Pat's Tavern

Pat's Tavern is a personalized history of a Chicago neighborhood as I lived during the 1930's, 40's and 50's told through stories, poems and essays including photographs. Having been born and raised on the South Side of Chicago in The Wood lawn Neighborhood during The Great Depression, Tom Crane witnessed the panorama of life at its fullest. Coupled with that he escaped death due to the ravages of contracting Lobar Pneumonia at an early age in addition to facing the possibility of losing his arm through amputation due to a child hood accident. Add to the mix the fact that his parents divorced while he was still quite young. No matter, it was those very parents who united together to extend their love and care that brought him through these various calamities. Herein you will also read how Tom went through a carefree and mischievous youth until he developed a sensitivity and awareness through learning of the daily struggle that we all must face in order to survive in a precarious world. The stories that you will read run the gauntlet of life in all of its uncertainties. It takes a resiliency of the human spirit to overcome many of the obstacles that we all face. Never-the-less in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till its over." Hopefully Tom's experiences will inspire others to continue to fight the good fight as there is no other way. At the same time it is also hoped that it will bring a bit of humor to those who wish to escape what otherwise can be a very empty and overpowering world. As it is often said, "Take time to smell the roses."