Yesterday's backstory

I thought it might be appropriate to give you a little insight into the background of the Eastland Disaster - and why I know anything about it.

You see, I grew up a block and a half west of Pulaski Road (the former Crawford Avenue - named for the Crawford's who had a farm whose buildings bordered the road) just off of Cermak Road (It used to be 22nd Street but was renamed for the assassinated Mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak). Pulaski is one mile east of Cicero Avenue, and the northwest corner of the Western Electric, Hawthorne Works campus was located at Cicero and Cermak. Hawthorne Works employed THOUSANDS of people, many of whom lived in my neighborhood. They were the manufacturing arm of AT&T and they made EVERYTHING there that you can imagine, related to phones.

Every family in my neck of the woods was touched, in one way or another, when the Eastland went down. So it was a word I had heard - it was something that was stuck in the back of my consciousness my whole life. So, when I saw a reference to the 'Eastland' in a magazine article in 1976, it rang a bell in my memory and I was prompted to find out as much as I could about what happened. After many, many hours in libraries and newpaper microfiche files I finally had what I consider to be a fairly comprehensive picture of what happened - before, during and after that fatal day. Given that I was in the mdst of my 'poetic' period (and let me tell you, I wrote some of the WORST, most ANGUISHED crap you never wanted to read during that period) I felt it, and I wrote it. I think it is one of the finest things I've ever written. Except that now my character, Yacob Vobescu, and his story, just might have slipped past the Eastland piece as my best.

On another note ....

There are (and I counted them yesterday, so I know) 68 blogs I check, every day, for new content. There are two blogs where I lurk. Everywhere else, I comment. I have been noticing what seems to be an epidemic of ennui out there, if not outright depression.

This breaks my heart. Truly. Given that there's only 4 'man' blogs I read, I see a lot of stuff from a decidedly feminine point of view EVERY DAY. And some of you guys are having a REAL TOUGH TIME.

You all have one thing in common - besides me. You cannot and should not try to get through these tough times you're going through ALONE!! Talk to someone. A Doctor. A Mom. A priest or a rabbi. Your best friend. Hell, if you have to, talk to ME. But DON'T DO IT ALONE. You don't have to and there's no reason you should. Please? PLEASE???

For your kids. For your sanity. For me. Talk to someone.

I love you guys.