2,000 miles away, city bond still strong
From 1994 to 2005, our family enjoyed the most meaningful Christmases of our lives. The unique spirit of community pride, love of the arts and generosity to the poor that marks Naperville helped shape our three daughters' worldview in positive ways.
It has been five years since our family moved from the Winding Creek subdivision to suburban Seattle. At last we are acclimating to forested hills, floating bridges and frequent rain. But as this holiday season arrives, we still have a piece of Naperville lodged in our hearts (and in our home). The hallway leading from the kitchen to our family room features a Naperville display.
In addition to two paintings of our favorite town and a pen and ink drawing of our former home on Terrance Drive (sketched by Congressman Peter Roskam's wife), we have a shelf with miniature wooden buildings recreating the Riverwalk. By George, while watching Good Morning America recently, we saw Mayor Pradel and hundreds of Napervillians gathered in the shadow of the Carillon spelling out the word peace. We screamed with delight.
Yes, we may live more than 2,000 miles away, but we continue to feel at one with a city that knows how to join hands and bring people together in celebrations that have a purpose and make a statement. Here's to a season of peace and joy ... and prosperity.
Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
Mercer Island, Wash.