Author Archives: Mrs. Fitz

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About Mrs. Fitz

Hello! I'm Michele Fitzpatrick, a Chicago writer. Like our town, a work in progress. As a journalist, teacher and writing coach I think all of us live our stories and sharing them creates moments that remind us we're connected. And that is enough.

Hope springs

Being surprised never becomes familiar. It if did, it wouldn’t BE surprise. My lastest  surprise was this week. Hope paid me a visit. For a quantity of days, the level of violence unleashed by shootings in the country I call … Continue reading

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CURIOSITY

Today a rover is enroute to Mars and it’s uncertain whether it will be a win or not a win; and this reminds me of what beats in the hearts of Olympians: It’s about going. It’s about risking. It sure … Continue reading

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Gumption Man

The athletes in London are wondrous. Athletes everywhere are wondrous. Today I saw a big-shouldered man with a left leg and a prosthesis where his right leg should be, riding a mountain bike along a path, a path that skirts … Continue reading

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Pretty Good Expectations

“Don’t get your hopes up” is not good advice. I’ve taken this advice and affirm it does NOT work. It may be okay to not get your expectations up but this is a hedge. It doesn’t work either. It is … Continue reading

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Reason #2 Why Folks Don’t Write

There are many reasons why folks don’t write. Lack of talent isn’t one of them. Memory is. Both fiction and nonfiction tap memory and memory is a squirrely thing. Your memory is your truth in the sense that it’s infallible. … Continue reading

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Before FORE!

Golf isn’t a very chatty game, I’ve noticed. Reminds me a little of snooker or pool in the sense that applause is signified by gentle taps of one’s cue upon the floor. Dignified taps. I’ve also noticed children do not … Continue reading

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What’s so Funny?

I think humor is anything that causes me laughter or amusement, forgetting “humor” was coined many moons ago to describe a person whose temperament is out of balance. Lately I’m reminded what amuses some, is way out of balance to … Continue reading

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Reason #22 Why Folks Don’t Write

There are many reasons folks don’t write. Lack of talent isn’t one of them. Competing is. Since writing is not a competitive sport, it doesn’t help to compete, but it is a natural response. If someone, say, Margaret Mitchell, writes … Continue reading

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Monsignor Plunkett

Monsignor Plunkett was pastor at Elmhurst’s Immaculate Conception parish when I attended its kindergarten, grammar and high schools so I got to see him during those 13 years, more often than any other man of authority, except Dad. This may … Continue reading

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Esther Williams

 The first inkling that my grasp of reality was less established than my fellow human beings happened while I was watching our 1961 console color TV on the floor of our Elmhurst living room, in Summer, with my parents, auntie … Continue reading

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