Racism and the struggles within and without are hitting hard. This morning we drove through Austin: the place of the quickest white-flight in Chicago.
It started with a trip to Paul's house. The neighborhood was beautiful: well kept, like stepping back in time. I could just tell that the appearance of the neighborhood had not changed significantly over time: the homes had been cared for. At the grade school, we talked about busing: it was not easy. It was like the pictures. And it does not stop there.
In the next neighborhood, the Whites left within 6 years because they could not handle diversity. And the racial lines still stand. Will we ever get this right? What happened to loving our neighbors?
Time for a little relief: Greektown! We ate lunch at a beautiful Greek restaurant where I had Tangia: pork medallions in lemon sauce with fries... It was pretty good, and I felt good about trying something new. But really, the best part was being somewhere happy. The people loved their heritage and serving the food of their culture. They are successful, and the joy of an earned reward was evident.
Hellenik museum: Iconography. Art in this tradition is filled with effort. The steps are long, and somewhat tedious. But the most interesting part is the painting. (This is true of the Polish-Mexican Catholic Church as well.) First, gold leaf is applied to the entire surface. Then a yolk-emulsion is applied, and finally paint. The beauty is that the gild shows through the paint, creating a light from the inside-out effect. The theological implications are awesome, and the art has stood the test of time based upon all the layers of work.
University Village: Barbara's Bookstore. A treasure! OK, so I may have a slight addiction to reading/bookshops, but it doesn't hurt to feed the monster every once in a while.
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