I'm not sure how I ever came to be the "go-to" person. I don't think I give off the impression that I have tons of knowledge about a myriad of things (because I don't). Nor do I jump into conversations with sage words (because I prefer to listen). But for some reason if a letter needs to be written, or directions given, or numbers crunched; I get asked. Maybe because even if I don't know, I'll find out. Like why taxes are due tomorrow and not today.
I got asked that on Friday by one of the aides, only she added that someone told her it was some holiday in Washington, DC. I didn't know anything about it (my taxes are in and my refund received, so I'm not keeping up on tax day), but I looked it up. It's "Emancipation Day". "What's that?" the aide asked. I thought about getting up on my soap box to answer that but decided not to. I just told her it was the day Lincoln freed the slaves in Washington, DC.
Today I was asked by Linda, the home health office manager, if it was a bank holiday.
"No," I said. "Why?"
"Because taxes aren't due until tomorrow," she replied.
"Oh. That's because Washington is celebrating a holiday," I said.
"What holiday?" she asked.
"Emancipation Day," I answered.
"Why don't we all celebrate that?" she wondered.
"Because it's the day the slaves in Washington, DC were freed," I replied. "Not the day all the slaves were freed."
"Huh?"
Okay, so now I did get up on my soap box because ever so often a record does need to be set straight. I explained to her that the Emancipation Proclamation "freed" the slaves only in the states that were in rebellion - which, literally means it didn't free anybody except the parts of the South under Northern military jurisdiction. On Lincoln's part, it was a martial act he claimed to have under the Constitution. (I won't raise my soap box on that one right now...) It also did not end slavery or make the slaves citizens - just kind of left them in limbo. In the Union states that held slaves - Washington, DC; Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware, Missouri and West Virginia - nothing happened to those slaves. West Virginia was required to slowly emancipate their slaves upon becoming part of the Union. The other states abolished slavery by state laws. Isn't it interesting that Lincoln acknowledged state rights in the states that didn't secede, but thought only to wrench federal control of the ones that had?
"Mmh," Linda remarked after my morning history lesson. "I guess I don't know much about the Civil War...except what I was taught in school."
I held my tongue in offering her some extremely good resources on what the "Civil War" was really about. After all, even I can take only so much of my soap box at once. But if she wants any further information, I will gladly share. And after that, I can tell you all about President James Garfield, my newest find. Next after that is a book on the Battle of Bunker Hill - or should I say, Breed's Hill...yet another correction for the history books!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Politics Aside...
You have to be hiding under a rock to not know that it's a Presidential election year. Sadly, in this nation, there are probably quite a few people hiding under a rock. For those of us who have even the slightest concern about our nation and are conservative, you also know that the pickings are slim - to the point of non-existent. I'm not blogging to endorse any candidate, but to be honest, it's no wonder.
Most of us who keep up even a little know Rick Santorum suspended his campaign this week. The reasons are innumerable, as they always are. One of major players in his decision is his little girl Isabella, a 3-year old with a genetic disease called Trisomy 18 - a disease most children die from within the first year of their life. Of course, a news report I read stated the disease has been mostly eradicated. Why? Because parents find out their infant in the womb has this disease and abort the child. But in a report I saw with Mr. Santorum, he spoke on the stillborn birth of his son Gabriel and how they have taught each of their seven living children that life - even the brief 20 week life in the womb of Gabriel - is precious. I agree. My life wouldn't be what it is if my sister Christine had not been stillborn now over 27 years ago. Her life was precious - and important.
Later this week Mitt Romney's wife got slapped with the remark that she had "never worked a day in her life". Apparently changing diapers, feeding five hungry boys (boys, mind you!), getting them to school and ball games, helping them with homework, clothing them, refereeing their fights, mediating their disagreements, teaching them to be respectable young men, tending their wounds, crying when they cry, laughing when the laugh, cutting their hair, cleaning up after them and well...everything else a mother does is not work. For Mrs. Romney was a stay-at-home mom with five boys and she now has the blessing of sixteen grandchildren. As any mother could tell you, there is no job tougher than being a stay-at-home mom. In fact, there were probably times when Mrs. Romney, while pulling her hair out, wanted to go out and get a job - maybe with the state penitentiary. It had to be easier, right? But in my book, there is no higher calling for a woman than being a wife and mother. Mrs. Romney WORKED.
So we lived in a nation that 1) practices first degree, pre-meditated murder for no other reason than a life is deemed unimportant and 2) mocks stay-at-home moms who give every moment of their lives to the nurturing of the next generation.
Is there any wonder there isn't a Presidential candidate worth voting for?
Most of us who keep up even a little know Rick Santorum suspended his campaign this week. The reasons are innumerable, as they always are. One of major players in his decision is his little girl Isabella, a 3-year old with a genetic disease called Trisomy 18 - a disease most children die from within the first year of their life. Of course, a news report I read stated the disease has been mostly eradicated. Why? Because parents find out their infant in the womb has this disease and abort the child. But in a report I saw with Mr. Santorum, he spoke on the stillborn birth of his son Gabriel and how they have taught each of their seven living children that life - even the brief 20 week life in the womb of Gabriel - is precious. I agree. My life wouldn't be what it is if my sister Christine had not been stillborn now over 27 years ago. Her life was precious - and important.
Later this week Mitt Romney's wife got slapped with the remark that she had "never worked a day in her life". Apparently changing diapers, feeding five hungry boys (boys, mind you!), getting them to school and ball games, helping them with homework, clothing them, refereeing their fights, mediating their disagreements, teaching them to be respectable young men, tending their wounds, crying when they cry, laughing when the laugh, cutting their hair, cleaning up after them and well...everything else a mother does is not work. For Mrs. Romney was a stay-at-home mom with five boys and she now has the blessing of sixteen grandchildren. As any mother could tell you, there is no job tougher than being a stay-at-home mom. In fact, there were probably times when Mrs. Romney, while pulling her hair out, wanted to go out and get a job - maybe with the state penitentiary. It had to be easier, right? But in my book, there is no higher calling for a woman than being a wife and mother. Mrs. Romney WORKED.
So we lived in a nation that 1) practices first degree, pre-meditated murder for no other reason than a life is deemed unimportant and 2) mocks stay-at-home moms who give every moment of their lives to the nurturing of the next generation.
Is there any wonder there isn't a Presidential candidate worth voting for?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
National Siblings Day
To Katey, Daniel, Sally, Grace, Jenny, Abby and Caleb:
Despite fights, competition, envy, having to share - and all those other things siblings have in common - truly, I can't imagine my life without any of you.
I know none of you had a choice, but thank you for being my siblings - for making me a sister!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Good News...and Bad News
Good news for Texas: the bluebonnets bloomed this year. They're everywhere! All along the interstates, people are stopped to sit among the deep blue, purple flowers and take pictures. After the drought last year produced hardly any bluebonnets, it's promising to see them this year.
Bad news: First, bluebonnets aren't anything next to the beauty of lilacs. Second, I think all the blooming means is we're going to have humidity added to our summer temperatures. This past weekend hit the 90s. I kid you not when I say I nearly cry every time I think of the summer yet to be suffered through...
Good news at work: The weekend was slow. That means no problems to work through on a Monday morning.
Bad news: Insurance companies are the bane of my life...and they're only getting worse. It's probably all this stupid national healthcare junk. Now I can't even get a claim to submit properly. I won't say what it's enough to drive someone to...
Good news from the weekend: I held a newborn baby for nearly 4 hours! And when I say newborn I mean less than 24 hours old. She is soooo precious!!!!! I thought I'd just drop in and say "hi" to my church friends who had little Jillian Grace on Friday, but they were happy to have a visitor and I was more than happy to sit in a rocking chair and hold the precious bundle for nearly 4 hours. It's a shame she had to eat...I could have held her all day long!
Bad news: At my age, even if I were to get married tomorrow and have a baby right off, I can't hope to have a dozen of them...I would just love to squeeze in 6 or 7. Although if I have a couple sets of twins...triplets anyone?
Bad news: First, bluebonnets aren't anything next to the beauty of lilacs. Second, I think all the blooming means is we're going to have humidity added to our summer temperatures. This past weekend hit the 90s. I kid you not when I say I nearly cry every time I think of the summer yet to be suffered through...
Good news at work: The weekend was slow. That means no problems to work through on a Monday morning.
Bad news: Insurance companies are the bane of my life...and they're only getting worse. It's probably all this stupid national healthcare junk. Now I can't even get a claim to submit properly. I won't say what it's enough to drive someone to...
Good news from the weekend: I held a newborn baby for nearly 4 hours! And when I say newborn I mean less than 24 hours old. She is soooo precious!!!!! I thought I'd just drop in and say "hi" to my church friends who had little Jillian Grace on Friday, but they were happy to have a visitor and I was more than happy to sit in a rocking chair and hold the precious bundle for nearly 4 hours. It's a shame she had to eat...I could have held her all day long!
Bad news: At my age, even if I were to get married tomorrow and have a baby right off, I can't hope to have a dozen of them...I would just love to squeeze in 6 or 7. Although if I have a couple sets of twins...triplets anyone?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)