I started the day with a long bike ride and then an escort shift:
It looked like it was going to be a very intense escorting, but the antis disappeared shortly after they marched by us. Our shift leader told us that they were fined on Friday for standing too close to the clinic entrance. If it continues to be like this, I won’t complain.
However, the moment I arrived at the clinic, a security guard told me about the Minnesota killing, which had just happened, and I was so shocked, I could not believe it (and I still can’t). For a moment, it felt like “Are we all going to be safe today?” Later, since we saw crowds passing us on their way to the Daley Plaza, these fears vanished, though the anger remains.
It was definitely a much bigger crowd than at the Hands Off rally, but same as in April, I managed to get pretty close to the center of events. I didn’t stay till the end of the march (there were at least three separate groups that took slightly different routes, and I think that marching to the Trump Tower was not in the original plans), but what I saw lifted up my spirit.
Below are some pictures and short videos taken during the rally and observing three marching groups.
Yesterday, when I chatted with a Knox alumnus, Governor Pritzker’s commencement address came up again. I shared how I wanted to go to Galesburg and how that didn’t happen, and he said, “It’s online; you can watch it!”
Indeed, I completely forgot that I meant to watch it! And yes, it’s not the same as being there in Galesburg, but still much better than not seeing it at all!
I watched it today, and cried a little bit (more than once), and listened to almost the whole ceremony, but to Pritzker’s address especially.
His closing remarks were: How do you know you are on the right side of history? The wrong side of history wants you to be afraid. The right side of history expects you to be brave.
Our country needs us to be brave; all of us, not just Knox graduates.
I do not know any of the 2025 graduates in person; still, I watched the ceremony and looked at their faces with hope. Watched until the last note of “For the long, long road to Alma Mater.” And it was inspiring.
I stopped at Amorino before the show – I have not been there for a while, and they have new flavors!
Today: Howard and Evanston Community Center Program showcase (I am on the Community Board and miss almost half of the board meetings, so I felt like I should show up). The event was way bigger than last year’s one, and more upscale, so one more time I felt inadequate in jeans and a t-shirt, but I guess it was just me.
The event went really well; I noticed an older gentleman in the Knox vest and asked him whether he was Knox, and he sure was, so we had a very lively conversation with him and his wife. This worldwide Knox brotherhood never ceases to amaze me.
Igor happened to be there while things were happening, so I heard the news from him first-hand. The next day, it was all over the news. And then yesterday, the California National Guard deployment. Just one thing I want to say: I am glad that people are not silent anymore. It takes courage not to be silent.
Yesterday, I went to see The First Homosexual Exhibit at 659 Wrightwood. Now I can’t remember where I learned about this exhibit; the usual suspect is WBEZ.
The place is seriously guarded, and all tickets should be purchased online in advance (I won’t be surprised if they run background checks before issuing tickets – they don’t show up in your inbox instantaneously).
I planned to go with a friend who cancelled a couple of days before, but I didn’t find anyone to offer tickets, so I went by myself.
The exhibit is extremely interesting, and gianormous! I didn’t expect it to be so intense, and didn’t allocate enough time. They have curators in every room, and elaborate descriptions for almost every piece in the exhibit. I came earlier than my ticket said, and they said it’s fine. I thought I would be done in an hour, but more than an hour later, I realized that I had seen only half of the exhibit. At the end, I had to rush, and unfortunately, I won’t have another chance to see the rest, since I will be out of town for the second half of June.
I ordered a catalog, which should arrive in the beginning of July. I mostly wanted it to retain the loads of information. In the beginning, I tried to take pictures of almost everything, until I realized it was not possible 🙂
Below are two pictures of the space, which is absolutely amaizing.
And just t little bit of the exhibit itself, to give an idea.
…. and over 300 pieces, each with the load of information!
For those who are planning to go, plan on staying for 2.5 hours or so.
I was there last night, and I didn’t realize it was not only the Joffrey’s opening night but also the first performance of this ballet on that side of the pond. It was unimaginably good, but so looong, it was torture on a weeknight! They should have at least started at 7 PM, not 7-30!
I read a rave review in the Tribune this morning. First, I wanted to post some quotes, but the article resonates with my impression so much (up to the choice of words!), that I will simply copy it at the bottom of this post.
Ninety-five minutes of sitting still and holding my breath! This play, by and large, exceeded my expectations!
If you are wondering how much this play is related to the famous H.G. Wells book, the answer is – very little! Yes, it’s about the Marician invasion on Earth, but the action takes place in the US, and even more specifically in Illinois, at some fictional point in time. There are definite hints that the action takes place in the past, but at the same time, it’s a sharp satire on nowadays media, television, reporting, politicians, and what else. All the characters are unmistakably recognizable, so you can’t stop laughing (or crying)!
I am ashamed to say that I didn’t know anything about the book “It Takes Chutzpah” until I saw the advertisement for the library event. And I should be even more ashamed that I didn’t know who Senator Wyden was.
The only reason I made a note about this event was the mention of Governor Pritzker being a part of this conversation. I checked out what this book was about, asserting the topic and the fact that the Governor thought it’s worth reading prompted me to get a book and mark my calendar.
I put aside the book I was listening to at that time, and started to listen to the Senator Wyden ‘s book. When I learned which initiatives and legistlations he championed, I became really ashamed, and thought that my knowledge of the Senators is tilted towards the Midwest :).
I came to the library about 30 minutes before the event start, and there was a line (these events are not ticketed).
When they let us in, I hurried up to get the good seat. What I should have done was to get a copy of that book in the hallway by the auditorium, but it didn’t occur to me that they could bo sold out – which happened to be the case! I didn’t need the paper book for myself, but since I already read it, I thought that I wanted Igor to have it, especially when I could get a signed copy.
The event was livestreamed, and if you have 40 minutes to spare, I think it’s totally worth it.
As for the books, a person right before me in the line, got the last copy! For me and everyone behind in in the line, they offered an option to sign an insert which they will paste into the book when it will arrive, so I hope to have one which I signed for Igor in a week or so.
Also, you know how I always ruin the photos having my eyes closed?! This time, when they took a photo of me with the Senator, I was OK, but his eyes were closed!!! No luck!
A last-minute decision to go to the Last Call – Africa Fashion event at the Field Museum was a good one! Not only did I finally see the Africa Fashion exhibit, but I also enjoyed the outfits displayed by other participants. I was one of three or so white guests among 300+ total, and I wore jeans and a white blouse, which made me feel completely inadequate. If not for my friend I called to join me the day before, I would probably feel miserable, but there she was, with her eyes shining, proudly displaying her Ghana costume.
The exhibit (which closes on June 29) is absolutely stunning, but so were the visitors! I regret I didn’t have the courage to ask at least some of them for a photo! Below are the pictures from the exhibition, and I don’t know about you, but I definitely didn’t see anything like that before!
Hettie's Reflections 