When I was the circulation director at a community newspaper in Chicago, I occasionally appeared as a guest columnist. It was a good match, as I am a frustrated writer at heart and the columns were done free of charge (saving our cash-strapped company those precious dollars).

I wrote one column about my search for the best fountain Coke in Chicago (that column still hangs in Rex Italian Foods in Norridge, IL). I followed that with a column on the much-maligned superhero Aquaman. I even got a few responses from readers. My editor Laurie encouraged and allowed me to cover ‘noteworthy’ subjects. I interviewed Roddy Piper and Lanny Poffo for literacy features. I covered fellow distribution specialist Louie Atsaves’ sister’s enshrinement into the DePaul University Hall of Fame. I wrote about a mentoring program at a local high school. Laurie always pushed me to be better and to write more.

Last summer, GT‘s publisher Fran Gallagher gave me the opportunity to write a weekly blog here. My shameless plugging of this blog has become legendary (and most likely annoying), but at least it produces a few responses weekly, which has become a running joke with Fran.

A few weeks ago, GT‘s editor-in-chief Lisa Matte asked me if I was interested in writing a piece for the magazine. Of course, there is no way I would pass on that. The fact that it was to be about Chicago made it a no-brainer for me. I’ll spare you the details of the research and writing process. However, I won’t spare you the shameless plug. The article, Destination One: Chicago, can be found in the May issue starting on page 40. It is a 4.5 page journey through the last 20 years of Chicago, including some insight from Mayor Daley.

It was a lot of fun to write and to be writing again. I hope you read it and enjoy it as well.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist