“It’s a Tah MAAAH Toh”

Big Ben

London Eye

Camden

Visiting with Mike Dickson

Two of Mike's Kids--Katelyn and Bruce

This morning I woke up and headed to the Parson’s Green stop (4 stops from the 2009 Wimbledon Finals match—I’ll have you know) in West London where Mike Dickson, his wife Kirsten, and their three kids—Bruce, Katelyn, and Anna live. It’s been about 18 years since I’d talked to Mike—and, back then…. he was a homemade beer-toting conservative . . .anyone out there remember Ms Hall’s AP Gov class....
Ms Hall: “Students tell me where you fall on the political spectrum.”
29 Students: “Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, . . . “
Mike D.: Conservative
Wow, things have changed.Yes, folks, Mike Dickson, West Point grad, admitted that he has turned liberal. Gotta love that! (Mike, let me know if you don’t want the world to know your business.)

My burning question for Mike: Do your kids speak with an English accent?
Mike’s Answer: No, no…. maybe when they start school.
Real answer: YES. Most definitely, yes. They have English accents, and they eat fish n chips! . . . And they are sooo sweet. When Kirsten picked up a tomato and said, “What’s this?” Both Bruce and Katie shouted, “That’s a Tah MAAAAHHHH Toh!”

This was such a fun afternoon. Mike and I got to reminisce about crazy Hammond and the “factory model of education” we received there. I got to play trains with Bruce, and watch Katie navigate the streets of London on her scooter (this is exceedingly impressive!!!) . I even went grocery shopping at the hippest grocery store on the planet (and purchased cute little reuseable bags that say, “Waitrose.” I will tote with pride around Chicago.

I can’t imagine a nicer Sunday afternoon in London.

Later, I went to Camden Town—Lisa Prodromo’s stomping ground in 1991. Met up with friend & playwright, Neill (struggling playwright, that is) who took me to the Dublin Castle. Evidently THIS is where the punk movement started. (Let me know if this is disputed—I’d like to know.) Camden was like nothing I’d ever seen before—sort of like Wicker Park in 1992—but way, way more extreme. (in a good way, of course.)