Dear Family and Friends,
I turned on my CD player tonight as I begun this passage and found a
leftover CD from the boy's late afternoon visit...I'll be working on
the railroad...Oh, my darling...This old man..She'll be coming round
the mountain. I was going to change it, as I usually do, but then thought
better of it and kept it in.
As I listened to that CD it brought back childhood memories...memories
of traveling with my brothers and sisters as we headed West with our
parents. For years we rented a large old house on the shores of Lake
Michigan, then my Dad decided we should see the rest of the country.
We went in all directions after that...the East Coast with Williamsburg
and Virginia Beach (which was still wonderful!)...we headed South to
Georgia and Florida...and then the year we spent six weeks traveling
West. There were five children by then and a station wagon. We didn't,
of course, have DVD players or tapes for that matter...we had each other.
We sang for 5,000 miles...all the way West and back again. Folks ask
how I grew up to be a storyteller..an entertainer and teacher of children...hmmmmm....
The songs were rich. We didn't know it then...we just sang them. Now
we know them as America's folks songs and ballads with reasons to be
sung and stories behind them.
Sometimes stories and books and music just show up on my doorstep without
being asked or invited in. This week by choice and providence, the USA
has been my unintentional theme.
I received a fiery email from a friend about the upcoming election.
Yes, it gave his viewpoint, but more importantly, it begged and pleaded
for us to get out and vote...just vote. So I pass this on to you...on
Tuesday. I heard an NPR commentator this morning comment on taking those
few minutes to vote. He said that he spent more time on his children's
Halloween costumes than it takes to vote. So, there, I have said my
piece. Go do it.
I spent the week end in Indianapolis listening to friends tell new stories.
Kathy and Bob told stories of the love letters that her parents wrote
to each other during WW11. They were filled with history and longing
and love and adventure and pride. How fortunate those letters survived.
The other piece was by my friend, Hope, and her five year voyage to
Japan. I know, you thought I was writing about the USA, I am. After
five years she pulled out her atlas to see where she would go next...but
her dreams were of Indiana corn fields, so she came home.
On my journey to Indy I listened to Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.
It is the journey of Lewis and Clark. I am amazed that I have not read
it...but was enthralled three hours down to Indy and three hours back.
The courage...the fortitude...the adventure...the elements...the NOT
KNOWING but let's go...let's go...let's cross those mountains and find
that ocean. Over and over in the book it mentions that this was the
first time for seeing Idaho or Oregon or voting by a woman in camp (Sacajawea).
I pulled into my driveway as the last few lines were read, and I wept.
I wept for those who have given so much for us.
My house is warm. I have a refrigerator full of food. I do not lock
up my house. I do not go without. I live calmly and freely. On Tuesday
I will vote.
At the library I picked up the new copy of The Last Season by Eric Blehm.
Read it. Especially is you like Jon Krakauer...it is fiercely wonderful..full
of quotes by John Muir and Wallace Stegner and Ansel Adams and Thoreau.
And finally, on my American quest this week, a small slip of paper fell
from an old book in my library as I was looking for a book. This was
given to me by a relative on my Mom's side, Bill Berry...a family tree..hand
written. They weren't surprises to me, but it just slipped out and reminded
me. My great grandmother five generations back was Mary Lincoln...sister
of Tom Lincoln...father of Abraham Lincoln. I am humbled and proud.
Like I said...sometimes thoughts just knock on the door.
Vote
Read
Reflect
Be grateful
Sleep Well
Love to all,
Lou Ann
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