I was used to the lights and sounds that comes from a big city; When our aunt told me she was taking me to Chicago, I was thinking the big city, instead of the village of Chicago, she took me to a small suburb that was named Alsip.
- I was devastated! Alsip was less than 200,000 people and had little to see or do, not only was there genuinely little to do, however the entire three days we were there, it snowed; There was nothing however blustery winds, freezing rain and snow, whenever we walked out of the hotel.
I asked her why she brought me here, and she said she wanted to take me back to our roots. There was more family history in Alsip, IL than anywhere else in the state. I asked if we couldn’t just stay in the hotel where there was excellent Heating, Ventilation & A/C, but she said no. I should get used to the freezing and the snow, and realize our ancestors had to deal with it separate from Heating, Ventilation & A/C. I looked at her, and listened while she told me we were spoiled! She took me to a small cemetery called Burr Oak. She pointed out some of the more familiar names that are acquaintanced with our family, and some not so familiar. She gave me the history of Burr Oak, and after an hour, said it was time to go back to the hotel. As I shivered on the way back, I was thinking about everything she told me. Going back in time wasn’t so bad, and I found out much about our family, however I was glad to be in the heat of the Heating, Ventilation & A/C at the hotel.