Most years I post digital birthday cards for my grandfather, who would’ve turned 123 today, and so here is this year’s edition. Here are my grandparents at the Shedd Aquarium in the antique past:

I love those steps and those columns. You know that’s an important building, one that houses Knowledge, or Power, or Beauty. Or maybe all three.

We used to make beautiful buildings in this country, or at least buildings whose appearance conveyed something other than “This is a building.”

My grandfather was reputed to wear a shirt and tie to dinner every night, at least as far as anyone recalls. I assume that is not literally true, but it says something that he’s still remembered that way.