Hall Printing: The Playboy Magazine

In the 70's, it was very easy to find a job in a factory that required mostly labor. I recall my mother talking about Hall Printing often, a factory on the north west side of Chicago. Putting together Playboy magazines can get your attention pretty quick. I was aware that my mother met her best friend there, however, until a few days ago I did not know the exact moment. Myrna, my mothers best friend for over 40 years, was with me in the waiting area at the Illinois Masonic Hospital as my mother was undergoing surgery for a Gallbladder procedure on a very cold December morning. Myrna explained to me that my mother was like a sister to her and would do anything for her. There was a loyalty that was galvanized one day while both were working at Hall Printing. It was lunch break, Myrna was starving and laying down on the floor to recuperate from the hard work she had put in for the day. Dilu asked if she was alright, Myrna replied yes, that she was just relaxing. In reality, Myrna was starving and penniless with only bus fare to get her home trying to get through the day. Dilu approached Myrna with some food she purchased from the factory vending machine. Myrna felt embarrassed to accept this gesture, though she reached with gratitude as she knew in her heart she would repay Dilu one day. The gratitude would soon turn into a disbelief later that day as Myrna was going home on the bus after work, she realized that Dilu was walking home as she passed her on the bus. My Mother, Dilu, had given Myrna her bus money so that Myrna could have something to eat to get her through the day. Myrna was about 98lbs and the new girl on the job of which many have quit due to the laborious nature of working at Hall Printing.