Official A2K Gathering in Chicago, May 7th, 2006!

CI, this was a special place. My family went through all kinds of hell later, and both before and after those Evanston years I didn't have a lot of nearby friends to pal around with. So those years stand out as something of an introduction to "normal life". They were also Norman Rockwell years, in that they coincided with his Post covers. And just as with Rockwell, all wasn't entirely rosy under the quilt of green elms. Still, good memories hold.

osso, I know what you mean. Children generally accept their environment, because they don't have the means to do anything else. I left home when I was 17, because family life was non-existent. My step-father was not the nicest man in this world, and treated us with disdain while treating his own children with kindness. I still retain many of the good times I enjoyed with my friends, my first date, and the neighborhood of my childhood with sentiment.

Exactly right, CI.

A few photos from visit to the Art Institute of Chicago -

Eve After The Fall, by Rodin



A painting by Sargent that totally surprised me, I think it's wild for him.
Rehearsal of Pasdelarp Orchestra. Lot of diagonals, semiabstract... (want to look up online) Miserable photo but then I knew it would be...



Fishing Boats with Hucksters Bargaining for Fish, JWTurner... (want to look up online)



Interior/Art Institute



Display of Renzo Piano's plans for Art Institute Addition



Lion on the left (have another of the lion on the right, but not on photobucket yet).

Osso,

Thanks for those photos of Evanston. My parents bought a house in Evanston when I was in high school. I lived in Evanston during all my turbulent teen years. My parents still live in the same house.

I also found it was difficult takings photos at the Art Institute. My favorite painting is Caillebrot's "Rainy Day, Paris Street".

Thanks for the photos, osso. It"s been a pleasure to see them.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that their wishes for a good trip worked. I just arrived at home safely, as did half of my luggage Oh well, story of my life ... it'll catch up eventually. Have a nice stay in New Mexico Walter. I hope you're safe as a lone German in deepest America.

Glad to hear you arrived safely, Thomas. You may want to read Dyslexia's thread about Walter in New Mexico. (not good for the image of German tourists)

OssoB - thanks for those photos, and accompanying mini-narrative. Very evocative. Interesting how things can be the same and different all at once.

Thanks, all.
Glad you're safely home, Thomas.
More cityscape photos later. Not sure how much later, maybe in an hour, or I might post them this evening.

Very much enjoying the pictures.

Osso, you went to Catholic school, too! We should start a thread.

I loved your pictures of your old neighborhood.

Apparently a lot of a2kers did, Swimp... that's an interesting idea.
I, for one, am way out of the church, but I don't harbor resentment about my time at that elementary school. High school later in another city, that's another matter.

A Bavarian couple was in my plane from Denver to Albuquerque sitting besides me, two couples from Baden-Wuertemberg were behind us when we waited for a table at the cafe in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center .... but you are correct: I'm the only German here

Thanks for the wishes - hopefully my flight back tomorrow will be as good as yours (I'll stop in Denver for a very short sightseeing tour).

Can you have your luggage blessed or something before you take off?

(Sorry about only half of yours arriving, Thomas, yikes!)

Sure, some Indian fetisches are already in- and outside of it.

Excellent!

Maybe a bit of smudging (sage?) and you'll be good to go.

Yes, Walter, have a safe return flight.
Osso, I too have no resentment regarding the frights I received in Catholic grammar school. Indeed, I am somewhat grateful that they made sex more sexy for me. :wink:

Walter, Glad your first trip to the US is filled with good memories. When you and Ulla come to California, it's gonna be awfully difficult to top your first trip, but we can always give it a college try. Have a safe trip home.
BTW, if you have time in Denver, have a meal at the Brokers where they serve a big plate of shrimp for your appetizer.

Safe journeys to JLN and Walter.

Thomas, glad to hear you are safe and sound, sorry about your luggage.

Osso, great pics and neat memories!