Item From the Past: Surreal Christmas El Car, W/ Big Elf

Dec. 16, 2002

Lately we’re been doing a moderate amount of Christmas preparation. We bought a tree and Lilly did most of the decorating of the lower branches (later, I re-arranged things a little). Last Sunday, which was unusually warm, nearly 50° F, I put up the outdoor lights but balked at the more tedious task of cleaning the gutters. I may yet do that, if I am unlucky and the temps stay above freezing. If it didn’t involve standing on a ladder, I might be more keen on it.

Last Saturday I had mostly to myself, since Y and L were off visiting a friend from Japan, so I drove to picturesque Oak Park and looked around. Among other things, it’s the hometown — roundly disliked by him, I’ve read — of Ernest Hemingway. Despite his feelings about the town, there is a museum there devoted to the writer, so I went to see that.

It was a case of another lonely docent, there in the museum by herself. I suppose people are out in malls this time of year. Anyway, it was a fairly engaging place, with plenty of interesting photos and facts. I understand that he was a packrat who kept everything, including ticket studs to bullfights and the like. So a good deal of ephemera was on display.

The docent was eager to talk. “Are you a teacher?”

“No, but I’ve read most of his books.”

“Which one is your favorite?”

“The Sun Also Rises.”

“Mine is For Whom the Bell Tolls.”

And from there she went on to talk about reading that particular work at different points in her life (she seemed about 10 years older than me).

Then I went into the city by elevated train, and saw some improv comedy at the new Noble Fool Theater. A fine show. They reminded me of the British improv I saw in Amsterdam some long time ago, who were terrific.

I rode back to Oak Park on the El, and by chance I caught the train decked out for Christmas — little lights strung all around, the handhold bars painted like candy canes, a continuous loop technopop Christmas soundtrack, and a large black woman in green, pretending to be an elf. It was a surreal ride.