valentino tina

All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, from The Little Prince

Make Your Bed. I can’t remember one word from the commencement speeches given at my high school or college graduation ceremonies or even the one I gave as a dorky 8th grade class president We’ve all seen quite a few bloviators with their honorary academic regalia, honor society cords and stoles, doctoral hoods boasting their scholastic achievements, different color robes and mortarboards in short, just caps and gowns Speakers are generally successful alumni but, if your university is a big deal you might get a President, some famous Hollywood star like Batman (Michael Keaton), a sports legend like Magic Johnson, corporate mogul like Bill Gates, music icon like Taylor Swift or the all-knowing Oprah.

Sometimes the best speeches are 1) short; 2) given by someone we’ve never heard of like U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McCraven, who gave the best speech I’ve ever heard. Here’s an excerpt from his speech and the entirety is all over the internet: “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made that you made and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed ” He also adds a story about how, for a rubber Navy Seal training boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle “If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle ”

Graduation seems to always be about changing the world, the kick off of adulthood and striving to be rich, successful, climbing the ladder, having a title, buying a big house, traveling the world, being a shark on Shark Tank. As I look back now, I have the greatest admiration for kindergarten graduates more than any other class. We didn’t have a formal ceremony when I transitioned from kindergarten in Sr. Antoinette’s class to first grade in Sr. Leonard’s class but it was a pivotal leap. Kindergarteners have so much on the line: leaving mom and the comfort of home, making new friends, sitting still, learning every fundamental there is letters, numbers, sharing, patience, exploring and imagining and, for us at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, praying. The Little Prince reminds us that we often lose that magic as we get older. Adulting and its responsibilities and stressors get in the way of being a fun, silly and adventurous kid of building bike ramps, wearing a beach towel as a superhero cape, building magnificent sand castles, dancing, playing, running with wild abandon, not caring what anyone else might think, coloring outside the lines, riding our bikes outside of our comfort zones, trying berries on bushes that could’ve poisoned us, drinking water out of a garden hose all the while mindful of not letting the ball go into the neighbor ’s garden because we would never see it again

So the only thing I would add to the Admiral’s words of wisdom are to cherish the best parts of your childhood as much as you cherish your high school or college diploma. I would trade my diplomas in a heartbeat for one more trip into Rose Bonfanti’s store to buy a bird whistle or bag of gold nugget bubble gum or pick a popsicle from the little freezer. Congratulations to the Class of 2023, especially the kindergarteners. You gave up a lot, learned a lot may you always make time for the playground. And don’t forget to make your bed.

Pickupacopyatoneoftheselocations

BellW l OOD n Bellwood Public Library n Mickey’s Drive-In n Gioacchino’s Ristorante n Bellwood Village Hall n Currency Exchange on Mannheim n Center at Stevenson Park

BerKeleY n Torres Fresh Market n Republic Bank n JK Restaurant n Berkeley Village Hall and Public Library

BerWYN n Lucky Dog on Harlem Avenue

BrOaDvIeW n Broadview Village Hall n Broadview Family Restaurant n Lucky Dog on Cermak n Dunkin Donuts on Roosevelt elmhUrst n Harlo Grill #2 n Lezza Spumoni & Desserts n Elmhurst Metra Station elmWOOD ParK n Judy’s Gaming Cafe n Armand’s Pizzeria on North Avenue n Russell’s BBQ n Elmwood Park Village Hall n Elmwood Park Public Library n Elmwood Park Recreation Center

FOrest Pa P rK n NEW Smokin M’s BBQ n NEW Forest Park Village Hall n Charlie’s Restaurant on Roosevelt n Harvest 365 n Ed’s Foods n Starship Restaurant

FraNKlIN ParK n NEW Garden of Eat’n Restaurant n NEW Sky Cafe n Pet Paradise Supermarket n Yadi’s Grill, 25th and Grand n Franklin Park Metra Station n Lulu Belle’s Pancake House n Al and Joe’s Deli n American Legion Post #974 n Smart Wash Laundromat n Franklin Park Public Library n Park District of Franklin Park n Franklin Park Village Hall n Leyden Community Center hIllsIDe n Hillside Village Hall n Russo’s Chapels n Q’s Restaurant & Pizza n Hillside Public Library maYWOOD n NEW Carnitas Don Alfredo Original n Stairway of the Stars n Poor Boy, 1st & Roosevelt n Maywood Village Hall n Maywood Public Library melrOse Pa P rK n NEW Tom’s Steak House n NEW Carnitas Don Alfredo Original corner of 25th and Lake Street n NEW Rep Hernandez District Office n Melrose Park Village Hall n Melrose Park Senior Center/ Chamber of Commerce n Sahara Home Care on North Avenue n Westlake Urgent Care on Lake Street n Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel n Tony’s Finer Foods on Mannheim n Dunk Donuts on Lake Street n Lucky Dog on Lake Street n Melrose Park Public Library n Sacred Heart Church n Harlo Grill #1 on North Avenue n Veterans Park District Leoni Complex n 7-11 on Broadway n PNC Bank, Winston Plaza n Scudiero’s Bakery & Deli n Pan American Bank n Melrose Currency on Broadway n St Paul Lutheran Resale Shop n IHOP in Winston Plaza

NOrthlaKe n NEW Northlake City Hall n Cuomo To Go n Grant Park Recreation Center n Northlake Public Library n Casa Scalabrini Village

NOrth rIversIDe n Catie’s Place Gaming Cafe n North Riverside Village Commons n North Riverside Public Library rIver FOrest n Yolk Restaurant on North Avenue n River Forest Chocolates n River Forest Public Library rIver GrOve n Quasthoff’s Florist n Catie’s Place Gaming Cafe n Triton College n Rich’s Fresh Market n Dunkin’ Donuts: River and Grand n Dunkin’ Donuts near 1st and Belmont n Bargains in a Box n Blondie’s Diner n River Grove Public Library n River Grove Village Hall n River Park Moose Lodge schIller Pa P rK n Al & Andy’s Restaurant n Mobil Gas Station, 25th & Irving n Gambino’s Fresh Market stONe ParK n Shwings Shrimp & Wings n Stone Park Village Hall n Firehouse Subs

Westchester n Westchester Food Pantry n Westchester Village Hall have a suggestion for a busy drop location? let us know!

High-traffic distribution in the towns including Oak Park and River Forest, Bellwood, Berkeley, North Riverside, Forest Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Westchester as well as Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Northlake, Schiller Park, River Grove and other communities.

Ne Neig ighb h or orst stm has the edge over other publications when it comes to readership

Tina Valentino

Executive Editor and Contributor

Winner of a Peter Lisagor Aw A ard for Exemplar y Journalism

Dee Tintori • Account Executive

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Freshfruits,vegetablesandflowers: @Triton,Swap-O-RamaandWolff’s!

DID YOU KNOW that the Triton College

Horticulture Department is hosting its Farm Stand every Thursday, starting June 8, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm under the B Building Pavilion, weather permitting Flowers, herbs and produce grown by Triton College students, staff and faculty will be available for purchase.

You can also find some of the best plants and farmstand produce at Swap-O-Rama Flea Market, 4600 W. Lake Street in Melrose Park (visit www swap-o-rama com for hours and more locations) and at Wolff’s Flea Market, open every Sunday at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim in Rosemont, 6 am to 2 pm on Sundays

Neighbors • 4