Our girls love trains, and so it was with a lot of excitement (and a bit of trepidation) that we decided to jump at the chance to celebrate Metra’s birthday — and ride for free.
We left home and arrived at the Glenview station full of excitement — only to be told by others on the platform that the last announcement was the train was going to be “12 minutes late.” The next announcement was “14 minutes late,” but spirits stayed high as we explored what it meant to look both ways, how the trains could traverse the pedestrian walkways and what the gates meant for vehicles. This was the second train of the day from Fox Lake into the city, and the daily struggle for Metra to stay on time was already obvious.
The train did arrive, and we found our seats. The conductor was courteous, and the train was full — a rare sight most weekends. The girls learned about neighboring communities, how trains stay on their tracks and more.
Arriving at Union Station, we enjoyed a walk through the tallest of buildings to Maggie Daley Park, the Ryan Learning Center and Pizano’s for pizza. Chicago really is an amazing place to visit. Even Grandpa Howie, at age 76, was still in awe. We returned to Union Station ahead of the rain and 15 minutes early. Our train was already there, and we waited to board. When we did, we sat. And sat. And finally, we left — about 5 minutes late.
We didn’t even make it to daylight. The conductor returned with an announcement that we had “forgotten something.” That was a new one and not the best cover story for whatever had happened, but alas, we got a little more time on the train than we bargained for.
We made it home, and the day was deemed a success. It was also a reminder of why Metra has the reputation it has. With a chance to show just how amazing it is, Metra failed to deliver on one of its biggest promises.
Its website boasts “a 95% on-time record,” but on that day, it was zero.
We still love Metra, and we’ll ride again, but I’m starting to understand why others despise it so.
— Roger Anderson, Glenview
Museum options are wonderful
As a mother, grandmother and retired educator, I must respond to the opinion in the letter “Going to museums as a child” (June 8).
I grew up in this wonderful city, and my love for museums began at an early age, which can be said by many. I have instilled this love in my children, grandchildren and former students. From a young age, my grandchildren have consistently asked to visit one of Chicago’s world-class museums, and we take them often. The Field Museum is the top favorite. However, each one is well loved and visited, including the children’s museums when age-appropriate. They understand and appreciate how fortunate we are to have these pillars in our city.
I am insulted, however, by the letter writer’s question, “Do today’s children’s museums reflect parents’ ignorance or unwillingness to keep learning and growing?” This is also an insult to the expert curators and donors who create spaces and exhibits for children to develop their imagination, interact with others and play while learning, which are all vital stages of development.
The children and adults are not “shortchanged.” The opposite is true. I invite this Chicagoan to visit a children’s museum to witness the interaction between adults (caregivers and staff) and the children. Look deep into what is actually happening and be grateful for the many options this city offers to all of us who are lucky to call this area home.
— Gloria Moyer, Skokie
Restore park water fountains
While on a walk with my family in Lincoln Park on a warm day, I hoped to have a drink of water but was instead confronted with a drinking fountain that was shut off. Many of the drinking fountains in Chicago parks have remained turned during the summer or have been removed entirely. Some neighborhood parks currently have no working drinking fountains.
The city’s reasoning for this has been that lead has been detected in the water at the drinking fountains and that more people now carry their own water. With summers getting hotter and not everybody thinking to bring their own water supply when going to a park, the city should consider replacing the lead pipes to at least some of the disabled drinking fountains. Perhaps some of the federal government funds for replacing lead pipes would be available for this purpose.
— Max Morgenthaler, Chicago
A way to honor D-Day fighters
The 80th anniversary of D-Day just passed. Our country did itself proud in sending our aging veterans over to honor this historic day. We can honor them in yet another and better way.
The soldiers from that war all came from the “greatest generation,” and the youngest of them would now be in their late 90s. With time, all of these great soldiers will pass. Without them, our world will not be the same. A great way to honor them would be to have a national funeral with a recently departed World War II soldier lying in state at the Capitol and then a procession onto Arlington National Cemetery.
The country should be able to put our political differences aside and come together to share in honoring our fathers and grandfathers who sacrificed so much.
— Cary Barry, Mundelein
Declaration of responsible voting
Over recent months, I have heard friends and relatives say they don’t like either presidential candidate and that they might not vote, as though this could be a simple decision based on likes or dislikes. Is it possible to restate the quandary not in terms of likes but rather in terms of if one’s conscience would allow one to vote for either presidential candidate?
A vote for a convicted felon is a nonstarter. A vote for President Joe Biden in light of his administration’s inability or unwillingness to rein in the systematic annihilation of Palestinians in Gaza is quite a question of conscience. Last week’s public presidential commemoration of D-Day and the liberation of the French people in 1944 seems a sharp contrast to our government’s disposition to provide armaments and moral support for a system that has encased hundreds of thousands of refugees in fenced enclaves for decades. Can we continue to embrace a flippant “We have your back” as a coherent policy for peace in the future?
This November, going to the polls and voting for a local judge or water reclamation commissioner or state representative or any of all the other candidates would reflect a serious citizen. Leaving the presidential option blank might just be a real declaration of responsible voting.
— Douglas R. Groll, Chicago
Clark has me following WNBA
I have been closely following the recent sports news regarding Caitlin Clark and the WNBA in the Tribune with renewed interest and surprise. Yes, more of us are taking a closer new look these days at this league, even with all of its recent controversial news.
I played varsity baseball and basketball at the University of Richmond from 1948 to 1952. However, our style and capabilities at that time were closer to that of the women’s game today. We played mostly below the rim, unlike today’s men who play above the rim and at a much faster pace.
Now, at age 93, I do not attend any sporting events but watch mostly on television and the internet. The abilities of today’s athletes in all sports is truly amazing. Watching Clark this past year at the University of Iowa increased my interest in the women’s game. Watching the last Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game, I found myself pulling for the Fever and Clark. Why? I guess it’s because of some of the ugliness that has taken the focus away from the fantastic game being played on the court by these women.
There are many outstanding athletes in the WNBA, but very few people knew it. With Clark on the scene, it has put a brighter spotlight on all of these gifted athletes. Today, more people know how good they are, including me.
— Simon Moughamian, Lake Bluff
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