For newshounds like me, the curved panorama wall of LIFE magazine stories holds a special fascination. I wanted to read them all, as some visitors seemed to be doing.

Truman was instrumental in White House renovations, as indicated by the replica of the Oval Office when he occupied it. During his second term the entire structure, with the exception of his controversial south wing addition, was declared unsafe and rebuilt from the inside out.

Harry and his wife, First Lady Bess (Wallace), the sweetheart he courted after returning from the trenches of Europe in 1919, are buried in the central court. An eternal flame burns nearby.

With some strings attached, a diminutive Harry greeted us at the Puppetry Arts Institute (11025 East Winner Road, Independence, MO 64052, Tel 816-833-9777). Former staff puppeteer Paddy Blackwood gave us a demonstration of the president’s toastmaster abilities with a lively little song and dance. The Institute gives puppet shows and organizes puppet-making classes in addition to its display of international and locally made puppet collection from creators Robert Smith and Hazelle Rollins.

I think Harry’s lighter side would have approved. With a wry sense of humor he once said: "My choices early in life were either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference." [The New York Times]

Chicago, Illinois USA

Photo and text copyright 2009 Gary Crallé.

I stopped in Chicago for only 48 hours, July 6th and 7th, en route to a digital photo workshop in Milwaukee sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers [www.satw.org]. Staying at the downtown Fairmont Millenium Park [www.fairmont.com] I had easy access to the inexpensive daily walking tours given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation [www.architecture.org -- TEL 312.922.3432 -- 224 S. Michigan Ave.].

On the 10:00am Art Deco tour I snapped this taxi in front of the historic Carbide and Carbon building. Film art imitates life...and death. The current film Public Enemies portrays the brief criminal career of bank robber John Dillinger who was shot and killed at 10:40pm July 22, 1934 by FBI agents after watching a movie at the Biograph Theatre on Chicago's North Side.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, Irene!