WOW! I had no idea.

My memories of my time in the Midwest are of wonderful people and places, and so, the human mind being what it is, I simply did not equate Gary with anything other than my pleasant Midwest memories, I suppose. I don't think that I ever stopped in Gary - just noticed the smokestackes as I passed by.

However, AFTER the time period in my life when I had to drive around the lake from Chicago, I moved to Central Ohio and drove in from the other direction. I have vivid memories of driving through Elkhart and other places in eastern Indiana. I have also flown into South Bend and driven up. I have memories of how nice those places are, and so I probably confused those memories with my early drive-thrus of Gary from Chicago.

There is a town in northwestern Ohio, right before one gets to Indiana, called Van Wert. I remember it very well. It absolutely has to be the most all-American kind of town ever. I used to stop there and eat at a small family-owned restaurant.

I miss the Midwest. I lived there for seven years. People were friendly, helpful, and just nice.

Except, as you tell me, some of them from places like Gary! I see after some research that you correct.

Perstare et praestare. Per aspera ad astra.