Story of My Life

Should auld acquaintance be forgot...
Ahern, December 31, 1931

Two things Dad found reliable in the newspaper: Our Boarding House and Alley Oop.

Happens in the Best of Families

Some of the best stories one finds like ornaments hanging on the family tree are tales that the old folks, meaning my parents and grandparents and their generations of relatives, tended to ignore. They involved people only spoken of in whispers, the pretense that they did not exist carried to the very kitchens and workshops of these elders.

I did not hear these conversations. I learned of these adornments on the family tree long after I was well into an advanced age of my own. It took my enlightened generation to be willing to accept and explore the darker recesses of our heritage. Yet my sisters say, No, you may not share these tales.

In Conclusion...

...of another calendar year, I thought to list some of my personal favorites among the articles on "String Too Short to Tie" during 2011. There is no particular ranking in terms of my preferences. It is simply a dozen I particularly like. Obviously, I must have liked all of them or I would not have posted them in the first place!

Rocket Launch T+ The culmination of an experiment in space exploration by two very young scientists.
Cookson the Third A tribute to our little pet on his departure from life.
For God So Loved Outline of an excellent sermon by Pastor Mark.
Snake! A rambling, or is it a slithering, tale springing from someone's mention of snake.
Indiana Fall in Black and White Pictorial tribute to Autumn in Indiana.
Everybody Ought to Go to Sunday School An account of a Sunday morning during my childhood.
A Long Trek From childhood to... Journeys of three people's lives.
Freedom My take of FDR's "Four Freedoms" speech.
Ordinary Heroes Neighbors in the Hometown whose daily lives are heroic.
Jacob Bids for the Prize The first in a series on the life of Jacob as recorded in Genesis 26 - 31.
Euphemistically Speaking A rant about the use of euphemisms for "old age."
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo A bit of American history, facts and speculation. This article was the most frequently "hit" for the year 2011.
And finally, this one was not one of my favorites, and yet it was the second-most often hit this year: My Plate.

No, No; Pick Your Veggies

Boxing Day

But, no. It is Monday after a Sunday Christmas; so in the good old US of A we celebrate this as Christmas. Yes, Christmas this year is December 26. Does that make December 27 Boxing Day? Silly person. We don't "do" Boxing Day" in the US of A. Our friends across the pond do; our neighbors to the north do, but short of smacking the someone around, we don't have a boxing day in the US of A.

Good thing, too, because if we push this calendar on down the road, 2012 may be half over before it starts. Oh, wait! January 1 is on Sunday, so then New Years Day must be on Monday. Hence the new year begins on January 2.

Oh, it is all so confusing.

'Tis the Night Before Christmas

'Tis the night before Christmas and all across the land
All the bloggers, a right hearty band
Are checking their pallies one last time
Before shutting down, going off-line
For Santa won't visit so long as he knows
That the light of the screen continually glows.

The spouse is in nightcap, or perhaps having one
So it's time to hit “Start," strange way to shut down.
Through the list once more wishing the best
to each. To Chuck on his Secondary RoadsMay happiness envelope all your brood.
A Quality Day in Michigan for Joan
This day and every day for her and Om.

To Lin, proprietor of Duck and WheelWe wish blessings abundant and real
As you celebrate with Joe, and Col and Em
Chicago's best and brightest, joy to the brim!
A short hop by 'net, but miles away
We swing down Dragon's Alley.

For Grace and Hubby may they see
Beauty in this day, even in Filthadelphee.
While we're in Pennsylvania, too
I say, Heres's What Let's DoSay, “Merry Christmas" to Mikki
and all her family.

To "Upstate" New York
Rebecca explains her work
On New York Traveler.
Blessings to you, Mrs. Mecomber
and to those whom you love.
Then we need to hurry, shove

Off to the eastern shore tonight
to greet Andrea at Arise 2 Write.
Prayer warrior, God bless you
and all creatures there, four legged and 2.
Marydon in Maryland, historian,
Decorator, Blushing Rose and
family "Merry Christmas!"

My, this tour is getting awfully long,
But we must sing a carol, or song
for John and Ginny at Rabid Fun
Before our trek is done!
Now up! up! away from Florida,
to Minnesota
Where we wish the best for Pearl,
Why You Little... Go, Girl!
Your writing fantastic,
Comes each day from your mind elastic.

To Colorado for a special shout out to Vee,
Very Verla, Joie d' Vivre.
Love you much, and the Mister.
Vee, that's my sister!
Back home in Indiana, must say "Hey"
To Down the Road creator, Jim Grey.
Travels with Jim always a pleasure.
May Christ be your greatest treasure!

And Hoosier Happenings, Indiana man
Respect your anonymity, wish you and
The wife and kids God's richest blessing.
Don't over-gorge on tofurkey and dressing.

This doggerel is about to wear me out,
So to these, too, I give a shout.
Captain of a Crew of One, Hometown Lad, USN ret.
The Church of No People, Mid-America pastor, teacher, thinker.
The Threadbare Couch, another hometown success! Texas pastor, mother, philosopher.
Crotchety Old Man, funny man in spite of not funny life.
The Old Geezer Blog, says it all.
John Deere Mom, farm mom.
Leigh vs. Laundry, funny mom.
Let's Have a Cocktail, Atlanta's answer to funny.
Hypergraffiti, Maritime resident, author extraordinaire.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
You keep me happy, grinning
from ear to ear!
Day by day, year to year.

Family Friday Colonial America #T

Imagine yourself a young person residing in the sparsely populated woodlands of Eastern Virginia, Colonial America. One might speculate that as you approach adulthood you imagine the pleasures and responsibilities of establishing a family of your own. But the availability of suitable partners is somewhat limited.
Thus it is that you find yourself thinking more and more about your first cousin who lives on the neighboring plantation, a fine, upstanding, even attractive person of the opposite gender with whom you are well acquainted. Verily, a match made in heaven, or at least on the fringes of this New World continent.
Too, the happy young couple reflects, there is precedent within the family for just such a match, for our Grandfather and Grandmother Venable are first cousins as well!
Thus it is that my great great great great grandparents Jacob Michaux Venable and Mary Venable were wed on August 23, 1785. The Venable family would continue on another generation! Their grandfather, Abraham Venables II had married his first cousin, Martha Davis in 1723. They were grandchildren of Captain Hugh Lewis.*
Before you form a judgment about my heritage, reflect on these things.
1. If it is true that genetic similarities may magnify weaknesses, it is also likely that they may enhance strengths. Something must account for how we got so smart.
2. Careful about summary dismissal of other peoples' choices. It is legal yet today (2011) for first cousins to marry in exactly half of our states and the District of Columbia. There are some restrictions in six of those states.

Apropos of nothing: It is legal in two states, Colorado and Minnesota, for an uncle to marry a niece, if it is the tradition of the aboriginal tribe of which they are members. (And I believe there is just such a connection in my family, a good many generations in the past.)
*Genealogical assertion without documentation is like a horse with no legs. Nothing to stand on. Legless horse.