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Lynn Petrak
When Lynn Petrak is not frantically searching for a permission slip for one of her children’s field trips or running to the grocery store for …
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Dealing with May madness
LA GRANGE — My refrigerator and pantry are sparse. My laundry is piling up. My car is in constant motion. It’s May, and I’m booked solid. The calendar on the fridge has no white space left, and my phone beeps throughout the day reminding me …Read More
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Do you have talent? Here’s your chance La Grange
LA GRANGE — Not that anyone cares, but I still remember, probably in alarming detail, my grade school talent show. One girl got up and sang a cheesy song from a cheesy movie called “Ice Castles.” One boy tried to juggle. Another whistled. Me? I …Read More
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Missing dog part of suburban circle of life
LA GRANGE — This is the story of the fox and the hound. Or the hound and the fox, if you will. The fox and the hound aren’t good pals hanging around in the woods, mind you. They don’t even know each other. But their …Read More
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Good business, good sense and good eating in La Grange
LA GRANGE — Vegetarians: You may want to skip part of this. With that out of the way, I’ve always been a red meat kind of gal. In fact, one of my first professional jobs was working for the beef industry, where, among other things, …Read More
Dark clouds bring forth kindness in La Grange
LA GRANGE — Ominous skies have long been a symbol for tragedy, destruction and sinfulness, whether accompanied by a slogging, depressing rain or wild storm. There’s a reason authors and artists use dark clouds to depict bad things. Clouds, of course, block out the sun …Read More
La Grange gallery closing the end of an era
LA GRANGE — My 20th wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and I’ve been talking about how it would be nice to get a two-decade-later shower, so I can replace my 1993 cookie sheets, casseroles and various and sundry kitchen gadgets. I …
Taking time to de-clutter in La Grange
LA GRANGE — After spending several days out of town, we have a lot of room in our garbage can. “OK!” my husband says, cheerfully. “Let’s see if we can fill that up with some junk!” In the basement, gingerly walking between baskets and bins, …
La Grange house fire reminds us to be thankful and grateful
LA GRANGE — It was a nice enough day that my husband and I took the dog for a long walk. As is our routine, we passed by Waiola Park. About 15 minutes after we got back, I was in the car driving my daughter …
Finding the prairie in our back yard
LA GRANGE — Some kids, when they’re reading a book they love, daydream that they, too, are wizards, castaways or game-winning athletes. Me? I wanted to live in a log cabin or in a dugout along the banks of the creek, and run as far …
Give student drivers a brake
LA GRANGE — Caution: Overanxious parent in passenger seat ahead of you may throw her hands up wildly and repeatedly stomp on the floor mat, otherwise known as the “imaginary brake.” That might be a wordy bumper sticker, but one I wouldn’t mind adding to …
Irish dance a year ‘round endeavor in La Grange
LA GRANGE — My uncle and cousin were pipers with the Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band and I was lucky enough to see them in several St. Patrick’s Day parades. I remember how exciting it was when their telltale kilts and white socks come into view. …
Keeping up with March Madness in La Grange
LA GRANGE — Ah, March. When you know that however gross they look, the charcoal-hued snow piles won’t be sticking around for much longer. When you do a double take because you think you glimpsed a green shoot where the crocus bulbs usually come up. …
La Grange woman testifies before Congress
LA GRANGE — I first met Deb and Carl at a block party. I noticed right away how obviously in love they were, which wasn’t surprising, since they were newlyweds. In the ensuing few years, every time I saw them, whether walking their dogs or …
You can make dreams come true for Daniele
LA GRANGE — My dream growing up wasn’t to be a ballerina. Indeed, my mean Great Aunt quashed that, when she declared, “Ballerinas are tiny little things, dear.” It was to be a writer. Always, that’s what I wanted to do and be. My daughter, …
Learning more about taking care of pets
LA GRANGE — When you are a dog person, you can get a little goofy about dogs. For example, whenever I see a dog walking around the neighborhood, I can’t help but stop and see if I can help it find its home and owners. …
Valentine’s Day brings call for worst date stories
The heart-shaped cookies are in the grocery store. Homeowners have swapped their Christmas decorations for Valentine’s Day ones (most of them, anyway; there are a few red-and-green stragglers). Restaurants are touting their menus for Feb. 14. It’s all quite romantic. I’ve always liked Valentine’s Day. …
La Grange offers a taste of cooking challenges
LA GRANGE — I don’t fancy myself a fantastic cook, but I don’t think I’m a slouch, either. And while my family is grateful for the meals I put in front of them almost all the time, there are days when I get a little, …
Pinewood Derby a rite of passage for moms, too
LA GRANGE — I’m sitting there, just looking at it: a simple block of wood. I am a grown woman, who has taken care of children, run a business and squashed large bugs. But I have no idea how to turn this block of wood …
Continuing to pay it forward in La Grange
LA GRANGE — The nice thing about paying it forward — “it” as in unprompted and often anonymous gestures of generosity and kindness — is that it perpetuates. I know this because after I sent out a query about those who have paid it forward …
Paying it forward is contagious in La Grange
LA GRANGE — It was Christmas Eve, and instead of being at home in front of a holiday feast and exchanging presents by a glowing fire, Cathy McCrory Rossmiller of La Grange was driving from one pharmacy to the next to fill a prescription for …
