July 2, 1988 @ 3:56 PM Lake Forest, ILIt was a place I didn't know. The Midwest. Chicago. The North Shore. Lake Forest. Onwentsia Road. I ran in the morning before my wedding. Red and black running shorts the color of a WW I Fokker. Cut off arms of a size too large white Lacoste. I ran toward the lake. Already warm but without humidity. Crisp, clean and bright.
Lake Forest was stuffed with giant houses and English gardens, but Buicks were parked in the driveways. A simple Midwest that loved to laugh but could barely stand to part with $5 for a pair of socks. The Mercedes and Ferrari dealership never saw the life-long residents I knew. Even Don's Foods was the playground of the new rich while common sense and coupons dictated Sunset Foods to my new in-laws.
The Northwestern Metra filled in for the second car to a city 45 minutes away. A 1BR condo at 910 North Michigan was $30,000 whike the exodus to the suburbs was in high swing. The bars near Wrigley were simple and cheap. No one cared what you did or who you were. They only cared if you were gonna buy 'em an Old Style. This picture, taken at 3:56 PM on July 2nd in 1988, was the start of it.
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10 comments:
I wish I would have jumped into that real estate market in 1988. 30k is a bargain even in 2008.
Love this shot. Is it a candid? Always the best images from a wedding to me. (Well, almost any event, actually.)
8.8.87 - what the heck was I doing marrying a man with two very small children, my having none, my having no experience with explosive projective personalties OR children.
Your photo and your exegesis, they both remind me that history is what we carry for better or worse.
Raising my glass to you....
I like how the guys on the sides look very 1988 and the other ones (you and Trad dad?) sure don't. Sorry if I'm mistaking, fairly new here. Great post as always.
This picture reminds me why I so badly need to grow my hair out. It would go perfectly with my beard.
I do also have to admit, I feel like this is a scene from "The Wedding Singer".
Scary: The guys on either side look 78. By the late 80's it was short and trim again.
I've been lurking for some time. As usual, excellent prose. Thank you for being honest and observant about your life. Your writing is far more potent than nostalgia.
Flo, your point about our history cuts like a knife.
bmack- I remember the classified ad for 910 well back in '88. Even as late as '92, there was a concern about buying a home in Chicago. Boy, was that turned on its head.
Alice- I hope it's a candid. I think the commenter DMW took it.
Flo- ...And the world keeps on spinning regardless.
Scary- David V is right. These guys were holding onto to 1979. The guy on the left wanted to be Bruce Sprinsteen and the guy on the right was shooting for a CT version of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
2 Button- Thanks for the Wedding Singer comment.
David V- I suspect its coming back. Time will tell.
a337...Flo did it better with fewer words and without any pictures.
Any pointers on where to buy a morning suit these days?
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