CHICAGO—I love Chicago. The breathtaking skyline, the Sears Tower, Millennium Park, the dawn to dusk cultural celebrations, the all-night light displays, the jazz, the blues, the history. This is a city of cultural diversity.

I stayed in Oak Park, a suburb about 10 minutes from downtown. It’s the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and the one-time home of Frank Lloyd Wright.

First, I visited a retirement community called Mather’s Place of Wilmette. I always find it exciting and informative to speak to seniors directly so that I can learn from their diverse backgrounds and experiences.

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MILWAUKEE—In 1945, the city of Milwaukee stood still as a feathered mother waited for her small cluster of eggs to hatch.  Gerti the mallard duck served as a reminder of the preciousness of life after so many years of war. 

The city even delayed reconstruction of the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, her nesting home.  This small, but momentous gesture captured the imagination of the entire country.  Milwaukee’s citizens and the nation watched and waited for the renewal of life.

Today, a commemorative statue shows “Gerti” and her newborn ducklings, Dee Dee, Pee Wee, Black Bill, Freddie, and Rosie the Riveter, waddling across the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge as they might have in 1945. The statue symbolizes Milwaukee’s hope for the future.

Another place in Milwaukee that’s spreading hope for the future is BoomerTowne.com.  I was very excited to meet with Herschel “Buzz” Peddicord, their inspiring CEO and founder. In the interest of full disclosure, BoomerTowne.com is one of the tour’s main supporters. 

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