17 E. Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois

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Guest writer: Heather Kobler

I re-watched the first three seasons of “The Bear” on the Hula Network last weekend.  The 4^th season starts on June 25^th.  The Bear is filmed almost exclusively in Chicago.  Watching it invoked many of my childhood memories because I know every street, bridge, and landmark that they filmed it in and I consider Chicago my incubator!  I remember the sound of the milk man’s truck delivering milk and cream, the peddler that cried out, “Rags & Old Irons!”, and the lady who played music on the Barrel Organ. 

My siblings and I had the best parents.  They loved each other, my brother, two sisters and me.  We lived at 17 E. Erie between State and Rush Streets.  It was a short walk to Michigan Avenue to watch the many parades each year. The Chicago Sun Times newspaper always took photos of us because we dressed in matching outfits and always sat on a curb with a great view of the festivities. 

The caption was always the same: “The Schaudenecker Sisters.”

My parents always taught us to treat every one the same and we were never taught prejudice.  My parents said “Prejudice was somebody else’s leftover garbage and it stinks!”  Prejudice is something that’s taught by others and it does not come naturally!  My mom’s friends called me, “Miss United Nations” because I brought home people from all over the world.

I loved so many of our relatives and my parents’ friends because they were so kind to all of us.  Most of them didn’t have children themselves because they lived through the Great Depression and the Second World War but they had plenty of love to share.  These people were a blessing and I think of them all the time.

My family grew up with the Donita family who lived near us on Rush Street.  My brother married one of the Donita sisters and they have five daughters who still live in Chicago. 

I am 84 now and still keep in touch with some of the girls I went to High School with and my most dearest friend is Claudia.  She was very pretty and the Valedictorian of her class.  Claudia and her 3 kids came to California when they could and we’d go to Laguna and it was glorious and so much fun.  I have such fond memories of High School and my sweet friends.  My mother was right about the sadness of outliving friends. Beautiful memories kick in and play and replay often.  And all I can say is, “Thank God for memories.”  They are the gift that keeps on giving.

I lost my husband sixteen years ago.  He was my best friend and I still write him letters to this day.  No one could be a patch on my husbands behind!  I invite Sig into my dreams and sometimes he shows up.  We raised five children who we love/loved dearly. The big payoff came when our grandchildren and great-grandchildren were added to the family.

Now, I live in the first house we bought here in California and it’s filled with so many memories.  Our kids brought home their classmates plus stray cats and dogs. So, what do you do when you child brings home a stray dog or cat?  You go buy dog or cat food!

My husband and I hosted decades of dinner parties and poker games with the same people in each others’ homes.  We watched each other’s children grow up, get married and have children. The Apodaca and Aguilar families were our favorites. One of my daughters was married in our front yard at our annual St. Patrick’s Dinner and of course we also had a poker game that same day.  All the men that came said it was the best wedding they ever attended. 

I have always loved older people because they have such wisdom and grace.  I have always been very inquisitive and, when I asked my elders questions, they would graciously share their memories and probably glad someone asked questions because they loved sharing.

If you have not watched The Bear, it’s worth your time.  It’s what happens when someone becomes awesome at something and is willing to share their knowledge with others and watch them become their best selves and manage to outgrow their past! 

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