January 9: WALTER HILL – An Escape to the Ends of the Spectrum
by WALTER HILL: Born January 10, 1942 Originally published January 9, 2015. Years ago, a group of friends and I left …
January 7: JOHN BERRYMAN – The Decision to Wave Goodbye
JOHN BERRYMAN: October 25, 1914 – January 7, 1972 When I was a young man infatuated with poetry, I read the poets whose lives I …
January 5: MICHAEL O’DONOGHUE – A Violent, Outrageous Absolution
MICHAEL O’DONOGHUE: January 5, 1940 – November 8, 1994 Years ago, I went with my grandmother to a funeral of one of her siblings. My …
November 10: SESAME STREET – A Lifetime of Gratitude
Sesame Street: Premiered November 10, 1969 Some moments of gratitude are simpler than others. Some moments do not call for deeper examination or explication. We’re …
October 29: BILL MAULDIN – A Fabric of Lies More Honest Than the Truth
Bill Mauldin: October 29, 1921 – January 22, 2003 When my great-uncle Jack’s landing watercraft approached Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, a superior officer …
October 24: RESERVOIR DOGS – An Open Letter to Everyone who stormed out of the Lincoln Theater in Chicago that night in December, 1992
Reservoir Dogs : Premiered October 23, 2012 Dear people who stormed out of the midnight showing of Reservoir Dogs at the Lincoln Theater in Chicago …
October 23: JOHNNIE’S LOUNGE – A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
Ivan “Johnnie” Vrbetic: 1922 – October 23, 2009 Chicago is a city with a proud pub tradition. Generations of Chicagoans hold firm to social traditions …
October 7: THE GIVING TREE – The Elusive Territory between Codependence and Selfishness
Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree: Published October 7, 1964 I introduced my wife to the band Lucero yesterday. Her response to their music was similar …
September 29: JOHNNY BENCH – Go Until You Can’t Go No More
JOHNNY BENCH: Final game of his professional baseball career – September 29, 1983 My wife and I were recently discussing the process of writing. I …
September 20: THE INDIAN RUNNER – The Intimidating Legacy of Fatherhood
THE INDIAN RUNNER: Premiered September 20, 1991 I was 21 when Sean Penn released The Indian Runner, his first film as writer and director. I …