Our son Michael, a young man with some significant intellectual disabilities, is a huge Boston Bruins fan. A couple of weeks ago, we came to Chicago for the Bruins game against the Blackhawks on a Saturday night.
While shopping in the pro shop, we were told that the store was closing for an hour. We landed at the Billy Goat Tavern nearby, which was packed with Blackhawks fans. There were no seats at the bar and no open tables. Michael was beginning to get confused over everything. He did not want to leave the United Center, and he wanted a Duncan Keith bobblehead.
I was thinking that we would need to find somewhere else to go. A Blackhawks fan approached me. He said: “You’re from Boston.” I laughed. He said: “This place is ‘seat yourself,’ so you’re in luck because we want you to sit with us.”
He pointed to a big table; the people sitting there all waved at us. They all squished over. I was blown away. This was the most welcoming group of people. It was immediately like we knew them all forever.
Michael told everyone about how much he loves hockey. He even told them that he saw Connor Bedard’s first NHL goal in Boston a couple of years ago. One of the guys said: “Michael, let’s go get us a couple milkshakes.” For an hour, we sat with this group. I didn’t want the time to come to an end.
Michael asked me about the bobblehead, and I told him that we would try. A person at the table told me quietly that she had just texted his brother and his wife. They already had two bobbleheads, and she said that one of them had Michael’s name on it if he did not get one. I said that wasn’t necessary, and she said she knew that. She whispered, “You have no idea how much I needed to meet Michael today.”
We all walked to the United Center. Michael and I got our bobbleheads. We said goodbye to all of them, and I thanked them for their hospitality. They all high-fived Michael.
It was a very incredible hour for me, strangers just being kind to one another. I got the sense that this group enjoyed it all just as much as we did.
I believe that stuff like this goes on every single day, but we don’t always see it. There are “helpers” everywhere, and they are all around us. The Billy Goat Tavern was loaded up with helpers and doers of good. I truly felt like I was in a room full of friends.
It may have been frigid outside, but Chicago was a very warm place that day.
Kudos to the Blackhawks fans!
— Richard Sawyer, Woburn, Massachusetts
Snowplow operators’ skill
I never realized the professionalism and skill of our Chicago-area snowplow operators. I got a graphic demonstration this past weekend.
In the Chicago area, typically roads are passable almost instantly, and then crews continue to touch up and perfect their work, plowing shoulders, widening radiuses, salting where needed, etc., and even that is typically complete in a day.
Louisville, Kentucky, had a 6-inch snowfall five days before my arrival this past weekend, and the incomplete plowing made an impression on me. Turn bays were only partially cleared. Periodically, curb lanes were only partially cleared, and adequate radiuses were mostly ignored. Shoulders were primary snow storage areas, unavailable to disabled or errant vehicles.
I realize our crews get more training and practice, but I was amazed at the difference.
Congratulations, professional Chicago-area snowplow drivers. A job well done!
— Robert B. Hamilton, Wauconda,
Griffin sabotaged solution
Regarding Ken Griffin hightailing it to Florida, it’s always amazing how the voters of Illinois fell for his one-person campaign against a progressive income tax. Like it or not, it was one way to solve some of Illinois’ fiscal problems, mainly overreliance on property taxes, by taxing wealthy residents at a higher rate. But we’ll never know now, will we?
— Ken Kramer, Glen Ellyn
Full truth about Chicago
I was casually watching a Wall Street Journal video when my ears perked up at hearing Citadel CEO Ken Griffin giving some reasons as to why he left Chicago.
He said: “I must tell you it’s really fun to go out with friends at night and just talk about how your kids are doing. Whereas in Chicago, you frankly often end up talking about violent crime because it touched your life in such a profound way each and every day.”
Griffin sounded sincere, but I don’t think he was telling the whole truth. The city of Chicago may not persuade Griffin to leave hot and sunny Miami Florida, but hopefully, crime will continue to decrease and inspire people and businesses to move to Chicago.
— Marc Sims, Chicago
Don’t repeal fireworks ban
I disagree with Brad Weisenstein’s proposal to repeal the Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act of 1942 (“Let us celebrate 250th Independence Day by ending the state’s ban on fireworks,” Feb. 5).
I dread every summer holiday. Even though I live in Illinois, the proximity of easily purchased fireworks in neighboring states creates a dangerous hazard for many of us.
Homes built closely on zero lot lines with dense suburban single- and multi-family occupancies place families and homes in the path of bigger, louder and stronger fireworks.
I spend the morning after celebrations picking up debris and sweeping sidewalks, the driveway, and patio and deck areas. My outside furniture cushions and umbrella often have burn holes. Why? Because we are in very close proximity to the revelers.
I love local fireworks shows sponsored by professionals; mostly held in open areas or over our many waterways. But please keep fireworks out of our closely packed neighborhoods for the safety of families and homes.
— Sunny McGuinn, Lake Villa
Positives to end of ban
I really enjoyed Brad Weisenstein’s op-ed on why Illinois should lift the ban on fireworks. I have been an advocate for many years for the same reasons that Weisenstein cites: tax money going to border states, Illinois being only one of three states with a fireworks ban and the fact that there are more injuries from people barbecuing and playing baseball than from fireworks.
I hope the powers that be will see this op-ed and lift the ban. There are more positives then negatives to do just that.
— Harold Plucienik, Chicago Heights
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