An Album, and no comments. Curious!?!?

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.

...You will sleep deep within my mind.
I kiss you now...for I am leaving
to greet the roses I left behind. Joyce Hemsley

...I'm so happy, and giddy, and gay!


My essay this week is devoted to a particular segment of my viewing audience. And I am doing this because, frankly, I am somewhat surprised. This one particular segment of my viewing audience has become the fastest-growing part of my FACEBOOK friends-base. And yet, I haven't gotten one single 'comment' or 'thumbs-up' from ANYBODY, including this particular community segment.

Either the material is irrelevant, or I'm still as non-descript as my high school days.

I was part of an extraordinary experience on Tuesday, 6 July 2010. And I didn't even initiate it. My sister Mary, Class of 1972, did!! God bless her; I love her!! She says to me the previous Sunday 4, July 2010..."hey, Louie(with Mary, I'm---hey, Louie; you would think that is how I was christened), you know how you took those pictures at Annunciation???" " Do you think I could take some pictures of the HIGH SCHOOL!?!?" Are You Kidding!?!? YOU ARE TALKING TO ME!! My mind went into overdrive. By Tuesday, so did my mouth. With liaison Sarah Feldman of the Frizlen Group, acting as escort, we were granted the opportunity, over an extended lunch period, to take pictures in a building that was once the Venerated middle west side Annunciation High School. This School, operated by the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, with all its flaws and imperfections, nonetheless did provide many of the building blocks which have, in part, helped us become whom we are. But like so many Catholic Schools in our area~~~for reasons too many to quantify here, the school fell on hard times, and closed. The school, the institution, the building, in a 'soft' middle west side, had become irrelevant, immaterial, and passe~~~earmarked for becoming another vacant eyesore.

A visionary architect/developer, who ultimately decided to set up shop in the very building that was brought back to life, said...'not-so-fast'. The Frizlen Group took over the School, and turned the building into a series of upscale units to appeal to the young professional. For the Frizlen Group, so far, it is a BULLSEYE!!!

All the $850.00/month grade-school-level units---are filled. All the $935.00/month high-school-level units are occupied. And THE SUITE; Room 312, at $1300.00/month, is taken(and has a waiting list).

A curiosity exists with this 2010 renovated building; no elevators. While Mary was the 'legs' for this 36-picture Album, I wanted to be able to personally absorb my mental and emotional attachments. The last time I was in this building, before the December 2009 Album excursion, was in the summer of 1967 helping Joe Genco, the janitor. All I really remember about that summer was the creepy spiders I had to deal with while I was doing the landscaping around the convent, and Jimmy Morrison & The DOORS and their break-out song...LIGHT MY FIRE!!! The single has been certified in 1967 a gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Those of you whom know the school, and know me, know that those two flights of stairs, with the intermittent landings, mocked my intent to scale them.

As a true labor-of-love, I prevailed!!!

On My FACEBOOK Home Page, is posted, "Annunciation Lofts; High School Album." There are 36 photos, with my perspective 'commentary' attached. I would welcome any additional commentary or observations. The experiences had to be rich and varied. As a poem written by one of the graduates disparaged...I'll never look back; I'll never look back. Powerful words from a woman who is now very very active with the High School's social calendar.

As I remarked in the final photo..."many hands have glanced off this hand-rail."
Many reflections; many stories are wafting to be told. The album is your vehicle...take it to the nearest star!!
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise

NB: I meant wafting; not waiting!!!