IMAGINING THE FUTURE * ANOTHER HOLIDAY STORY * OUR READERS WRITE * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 11 * December 16, 2010

IMAGINING FUTURE
FOR UPTOWN BILL'S
New location, New director. And soon to celebrate 10 years. That's Uptown Bill's now.

So where should this organization go in the future? That's the question for a forum on Thursday, Dec. 16. It's from 4 to 6 pm at Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque St.

This is your chance to speak up about Uptown Bill's. We'd like to hear what you think. What ideas do you have to preserve the spirit of Bill Sackter in our work? What would you suggest to strengthen the work we are doing now? What new directions would you like to see?

All are welcome to attend and speak.

This forum is being hosted by the board of the non-profit organization which oversees Uptown Bill's. It's called the Extend the Dream Foundation. Board members will be on hand to listen to the ideas.

Not able to attend? You are welcome to send your ideas to Tom Gilsenan (tomgilsenan@gmail.com) or Tom Walz (thomas-walz@uiowa.edu). Or click reply and submit an idea or two via the Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter.

SATURDAY NIGHT
MUSIC SERIES
Terrapin Isle closes out the Saturday Night music series for 2010. The group plays Saturday, Dec. 18, 7 to 9 pm. The series resumes on Saturday, Jan. 8 with Dustin Busch.

OPEN FOR THE
HOLIDAYS
Uptown Bill's will be open both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. A holiday dinner at 1 pm on Christmas. An afternoon of snacks is planned on New Year's Day.

SCHEDULE FOR
OPEN MIC
Join us for Open Mic this Friday, Dec. 17. There will not be an Open Mic on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve). Join us again for Open Mic on Dec. 31. Open Mic starts at 7 pm. You can sign up any time during the week. You'll find a sign-up sheet on the side of the pop cooler.

HOMELESS FOR

THE HOLIDAYS

Here's another holiday story from the Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter archive: 

"Hey, Tom, can you give me a ride," Joe asked. It was the night before 

the night before Christmas and I was in the coffeeshop. Joe spotted me

and came over with his question. "I need a ride to where I'm staying,"

he said.

"Sure," I replied. "Just give me a minute to finish this cup." 

A few minutes later we were off into the winter night. There wasn't

much snow, but it sure was cold. We could see the steam rising from

the storm drains.

We could also see the holiday lights. They were especially beautiful 

as we crossed over the river.

"Turn right at the next corner," Joe said. "Say, would you like to

stop and meet some of my friends?"

"Sure." I answered. "I can't stay long, but I could come in for a few 

minutes." We drove on without talking for about a mile. On the radio

there  was talk of war. The US was launching more missiles somewhere

in the Middle East. "Each of those missiles costs $1 million," the 

correspondent said. 

"Okay, turn left here," Joe said, interrupting my thoughts. I slowed

down and looked to the left. All I could see was a storage yard with

several pieces of construction equipment.

"Are you sure this is the turn?" I asked. 

"Yep," Joe replied. "Just drive straight in between those two road graders."

The road quickly went from asphalt to gravel to dirt. We were in front

of an enormous piece of highway equipment when Joe said: "Stop here." 

I put on the brakes; he jumped out even before the car came to a

complete stop. Several other young men came out from various places.

One had been perched on the seat of a road grader; another was underneath what 

appeared to be a crane.

"Meet my friend, Tom," Joe said.

"Hi," said one. "Merry Christmas," said another. "Hey, cold enough for

ya," said a third.

It took me a couple of minutes to realize what was going on here. My 

friend Joe, and the other guys, were living outdoors in the middle of

winter. They were homeless. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Joe must have noticed my surprise."Oh, it's not so bad," he said. "There's a 

church which brings out dinner to us several nights a week. And we're

expecting some desserts tonight."

I struggled with a reply: "But why...how?"

"I can't afford a place to live," Joe said. "I'm still working but when I 

had to look for a new place, I couldn't afford anything anymore. Rents

have gone up too much."

"But what about your mom and dad. Couldn't you move back in with them?"

"Dad split; mom moved away. She said I could come live with her, but 

this is my home."

Just then a woman drove up and handed Joe a batch of brownies. "Merry

Christmas," she said, then drove away.

A few minutes later, another young man walked into the construction 

yard dragging a small tree. "Hey, I've got a Christmas tree," he said.

The group cheered.

We hoisted the tree up onto the seat of the tallest road grader and

stabilized it with rocks and branches. Then we set out to decorate it. 

We fashioned ornaments from pieces of aluminum foil, cigarette

wrappers and straws.

"Hey, let's sing," one of the guys said. So we all sang Jingle Bells,

first the regular version, then the Robin-Batman version. 

About then, I realized it was time for me to go. I remembered that I

had a loaf of bread and some oranges in the car and offered them to

Joe and his friends. "Thanks," they said.

I got into the car, turned around and drove back out of the yard. In 

the rear view mirror, I could see Joe waving. On the radio the talk of

war was continuing. And I couldn't help but think that for the cost of

just one Patriot Missile, we could provide housing for Joe and his 

friends for the rest of their lives.
  -- Tom Gilsenan

THOUGHTS ON HOLIDAY STORY 

'WISE WOMAN WITH A MIRROR'

Those Wise Guys (Newsletter, Dec. 10), according to the original text, were actually a group of philosopher types, some think Zoroastrians, and could well have included women. And that's not the mainstream, watered-down Protestant  interpretation, that comes from the standard Evangelical Biblical literary folks. I've never read of any Frankensteins, but  the idea of Lazarus kind of comes to mind!

Holly Hart

ON 'GIFT OF LISTENING,'

STORY FOR HANUKKAH

Happy Chanukah, Hanukkah, to you and thanks for your stories. Reading about "listening" (Newsletter, Nov. 23) reinforces the basic Jewish statement:  Shma Yisrael, Adonoy Eloheynu, Adonoy Echod. This translates "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One."  'Hear' is also translated as 'Listen' and when I explain it to classes I translate it as 'listen---pay attention' 

So, the importance of really listening and hearing what people are saying to you...and sharing with you. 

Bea Premack     

______________________________________

Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's Coffee House. Published since 2000, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's and now director of Uptown Bill's. You can write to him at tomgilsenan@gmail.com

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. It has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years. Located in North Hall, the coffeeshop is open weekdays from 8 am. For more information, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook. You can call the coffeeshop at (319) 335-1281. Donations to support the work of the coffeeshop may be sent to: Bill's Coffeeshop Fund, University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244. Contributions are tax deductible. 

Uptown Bill's is the crosstown cousin of Wild Bill's. Now in it 10th year, it includes a bookstore, performance venue and other businesses in addition to a coffeeshop. Located at 730 S. Dubuque, Uptown Bill's is open every day from 8 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's page on Facebook. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0401. Donations to support the work of Uptown Bill's may be sent to: Extend the Dream Foundation, Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240. Contributions are tax deductible.