June 3-5, 1974: My First Trip to New York City
	April 20-25, 1974: The Cullinane User Group in San Francisco
	Return to Index for 1974

I may have mentioned Mike O'Brian earlier in this album; I had met him while I was stationed at Fort Harrison between my return from Korea and my leaving the Army to go to work at Continental Bank. I had actually met him at a duplicate bridge session; the director had put us together as a pair one evening, and we got to know each other. He was my best non-Army friend; we played a fair amount of bridge together, and I got to know his mom and dad as well. I wanted to tell him about my new job, so he and his folks invited me down for the weekend.

In the few years since I left the Army, I'd returned to Indianapolis fairly often- to see my friends out at Fort Harrison and to see Mike and his folks. Taking weekend trips back down to Indianapolis helped me get used to the huge city of Chicago; it was relaxing to get away from the big city every few months. (I also drove over to Muskegon a few times for weekends with my Aunt who still lives there.)

I got really familiar with the route down to Indianapolis. I could take Lake Shore Drive all the way south to the Chicago Skyway, which took me over through Gary, Indiana, where I picked up Interstate 65 for the trip down to Indianapolis.

When I'd lived in Indianapolis, Mike had me over to his parents' apartment five or six times. They were the only people I knew who lived in a high-rise building. That building, some 24 stories tall, was at the northeast corner of 38th Street and Meridian on the north side of the city. Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in town, and until I-465 was constructed around the city, it was also US Highway 31.

Meridian Street serves as the axis separating east addresses from west addresses, and intersects Monument Circle and Washington Street in downtown. North of downtown, Meridian continues through several prominent city neighborhoods. Actually, from just two blocks north of the O'Brian's building and for another twenty blocks north, Meridian Street is considered to be among the most prestigious residential streets in Indiana. Some of the most impressive residential architecture in the United States can be found there, in a variety of architectural styles. Included is the Indiana Governor's Mansion.

I had always considered Mike's building and the neighborhood around it to be very affluent, and certainly they had a very nice, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath apartment. It was located on the 14th floor at the southwest corner of the building. This meant that from almost every room they had tremendous views looking south to the center of Indianapolis. While I was here this weekend, I went out on their terrace to take a picture of their view of Indianapolis.

Mike's Mom Fixing Dinner

I got down to Mike's house right about noon, so we went out to have some lunch and then to an afternoon bridge game at the local ACBL bridge club. That evening, Mike's mom fixed dinner for the four of us; she is quite a good cook, I think.

Mike(R) and his Dad

Both Mike and his Dad also golf; in fact, Mike took me golfing years ago at a short par-3 course near their building. I liked the putting part, but wasn't very good at the long shots. But when every hole is a par 3, it isn't too bad. Mike is a few years younger than me, and, in fact, has just graduated from the University of Indiana, and will be going to work for IBM- as an auditor of al things.

Mike's Dad likes to watch golf on TV, and that's what he was doing when we got back after bridge.

We played some bridge that evening, and the next day Mike and I played one more session before I headed back up to Chicago to give my notice to the Bank on Monday morning.

I might mention again here that it was through Mike that I met Bill Tobe, the first non-Bank friend that I made in Chicago when I moved up there in 1971. Bill was also a bridge player, and we played together in Chicago and at a couple of out-of-town tournaments. Through Bill I met a whole group of other folks in Chicago, so I ended up with quite a few friends- most of whom lived right near me when I first moved to Barry Street. Even though I live in a high-rise now, I still see most of them frequently.

You can use the links below to continue to another photo album page.

	June 3-5, 1974: My First Trip to New York City
	April 20-25, 1974: The Cullinane User Group in San Francisco
	Return to Index for 1974