Archive for July 2017

To My Brother on His 50th Birthday

To My Brother on His 50th Birthday
On Monday July 31st my brother Kevin turns 50 years old. Yeah okay lots of people turn 50 years old. Yeah but this is a African American man who has had some health issues and honestly issues with the law. He has turned his life around, is a reponsible, married man, helping raise his grandkids,... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 30, 2017 at 10:48 pm • 

Happiness Is A Work In Progress

Happiness Is A Work In Progress
Recently it seems to a be an elevated number of suicides including a record 79 suicides last year right here in Will County according to the Joliet Herald. You’ve heard of several well known musicians who took their own lives, Chris Cornell one of my favorites who led Soundgarden and other bands he took his... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 28, 2017 at 6:53 am • 

30 Years Since My First Time At Summer Camp

30 Years Since My First Time At Summer Camp
Man this week marks 30 years since I first went to Owasippe Scout Camp in Twin Lakes Michigan. Am I that old? That was a week that changed me forever, I was 11 years old, only having been in Boy Scouts since the beginning of the year, though I was involved in Cub Scouts for... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 26, 2017 at 9:11 pm • 
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My Lincoln Mall Story As it Faces Demolition

I was driving down Lincoln Highway (Route 30), the other day and saw the demolition of Lincoln Mall and I had to drive over and take pictures and pay my respects. No worries, I didn’t tresspass, every picture was taken legally from behind the construction fence. I worked at Montgomery Ward in Lincoln Mall from... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 24, 2017 at 11:25 pm • 

We Need to Focus on Positive African American Men

We Need to Focus on Positive African American Men
Who are the two most prominent men of color in the news this week? R. Kelly & OJ Simpson. They have been in the news for over 20 years for all of the wrong reasons and seem not to get the full extent of the law like most of us African American men would. Let’s... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 22, 2017 at 8:38 am • 

Return To Fishing

Return To Fishing
This past weekend I took my two year old son fishing for the first time and it was my first time fishing since my dad past three years ago. When it comes to fishing I was taught by the best, men like my dad, also my late scoutmaster Arthur R. Young Jr., (Ricky), and his... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 17, 2017 at 9:35 pm • 
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Love For The Glove

Love For The Glove
This week the baseball beat writers for the Chicago Tribune (Colleen Kane & Mark Gonzales), did an excellent story about various Chicago Cubs and White Sox and their baseball gloves. Some guys were elaborate about breaking the gloves in, how many they have, when they use them (practice and in game gloves aka “gamers”), and even... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 13, 2017 at 10:34 pm • 

The Curtain Will Fall On The Star Plaza Theater

The Curtain Will Fall On The Star Plaza Theater
For those of us who came of age in the 1980’s we will always remember fondly the Star Plaza Theater formally known as the Holiday Star Theater in Merrillville Indiana which will close at the end of the year and be demolished. Before the casinos had beautiful theatres and booked top acts, before places like Country... Read more »
By Charles W. Johnson,
July 11, 2017 at 7:09 pm •