Toby and Me on Father’s DayWhy were these guys alive and my dad dead? My dad’s long game wasn’t good. My father, Toby, had about fifteen pairs of shoes when he died. I didn’t take any of the shoes even though we wore the same size. He had a foot fungus and my mother told me… Jun 18 23June 18, 2023Article at Belt Magazine
In observance of the first day of summer, an ode to my lawn mowerBy Bert Stratton I didn’t used to like to cut my grass. I made my children do it, but then they grew up, moved away, and I got the job. Now I like the work. I like the meditative-ness of walking in ever smaller rectangles around my yard in… Jul 10 18July 10, 2018Article at Belt Magazine
28 minutes from Cleveland to Chicago? I’m on board with Hyperloop.By Bert Stratton I’m on board. I’m good with the proposal from Hyperloop, a California company that announced on Monday it wants to get me from my home in Cleveland to Chicago in 28 minutes. If they can pull it off (right now it’s just a feasibility… Feb 28 18February 28, 2018Article at Belt Magazine
Eulogy for the Cleveland Tenants Organization from a Cleveland LandlordBy Bert Stratton Photo by Maddie McGarvey The Cleveland Tenants Organization, after 43 years of advocating for Cleveland renters, shut down last week due to lack of funds. As a Cleveland landlord — or someone “in real estate,” as I say at dinner… Feb 13 18February 13, 2018Article at Belt Magazine
On Being ‘In Real Estate’ in Cleveland, OHBy Bert Stratton I usually tell people “I’m in real estate.” That’s not as charged as “I’m a landlord.” Everybody hates landlords. Everybody got free rent as kids and thinks rent should be free. But I provide a service — safe and sanitary housing —… Nov 30 17November 30, 2017Article at Belt Magazine
My Acceptance LetterBy Bert Stratton I had a literary agent when I was 23. My agent represented John Knowles, Garrison Keillor and me, among others. The agency had even handled Churchill. I was “on the road” post-college, going hostel to hostel with my backpack on the… Jun 17 15June 17, 2015Article at Belt Magazine
Harvard and ClevelandBy Bert Stratton After college (Ann Arbor), I returned to Cleveland and hung out at Case Western Reserve University as much as possible. I wanted to stay in the college bubble. I wasn’t ready for the world. I helped my dad in the real estate… Feb 19 15February 19, 2015Article at Belt Magazine
Mississippi AlbertBy Bert Stratton My mother gave me a harmonica for my thirteenth birthday. The first song I learned was “Old Black Joe.” I played a lot of ditties like that – easy major key tunes – throughout junior high and high school. By college I was into the… Nov 06 14November 06, 2014Article at Belt Magazine
Deli MenBy Bert Stratton My father, Toby, was a “deli Jew.” That’s usually a putdown in the Jewish community, meaning my father knew more about corned beef than the Torah. Toby’s favorite food was a “good piece of rye bread.” My dad was a chocolate phosphate… Jul 29 14July 29, 2014Article at Belt Magazine
On Lee RoadMy trip down Lee Road started at the Fairfax School’s Grandparents Day. I told everybody my grandchild was “Jim,” as in gym. I watched my wife, Alice, a phys-ed teacher, lead a class. She wore a mic like Madonna. Alice is not a roll-out-the-ball gym… May 21 14May 21, 2014Article at Belt Magazine