Sheila Q.
@sheilaq
Freelance writer. MSW. Mom. Wife. Grieving parent. Chicago enthusiast. Politics. CPS. Fancies myself an iPhone camera savant. Known as ‘Mary Tyler Mom’ at that other place.
Saw an utterly outstanding performance last night at Tanglewood — Yo Yo Ma and Friends (inc. Jon Batiste, James Taylor, Bryan Stevenson, BSO + @hcrichardson.bsky.social) using music and words to ask the questions Who are we as Americans? How did we come to be? And Where are we going? Amazing exp. ♥️
The Cabo de Sao Vicente lighthouse in Sagres, Portugal. Often referred to as “the edge of the world,” as it sits at the southwestern tip of Portugal, against the Atlantic. ♥️
Spent some time this week in Columbus, Indiana. So many good things to see for architecture fans. ♥️
Today marks 21 years since this little one, my beautiful girl, was born. She was named for my mom, Donna, who died five months before. I like to think of my Donnas together, somewhere, which is quite a feat for this agnostic. She was loved every day of her life. ♥️ Cancer sucks.
JD and Usha Vance welcome a baby boy, the first child born to a sitting VP in more than 150 years - The Associated Press.
Caught The Odyssey today and highly recommend. @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social knows how to put on a show and create community. ♥️
Spooky hazy glare outside in Chicago today. Hard to capture in a photo. Current AQI (Air Quality Index) of 701. You cross into “hazardous” at 300, so, yeah. Cancelled plans to go out tonight.
Have read these three stunning books back-to-back-to-back and now anything I pick up feels like it is not good enough. The curse of the perfect book, but cubed.
My Irish grandmother was born in 1895 and immigrated to the US in 1916 as a young single woman, sponsored by her sister who had already made the trip. She traveled alone on the SS Philadelphia from Liverpool to Ellis Island, NYC. The same ship carried Bob Hope and family a few years earlier.
My oldest grandparent was born in 1887 in Ireland, which seems just nuts to me. Just 18 years after the US Civil War ended. This is the ship (SS Saxonia) that brought him to Boston at age 24 where he stopped before getting work in a woolen mill in Lowell, Mass.
In light of today’s SCOTUS rulings, thinking of these trees at my local Chicago park. They are thriving, despite being half up-rooted and growing horizontally instead of vertically. They are not dead or dying, but still growing, still living, still thriving. May it be so for transgender Americans.
This table was gifted to me by my Dad who recovered it from an old home he bought in Jo Davies County. We eat 98% of our meals here, do crafts and homework here, serves as the “kids table” for family holidays, was the school desk for my youngest during COVID. Anyway, Happy Father’s Day. ♥️
Post one (1) photo of a painting that you took with your very own hands The photo, that is, not the painting. Go.
Yesterday’s storm in Chicago took a toll in West Ridge. The base of this tree was about as tall as I am — 5’5”. Took up the width of the parkway, just completely uprooted. In the morning, it was clear the tree had hit the middle home’s roof. City workers already took away branches, left trunk.
Went to the local park tonight where a modern dance group did a one hour performance that was equal parts dystopian, beautiful, violent, amoeba-esque, and primordial. Then we ate tacos and ice cream before walking home. Catch your joy where you can.
I am in! Right now I am enjoying Good People by Patmeena Sarit, her debut novel.
Watching your kid do something they love is kind of amazing. Today at Maifest in Ravenswood. ♥️
