to never forget the meaning of its name. And now, I go to Grace Lutheran Church, where our pastor constantly reminds us what our name means, and again it is a broad concept that almost defies anecdotes: everything we have is by the grace of God. And yet we do need to be reminded.

The bigger news here, and I’m as much on the sidelines for this as for Chicago’s politics, is the Wisconsin standoff, with Gov. Walker determined to bust the state employee union in a state that was the first to establish such unions. For eight days now the state dems have been holed up in Rockford in an effort to avoid a vote that would end collective bargaining. Repubs have a strong majority but are one short of a quorum. Remember, incidentally, that even back in Illinois, Lincoln once slipped out of a window to avoid a quorum. Meanwhile, back in Madison, protestors are swelling to over 60,000 daily, waiving their Solidarity signs and dressed in deer hunter orange. And now the same thing, over the same union issue, is happening in Ohio and Indiana. Say what you will about the messy process of democracy —and say that this is trivial compared to Egypt and Libya —but I find it thrilling. And say what you want about unions, but I find it intriguing how Solidarnosk took power away from Polish communists while in Wisconsin it is trying to oppose corporate “right to work” interests. There is left, there is right, and then there is democracy.

I will copy this to Mom now too, since apparently she is being recruited as the Dosty-begone secretary now. So what do you think of your state? It’s funny, it was not long ago that Arizona’s political uprisings gave us pause about your annual trip south. Hope you are enjoying the relative peace.

And by the way, sibs, yes, I did send a birthday missive to Mom last week, just didn’t copy you all. We are still allowed to do that, right?

But do keep the open letters going. Dan, I like your poem —your ring-shaped poem is still the one that sticks with me better, but you may have just devised a motto for our production company: “between the greater us, enter the notes that more-than-not define our meal-stock ways.” Anne, I did take the time to read your Happy Hoppy blog - did I mention that? I am reminded again because I just bought a new strain of Guinness Stout called “Foreign Extra,” loaded with extra hops. An IPA Guiness? Sacrilege? And Josh, do not worry about clocking time in Mt Prospect. There are obvious priorities to heed, and you, more than any of us, have been the constant Immanuel reminder, for your family as well as for your church — keep to it!

Love to all, Jon