I Liked His Eyes So I Let Him Move In I met him on a Sunday afternoon. He needed a home so I let him move in last April He’s still living at my house. My friends told me I didn’t know enough about him and how could I let a stranger move into my house. He was friendly, I would say. He didn’t know much about me either. He just came home with me. He was perfect gentleman. He was very consistent in his routine. All indications were that he was young. He went to bed at 7 p.m. and slept in the old divan on the floor. I drew the line: he was not sleeping in my bed. He came when I called him and …

Everyone makes a New Year's resolution this time of year. So in keeping with tradition, I started thinking about mine. Remembering past New Year resolutions, I remember asking my grandmother, "What's your New Year's resolution?"  I can still hear my grandmother's voice, "A sign from God." I never knew what adults meant with these answers. Well, maybe God did speak to her. Grandma did spend a lot of time at church. I didn't think he spoke to me. When I got older I found out she played bingo at the church. I decided that year I would not fight with my brother.  This lasted one day. God did not …

This was my best Christmas ever. I have been volunteering on the holidays for Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly for 15 years. It was something I realized I could do after my family left the nest and there was a need. Unfortunately, Little Brothers only serves seniors in the city. It was the only organization I knew so I lent them my support. I did not have to make large dinners. I was invited to other family members' homes who put up with me as I have been known to bring more than just me. This year was different. I could volunteer in Oak Lawn. Earlier this month I read about Sandi …

Christmas is fast approaching, and the day arrives, here's a word to the wise: you're your sense of humor. No TV family should be the model of civilization. It just isn't true to life. The actors—your family and friends—did not read the script inside your head. Life happens, holidays are never perfect. Something goes wrong, so what? Just laugh. Remember the old adage: Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. I am often out and about meeting people. One woman, Judy, I met at the Bonjour Café in the Oak Lawn Library. Judy amazed me with her creativity at problem solving. She was very excited …

I got a call from St Xavier's Mercy Convent yesterday. Sister Evangeline needed some information. The fact that I never heard of Sister Evangeline did not matter. I immediately sat up straighter, pressed my knees together and folded my hand properly in my lap. "Yes, Sister," flowed out of my mouth before she could even say anything. I grew up in the Little Flower Parish. I went to Little Flower Grammar School and Little Flower High School. My childhood was a garden of little flowers. At the time, my high school was the only coed Catholic high school on Chicago's South Side. The Sisters of …

Well, winter is finally here complete with the first snowfall. In January, my miniature Schnauzer, Papa, of 16 years, went to the Rainbow Bridge. Any dog that had to fill Papa's paws would have had to be very special. I looked far and wide. I registered with Petfinder.com and got daily e-mails about the adult Schnauzers available for adoption in the Midwest. One day I got an email about a stray dog named Oscar at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. I don't take adopting dogs lightly. After all, it is a lifetime commitment. Something about Oscar's picture caught my eye. If he were a …

I just returned from Michigan where I spent Thanksgiving with family. I was in a mall in Detroit on Black Friday. The mall was not crowded and the stores had plenty of stock that was left scattered and in disarray. The clerks did look like they were worn out to a frazzle. If Black Friday in Detroit is any indication of consumers' faith in the economy, it's not good. Let's have a green holiday. I don't send as many holiday cards as I used to. I send to friends and family I don't see at the holidays or through the year. I send a holiday letter via e-mail and a few cards by snail mail that are …

Let me introduce myself, Mary Kay Barton, long time Irish South Sider who grew up and graduated from Little Flower School. After raising my family in Oak Lawn for 30 years I graduated from St. Xavier's University. I am currently semi-retired due to events of the economy. What do you do when you're semi retired? You work as a volunteer using your skills to enhance the organization. I belong to Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Southwest Senior Center, and finally the Oak Lawn Green Team. If you visit the Green Team website and view the Beautify Oak Lawn PowerPoint presentation, that …