By Madeleine Johnson | October 3rd, 2020 | “Notebook” I grew up in Rockford, Illinois, in shouting distance of free-market guru Milton Friedman’s Chicago. The “Paleo-conservative” movement, focused largely on regionalism, national pride, and traditional values, originated in The Rockford Institute, a think tank started by local conservative activist and proto-“culture warrior” John Howard. My father and many other local leaders supported the Rockford Institute. … Continue reading Parsing a Republican past

by Madeleine Johnson | September 10th, 2020 | “Notebook” It was a few days ago that I noticed it in the garden. Welcomed by the sun’s heat, flashes of yellow and orange – Virginia creeper – had sneaked in among the green foliage. I looked at the calendar and noticed August 15th had come and gone, taking with it June’s lingering late evening light. In … Continue reading Turn, turn, turn

by Madeleine Johnson | July 30th, 2020 | “Notebook” Last time around I wrote about the pain of performing triage on a lifetime of possessions and my fear that discarding things would erase the people they belonged to. Since that piece, I realized that there might be an effective — and maybe better — way to remember these objects and the people associated with them. It’s too late … Continue reading Forwarding the Past

Three years ago I packed up the contents of my Milan home and moved back to the United States. For various reasons, the contents of my apartment remained in storage. The 2018 Genoa bridge collapse blocked access to that city’s port. Then came the coronavirus. These events, along with typical Italian delays, kept me separated from my belongings until three weeks ago, when they finally … Continue reading The Name of the Past

by Madeleine Johnson | June 4th, 2020 | “Notebook” As restrictions on lockdowns lift, those who have enjoyed the last few months in perpetual pajamas or sweatpants may be unhappy about returning to wearing their regular street or work clothes. But those who are worried don’t need to be. They can stay in their jim-jams forever, just like millions of people around the world. “Pajamas” … Continue reading The Garment District

by Madeleine Johnson | April 29th, 2020 | Memory Lane, “Notebook” For a good long time, I have been fascinated with old photos of Milan that I’ve found on the internet. My favorites show the city when it was the “little Venice” and Via del Senato, where I once lived, and Via Melchiorre Gioa were still canals. On the web one thing always leads to … Continue reading 10 minuti dentro un bar anni 70

by Madeleine Johnson | March 27th, 2020 | “Notebook” Friends who know I lived in Italy for thirty years ask me, “Aren’t you glad you aren’t in Italy now, with the coronavirus?” “Well, no,” I reply. “I actually I wish I were there.” I wish I were with friends and family who supported me in my own rough times. I wish I were participating in … Continue reading Gold in a Strange Time

by Madeleine Johnson | March 24th, 2020 | “Notebook” The Germans probably have a lengthy compound word for that feeling you get when an engrossing TV series or book comes to an end. If not, it’s time to coin one. It should combine “angst” (anxiety), “geist” (spirit) and the already apt German word for television, “Fehrnseher,” which is a compound of “far” and “see.” This … Continue reading Repairing to The Repair Shop

The other day I braved the water of Milan’s Cozzi swimming pool after weeks of absence. A few of my skirts were tighter than usual and a writing project was stalled. The only way to loosen the skirts and justify not dealing with the writing was to get in some laps. The Cozzi is around the corner from my house. It’s a huge temple to … Continue reading Fit for Mozart

by Madeleine Johnson | February 7th, 2020 | “Notebook” Living in Italy, a sense of futility can be a constant companion. Nothing can be changed, you are told time and again. It’s always been that way. Pazienza. While living in Milan, America’s political scene only exacerbated my feeling of impotence. I vowed that when I returned to the United States, which I did three years ago, I’d put … Continue reading One for Warren: The Greening of a Campaign Worker