By Ricky Rieckert
As I enter the third week of writing, (It’s not a numbers game), I totally enjoy doing this writing.
Another Aurora newspaper, stole my thunder on one topic. Seems, Aurora is in the process of covering up, what I was going to talk about, downtown sidewalks on Broadway.
They were very sincere on new things, happening within this City.
I’m nothing but a guy with a voice, hence, this column and newspaper.
I have been taught by the best, in everything I have ever done, Carter Crane, included.
What I didn’t know, is that I can do anything, that I put my mind to doing,
God willing, I set myself up for a task, that I know I can handle and enjoy, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I love this shot. I want more readers, so on Thursdays, the mailman, male or female, will be body builders to bring The Voice to your mailbox, because of the big size newspaper.
All right, let’s get to business!
The Aurora Leland Hotel was built and opened in 1917 with 22 floors and was the second tallest building in Illinois at the time.
The 19th floor was an entire floor of windows to see much of City.
Movie stars, celebrities, musicians, were among those came to Aurora, especially in the 1920s, to enjoy the ambiance.
I wished I could have been there.
Mayor Richard Irvin (I like Ricky Irvin better) has offered a proposal to work on building a building, the same size, or larger, than the Leland Hotel, when the Casino moves to North Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora.
Great move, mayor.
Rumor has it residents like to live near the Fox River which brings me to a controversial subject, the dams.
If you remove dams, you’re cutting your own throat, a phrase, that means it will be bad.
Fish species will be killed.
Stink in the Fox River, especially downtown, just what you do not want for dining downtown, will be bad for the air at the The Paramount Theatre and Civic Center. I experienced the Fox River so low one Summer, that it was awful.
We had a lot of collateral damage, one Memorial Day weekend four or five Hispanics drowned in Yorkville. They were from Chicago and the signs for the dam were in English only. I was heartbroken to read it. My condolences to those families.
Since then, there have been no known deaths on the Mighty Fox.
Maybe the Chain O’ Lakes, up north, should stop stealing water from the Fox in the Spring.
If you think there’s a problem with the dams in place, My suggestion is the Army Corps. of Engineers.
Now about my life’s experiences:
Between my junior and senior school year at East Aurora High School, I went to Siren, Wis. to beat my uncle’s cousin to work. My one-year younger brother chickened out.
Remind you, I had been there three years earlier, in which this girl, Darlene, was hot for me. She went as far as to say, if you say you like me, and I’ll be your girl, I’ll give you one of my dad’s daredevil lures.
I committed, and she thought she found paradise.
I didn’t think so.
She was nice, but I was only in it for the lure.
Hell-of-a price to pay for a 13 years old. But I went with it.
Back to 16 years old. I got up there and spent a whole day working my butt off, mowing, pulling weeds, and what ever needed to be done.
Darlene and her family lived in the big house and took care of rents.
Chuck and his wife had two kids and his wife was breast-feeding their third kid.
Darlene’s dad was a drunkard who didn’t do much. That’s why I was there.
Then that first night, after supper, I wandered outside to the pier.
Then to my eyes, I saw the prettiest girl I had ever seen who wearing a bikini.
(I died and went to Heaven.)
She knew who I was, and said, you want to row out with me? I said sure.
We rowed out to the middle of the lake.
She’s still in my archives. Her name was Amanda. We talked, it seemed as though it was an eternity. Her sister, Darlene, had gotten into drugs.
I was a perfect gentleman and we saw the sunset, every night I was there. She was Heaven-sent, but she taught me a valuable lesson, whether she knew it or not.
Always, love for the right reasons. Remember, women are always the tree of life. Life starts with them and ends with them.
Have a great week!