The activist community that confronted ICE in Chicago has quieted down for the winter since ICE commander Gregory Bovino hightailed it out of town with 100 of his 200 military combatants. Southern activists report that ICE is wreaking havoc on the streets of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast towns while training the 10,000 newly-enrolled ICE recruits. In the Upper Midwest, we’re like mama bears and cubs in hibernation. We’re squirreling away our esprit to ready ourselves for the war we expect ICE to launch over the threshold in the spring.

Oh, there are cadres of fresh revolutionaries protesting against high property taxes at winterized town halls. Indivisible and other groups are keeping the newly activated engaged with Happy Hours, Coffee Hours and Sound Baths. And eager canvassers are stepping out in the cold to knock on doors for their favorite state and local candidates.

llinois’ 2026 primary is March 17. In times past, a St. Patrick’s Day election meant a big turnout at the polls. Can you guess why? Yeah, a lot of people took the day off for the parade and voted afterwards. But Illinois Governor Pritzker has told us that Bovino and his returning troops may try to disrupt our elections. What does that mean?

No one has a clue.

Amidst all this dread of the future present, I received an unexpected message about my life story that put the worries of the world on the back burner. In 2020 Tortoise Books Chicago published a memoir I’d written thanks to the encouragement of friends. 

A few years after I retired I attended a poetry reading at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Shuffling up to Poet/Author/Moviemaker Kevin Coval, I disclosed, “I wish I could write”. 

“Everyone can write. Everyone has stories to tell,” Kevin responded. “Come Saturday afternoon to the writing class. It’s free.”

Kevin and the others welcomed me, a much older student, into the upper room of significant creatives. One day he introduced me as “one of our writers,” and a bolt-of-lightning zipped around my bones. 

Beth Finke, memoir writing teacher extraordinaire, praised my weekly essays while x’ing out the “weak” verbs and extraneous paragraphs. Writing expended a lot of brain energy and I often gave up from exhaustion. Then Beth would assign an energizing prompt like, “the tune you most remember from childhood” (Elvis’ Hound Dog). Poor thing had to listen to every detail of every step in the long saga of getting my book published.

Vivienne, an accomplice in many adventures, insisted I write a book so she could make a movie about my life. This seemed preposterous, but slipped into the maybe compartment when she wrote, produced and directed her full-length feature, “Dare to be Wild” (Netflix). It still seemed preposterous because as a friend asked me recently, “Is your life that interesting?” No. Yet, Kevin Coval attests every life is interesting.

The unexpected news I received this week puts the idea of a production, based on my book, on the front burner, in the cards, out front, on center stage, in the spotlight, on the radar, on a winning streak, ahead of the game, beating the odds, nailing it, on fire.

Knock. On. Wood.

Regan Burke's avatar
Regan Burke's book, "In That Number" was a finalist for Chicago Writers Association non-fiction Book of the Year. Her brief memoirs and personal essays appear in the Christian Science Monitor, Sun Magazine, Chicago History Museum "In This Together" Project, City Creatures, Safe 'n Sound, Easter Seals Blog. Chaleur, Rise Up Review, Bird Garden's Murder of Writers and Writing Out Loud. She lives on Potawatomi land in downtown Chicago with Elsa, the West Highland Terrier. Her main activity is reducing the weight of the here and now.

29 thoughts on “Knock On Wood”

  10. Hi, Regan,Thanks for sending this out. I will eagerly await news of your story being told. I really miss my sessions with you and Beth. I hope all is well with everyone. I’m doing fine, settled into the burbs, making new friends and enjoying the love of my children and grandchildren. Also, I’m traveling. This year will include Greece and Alaska. 2027, I’m looking

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  12. Hi Regan. My considerations when turning the Rubik’s cube of ideas is always enhanced by your emails. Thank you for keeping me on your contact list.

    As you probably know, Rachael Maddow is also convinced ICE will return as the weather warms. A message to your followers as to how to enroll in mail-in ballots should be spread far and wide, knowing disruption of in-person voting will be on the top of their list. I already received confirmation from the Board of Elections that I participate in voting that way.

    Congratulations on your book becoming a movie!!! I hope you are allowed to be an active participant in the process. How exciting and fun! Please keep us posted.

    Be well. Happy New Year!!

    Carol Ferstman 🙂

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  14. ‼️ OMG. This is incredible and totally understandable at the same time. Your life story is endlessly fascinating and I can’t wait to see the film, and live with you through the process – Knock. On . Wood. You go girl ‼️‼️‼️

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  15. Can we look forward to a Regan Burke biopic soon?

    Who do you want to play Regan at each stage of life? We could start a Rapid Response team betting pool!

    Happy New Year!

    Brian E. Satre

    1865 Fitch Court | Batavia, IL 60510.8361 | USA
    Mobile: 630.853.7285 | Email: BriSatre@Outlook.com

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  17. Regan, What exciting news. I think your life is very interesting! Keep writing. I particularly found your article about Scott Galloway interesting. I am with you, volunteer is the way to go. Had I not volunteered on the Illinois For Mondale Campaign, I would never have the career that I have now.

    Good Luck on the production! Can’t wait to see who plays you! Jan

    Jan V Kostner Taking the Ick out of Networking janvkostner.com

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  23. Hope you had a great Christmas and Good Luck! Regan, I always like reading about your writing episodes. Thanks for including me on your email list. If you can find time for lunch within the next week or so, can we meet? I’ll end with three song titles: Maybe! by the Sherrells, Help! by the Beatles and What A Wonderful World! by Louis Armstrong. Sounds complicated? That’s a summary of my life now. Talk with you soon,Cynthia  Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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  26. Now this really is WILD, Regan. Break a leg!

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