Oh Yes, Last Week I Did Celebrate

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Celebrate what, you may ask?  Well, it was a birthday.  A major one according to the calendar.   But a birthday. 

Rather than stay around Chicago or head north to some town in Wisconsin, we decided on a different location, one that was close to Chicago and one we had not visited before. Therefore, we booked a room at a resort just outside of Starved Rock State Park, a truly wonderful place less than 100 miles away. 

While there, Susan and I hiked trails, climbed steps, took in majestic views of the Illinois River, enjoyed some good food and drink, and basically relaxed.  The park had lots of visitors during our visits, and we heard a wide range of languages spoken, testimony to the popularity of this great natural space.  And, the cost is free!

During the quiet times, I was able to contemplate about how I got this far in life and to reflect on my journey so far. Rather than get too deep, here are a few bullet points.

• All of us have a day that lasts 24 hours. Not to diminish my recent birthday, but I try to find positivity every day and offer thanks for remaining in good health.
• At this stage of my life, there are times when I’m clearly the oldest person in the room. Hey, that ain’t so bad.
• I’ve been a “senior citizen” for a few years now. So, am I on my way to becoming a “senior- senior citizen?”
• As I keep up to date on the public relations profession, I wonder how strategies and tactics will evolve due to technology, economic factors, politics and other factors. 
• Will I need to get a tattoo to remain “contemporary?”
• Given the seemingly hourly “breaking news” originating from the nation’s capital, will any specific actions by the person in charge have a major impact on me and fellow human beings during the 12 months leading to my next birthday?

Yes, that last one was serious.  So, okay, I’ll end here.  Please enjoy these images. 

Yes, that’s my “official” birthday photo taken at Starved Rock State Park.

Water, water everywhere! The Illinois River actually is quite majestic.

In Illinois, we call this a canyon. Not a “grand” canyon perhaps, but a canyon none the less.

This waterway was vital to Chicago, Illinois and the growth of the nation. I enjoyed learning more during a visit to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center.

A truly quaint small town, North Utica is the gateway to Starved Rock State Park. One evening, we dined at a restaurant on this street closed to traffic.

They call this “wildlife,” I suppose. Actually this plastic bear greets all staying at the Grand Bear Resort.

One more sweeping view of the Illinois River.

Let’s Talk Tucson, Arizona That Is

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Where to go, where to go for spring break 2025?

Yes, destinations like Ft. Lauderdale or Cancun were out of the picture for obvious reasons.  Okay, to put it more in perspective, our days of mild debauchery and late-night revelry are in the past.  Actually, well, well in the past.

So, let’s pick a destination that’s warm, reasonably priced, cultured, and not overrun by boisterous college spring breakers. How about Tucson?  Yes, Tucson, Arizona, a “second city” of sorts, one Susan visited decades ago, and one I had never visited.  We found this metropolis of some 500,000 people welcoming, scenic, inviting, and without question, a delightful change from our home in Chicago.

Some other general observations on this jewel of the American Southwest:

• Greater Tucson is surrounded by mountains, giving relatively quick access to national and state parks that offer hiking, scenic vistas, and solitude. 
• Getting around by car is relatively easy thanks to many multiple lane, limited access roadways. There is a modest bus network and a modern streetcar line downtown. One regret: This transportation guy didn’t make the time to take the streetcar; for sure next time. 
• The University of Arizona campus near downtown Tucson is sprawling and modern. It blends seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods. 
• The major thoroughfares of the city are lined with small shops and restaurants, from fast food and casual national chains to independent eateries.  We opted for the latter for dinner and enjoyed outstanding, delicious, and authentic Mexican cuisine most nights. 
• And, must note that just about everyone we interacted with — from the baristas at the nearby Starbucks to the volunteers at the national parks to servers and bartenders — were pleasant and genuine. 

What follows is a visual perspective, or as I’ve identified frequently in this space as a “travelogue” following our five days in Tucson. 

Have to start this post with an image of a cactus. A really, really big one from the Saguaro National Park East.

And, for a different perspective: This is a “cactus under development.”

Yes, there are lots of different kinds of cactus (or is it cacti?) around Tucson. These low-slung purple cactus provided a great low-level kind of perspective.

As for iconic views: This one from Saguaro National Park puts the desert Southwest into perspective.

While in the Centro, or the downtown section of Tucson, we met some interesting people during an annual art and street fair. This guy stood out, for obvious reasons.

Framed by some tree-like cactus, Susan stands ready to continue the tour.

At the roundabout from our trolly tour of Sabino Canyon, I took a break before we headed back down to the desert floor. You may wonder why I’m wearing a long sleeved shirt when it was 95 degrees that afternoon.

But Tucson offers more than just magnificent outdoors. The Tucson Desert Art Museum featured a wide range of exhibits, including this fascinating display of native American weavings.

Another exhibit at the Desert Art Museum featured cartoons that misrepresented immigrants from past generations. One can conclude that the perspectives displayed here certainly have relevance today.

And, an appropriate final image to share. We needed a place to relax, unwind and chill by the pool after a day of exploration. The Embassy Suites hotel in the Paloma Village complex provided the ideal venue. Plus, breakfast and a happy hour were included!

A concluding thought: Like many fellow Americans I am quite disturbed by most — if not all — of the brazen, caustic, nonsensical, and sometimes unconstitutional actions undertaken by the current administration in Washington.  Our short trip to Tucson, to another uniquely American community, provided some level of relief, some level of solace.