Writer Maggie Andersen says there was a “fierce love” between the Daleys that prompted former Mayor Richard M. to do some crazy things in wife Maggie’s name:

I’m a sucker for a love story. December 1970. Richard M. Daley of Chicago met Margaret Corbett of Pittsburgh at a mutual friend’s Christmas party. Perhaps there was mistletoe and Nat King Cole’s Christmas on vinyl. I hope there’s no shortage of boozy eggnog.

Their first proper date was on New Year’s Eve in Chicago. I imagine they saw fireworks lighting up a frozen lake.

I and countless others believed that the Daleys loved each other in that lucky way. Their son Patrick has said that his mother was always the first one on the dance floor, and the last one off; that his parents’ companionship was an inspiration to everyone who knew them.

Evidence can be found in the footage of them marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in their 30s; then hiking, fatter and grayer, in Jordan, decades later, but still laughing like children…

This Saturday at the Horseshoe is one of the last times you can see the Machete in December, before the holiday winds of change sweep us all away. They’ll be talking about Blago, obviously, and the line-up includes Madame Barker’s Cabaret (Molly Brennan and John Fournier); Occupiers Art and Nancy Brennan; Chad the Bird; comedian Cameron Esposito; Kate James and Steve Waltien of The Second City and WBEZ’s Claire Zulkey. With music by Baby Teeth.

The Paper Machete is a weekly live magazine at the Horseshoe in North Center. It’s always at 3 p.m., it’s always on Saturday, and it’s always free. Get all your The Paper Machete Radio Magazine needs filled here, or download the podcast from iTunes here.