Related by Marriage: Celebration

Evanston, Illinois, June 1977. Mr. Irene looks happy about having finished final exams.

Related by Marriage: Shoot Yourself

Evanston, Illinois, November 1979. A college friend and Mr. Irene try out for Northwestern's annual yearbook tradition, "Shoot Yourself."

Departing for Spring Break

Evanston, Illinois, March 1977. Mr. Irene's freshman-year roommate travels in good company.

Related by Marriage: Study Habits

Evanston, Illinois, January 1977. College classes resume today. Be prepared!

Winter break ends.

Evanston, Illinois, January 1977. It's move-back weekend.

Related by Marriage: Stars in his Eyes

Evanston, Illinois, about 1980. That's how the friend who sent this photo described Mr. Irene's expression. Mr. Irene, who does not remember the snapshot, thinks he looks like he is wearing a straight jacket.

Paint the Rock.

Evanston, Illinois, 1978. Mr. Irene and his friends visit the Rock.

I used to pass the Rock on my way to class; the Rock stood outside Harris Hall.

Related by Marriage: Three Gents

Evanston, Illinois, about 1984. Mr. Irene and two of his housemates return to their old living quarters as they ready to attend a wedding.

Related by Marriage: Wall Art

Evanston, Illinois, about 1977. Mr. Irene and his dorm hallmates celebrate their paint job.

Related by Marriage: Full-service fill up.

Skokie, Illinois, probably January 1978. Mr. Irene's friend leads Mr. Irene to the pump.

Related by Marriage: Clown Car

Evanston, Illinois, about 1977. Mr. Irene and his roommate take Sylvester for a spin.

Related by Marriage: Close Quarters

Evanston, Illinois, October 1976. Things get tight in the hallway of Mr. Irene's dorm.

Waiting for the Pope

Chicago, Illinois, October 5, 1979. Mr. Irene and his friends await the arrival of Pope John Paul II.

Related by Marriage: Practice

 

Evanston, Illinois, about 1978. Mr. Irene maintains the discipline.

Related by Marriage: College Boys

Evanston, Illinois, about 1978. Mr. Irene plays the guitar.

Graduation Stage

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, June 1980. Who was the speaker at your graduation? The speaker at our graduation was Abner Mikva.

Foiled, in Three Takes

I've only lived with cats twice: once in college, and later in Venice. Those cats weren't mine, so I didn't pay attention to feline training methods, lures, and repellents. I did, however, believe that one could teach a cat not to jump on counters by lining the surfaces with aluminum foil. The foil trick is a myth!

I recently delivered a coffee cake to a friend. We set the cake in a safe spot so her cats couldn't get near it, but I left the foil wrappers on the counter. Here's what one of her cats, Bogey, did when he saw the foil:

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Verona, Wisconsin, April 1, 2015. Bogey is extraordinarily affectionate. When I sat down, he plopped himself on the shoulder rest above me and licked my cheek.

Gathered

Evanston, Illinois, November 11, 1978. Some of my dorm mates assemble for the yearbook shot.

Happy Anniversary!

Evanston, Illinois, January 13, 1979. My friend Kris and her husband today celebrate a wedding anniversary.

The Homecoming Float

Evanston, Illinois, October 1978. Mr. Irene's housemates prepare a float for the Homecoming Parade. "Bomaré" was the name Mr. Irene's friends used to designate their little group.

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The word "Bomaré" developed when one friend used it to describe people who "get stoned." The Easter Island figures became "Bomaré" mascots because they are ... stone heads. Mr. Irene (pictured here) had nothing to do with the name's origins or its iconography.

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The housemates march, wearing "Bomaré" heads, while Mr. Irene, on the float, sings to the melody of "Volare." (Were you expecting Dean Martin?)