American Dream, part 2
Only time will tell
Monday, July 6, 2009
American Dream, Part 2
Some time in the year 1651, a young lad of about 16yrs, from Inverness-shire, was fighting alongside his clansmen in one of the many battles in the long history of Scotland. The Scots lost this battle to Cromwell, and as prisoners of war, especially of the time, they were not treated well. One cannot put into words the suffering these men endured. Facing possible execution, the Highlanders were marched through the streets,"All of them [were] stript, many of them cutt, some without stockings or shoes and scarce so much left upon them as to cover their nakedness, eating peas and handful of straw in their hands which they had pulled upon the fields as they passed." These men were not executed, however, but transported to the New World as prisoners of war. Bloodied by battle, and enduring severe physical discomfort, they were also mourning the loss of friends and brothers, separated possibly forever from their wives, children, and families. Facing the unknown of what harshness lay ahead, one can only imagine what they must have been feeling.
These indentured men, slaves in body but not in mind, would become a thread in the weave of a tapestry that few could imagine. Recorded history allows us to see such an unfolding of events, if one chooses to look. Is this the act of Providence and some unseen hand, or merely the random occurence of events built one on top of the other with no one at the conductor's place? For you see, this young lad was William Bean. A name amongst many other names, all important in their own way. Each with a life's purpose; their many stories lost to time. The importance of William Bean became perhaps known to the pages of history on account of another name, a man named Daniel Boone, who wished to see the other side of a mountain. The man who went with him, and who decided to live on the other side of the mountain in what is now Eastern Tennessee, was none other than William Bean, a decendent of the William Bean of Inverness-shire. The young lad who was indentured, became free of body and established himself well in the new land as had many others. His descendant, William Bean, established the first settlement in the Watauga valley; and, also established himself into the history books. He soon was joined by his family and friends. They made peace with the Natives in the area, and lived free from government intrusion, free to worship without recourse, free to take hold of opportunity and reap the reward of their labor. Until, that is, the government saw fit to disturb them.
"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity."
-Gen. Douglas MacArthur
(The tune is a slow Scottish air, and credit. Music often influences words, and sets a mood. I hope to write a bit on the American dream from a historical perspective, from my family's perspective, and from first accounts from people I've talked with. I'm only an amateur writer and historian, so please bear with me in this exploration of thought. Critique, though uncomfortable at times, is always permitted from my blog friends.)
Credit: maurteenderry, youtube
Traditional air "Archibald MadDonald of Kepoch"
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The American Dream, Part One
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such Principles and and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
-Introduction, Declaration of Independence
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Vive le différence !
It has been said: "To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little."
"To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all."
Poor James, over at http://nourishingobscurity.blogspot.com/ . Long story short, he took it upon himself to add a voting poll to even out another voting poll he had done earlier. This post is for him. :D (forgive me ;D)
It has been said: "Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit."
WOMEN...
A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
The woman visits the first floor.
The sign reads:
· Men with jobs.
She moves on to the second floor:
· Men with jobs that adore children.
She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
· Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
She thinks to herself, "that's a very good deal" yet moves on to the fourth floor:
WOMEN...
A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
The woman visits the first floor.
The sign reads:
· Men with jobs.
She moves on to the second floor:
· Men with jobs that adore children.
She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
· Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
She thinks to herself, "that's a very good deal" yet moves on to the fourth floor:
· Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome and help with the household chores.
She decides to move on as things are constantly improving:
· Wealthy men that adore childern, are very handsome, help with the household chores and are very romantic.
The woman is about to make her purchase but can't resist moving on to the sixth floor.
There the sign reads:
· You are visitor number 31,456,012 on this floor.
· There are no men here.
· This floor exists as proof that it is impossible to please women.
& MEN…
Opposite this department store, another department store opened that sold women. The sign on the first floor reads:
· Women that love sex.
On the second floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex and are wealthy.
On the third20floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex, are wealthy and have large breasts.
Not a single man has visited the fourth floor.
On a Trans-Atlantic flight, a plane passes through a severe storm. The turbulence is awful, and things go from bad to worse when one wing is struck by lightning.
One woman in particular loses it. Screaming,she stands up in the front of the plane. "I'm too young to die!" she wails. Then she yells, "Well, if I'm going to die, I want my last minutes on earth to be memorable! No one has ever made me really feel like a woman! Well I've had it! Is there ANYONE on this plane who can make me feel like a WOMAN??"
For a moment there is silence. everyone has forgotten their own peril, and they all stare, riveted, at the desperate woman in the front of the plane. Then, a man stands up in the rear of the plane. "I can make you feel like a woman," he says. This tall, tanned and built guy with jet black eyes starts to walk slowly up the aisle, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time.
No one moves. As this man approaches, the woman begins to get excited. He removes his shirt. Muscles ripple across his chest as he reaches her, and extends the arm holding his shirt to the trembling woman, and whispers: "Iron this."
"To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all."
Poor James, over at http://nourishingobscurity.blogspot.com/ . Long story short, he took it upon himself to add a voting poll to even out another voting poll he had done earlier. This post is for him. :D (forgive me ;D)
It has been said: "Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit."
WOMEN...
A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
The woman visits the first floor.
The sign reads:
· Men with jobs.
She moves on to the second floor:
· Men with jobs that adore children.
She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
· Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
She thinks to herself, "that's a very good deal" yet moves on to the fourth floor:
WOMEN...
A department store opened in New York City that sold men and a woman decides to visit it in search of a husband.
At the store’s entrance, there’s a sign outlining the department store policy.
The first rule states that you can only enter the store once.
There are six floors and on each floor you can choose a husband or elect to move on to the next floor.
You cannot visit a floor more than once other than to leave the building.
The woman visits the first floor.
The sign reads:
· Men with jobs.
She moves on to the second floor:
· Men with jobs that adore children.
She moves on the the third floor where the sign reads:
· Wealthy men that adore children and are very handsome.
She thinks to herself, "that's a very good deal" yet moves on to the fourth floor:
· Wealthy men that adore children, are very handsome and help with the household chores.
She decides to move on as things are constantly improving:
· Wealthy men that adore childern, are very handsome, help with the household chores and are very romantic.
The woman is about to make her purchase but can't resist moving on to the sixth floor.
There the sign reads:
· You are visitor number 31,456,012 on this floor.
· There are no men here.
· This floor exists as proof that it is impossible to please women.
& MEN…
Opposite this department store, another department store opened that sold women. The sign on the first floor reads:
· Women that love sex.
On the second floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex and are wealthy.
On the third20floor the sign reads:
· Women that love sex, are wealthy and have large breasts.
Not a single man has visited the fourth floor.
On a Trans-Atlantic flight, a plane passes through a severe storm. The turbulence is awful, and things go from bad to worse when one wing is struck by lightning.
One woman in particular loses it. Screaming,she stands up in the front of the plane. "I'm too young to die!" she wails. Then she yells, "Well, if I'm going to die, I want my last minutes on earth to be memorable! No one has ever made me really feel like a woman! Well I've had it! Is there ANYONE on this plane who can make me feel like a WOMAN??"
For a moment there is silence. everyone has forgotten their own peril, and they all stare, riveted, at the desperate woman in the front of the plane. Then, a man stands up in the rear of the plane. "I can make you feel like a woman," he says. This tall, tanned and built guy with jet black eyes starts to walk slowly up the aisle, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time.
No one moves. As this man approaches, the woman begins to get excited. He removes his shirt. Muscles ripple across his chest as he reaches her, and extends the arm holding his shirt to the trembling woman, and whispers: "Iron this."
Friday, June 26, 2009
Solid Potato Salad - The Ross Sisters (1944)
This came to me via email. Watch past 45 seconds, and you're in for a surprise. And, here just after an interesting conversation with my auld Granny who shared of her youthful escapes when she flew trapeze for the Billy Rose Circus. Savouring life's moments...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Shiva Rea Yoga Sun Salutation
My Sis-in-Law, a beautiful Brazilian inside and out, encouraged me to try Yoga as part of my Rehab post car-smash. I've always been athletically inclined whether rockclimbing, horsebackriding, or scuba... but I tell ya, this Yoga is great. Like rockclimbing, Yoga is a wonderful blend of the physical and the mental challenge, and creates a peacefulness of spirit, much like the feeling when you summit a multi-pitch climb and just pause for a moment to take in the view.
Yoga in practice allows a person to balance mind, body and heart; it's a wonderful philosophy. I hold to the thought that we are called to be good stewards, and that includes our bodies, 'for we are fearfully and wonderfully made'.
Stayed tuned, I'm hoping to finish my Uni degree in health education, and also take a Yoga Instructor's course. I may be coming your way to teach a class soon.... ;D
Monday, June 22, 2009
One down, Two to go
My oldest has graduated highschool. As my old college pal would say, "HTB!" (hard to believe)Some of you with older children know how fast they grow up. I have to say, pretty much I've enjoyed every step, even the teen years. Now it's off to college and the start of her adult life, yet I know that we'll always be in touch and always friends. We've too many horse adventures to see to!
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