A Date That Will Live In Infamy

December 7, 1941

Tell it to your children, 

and let your children tell it to their children, 

and their children to the next generation.  --Joel 1:3

So that we may never forget.  

The Legend Lives On

From the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call Gitche gumee...

Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of our nation's greatest maritime mysteries, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  All we know is that the ship was crossing Lake Superior, keeping in contact with her sister ship the Arthur M Anderson, when Captain McSorley radioed "We're holding our own."  A mere 12 minutes later, the ship vanished from the radar, never to be seen again.

Divers have since found the wreckage of the ship, and there's been lots of speculation, lots of conjecture from those who've claimed to have solved the mystery of why the Edmund Fitzgerald went down, but truth is, only God knows what really happened that stormy night of November 10, 1975.

 

I was just one day shy of turning 11 years old when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, so even if I had been in the living room when the news was on, I wouldn't have been paying attention.  I don't remember my dad talking about it at all, so even if I'd seen the reports, I would have quickly forgotten.  

Indeed, outside the Great Lakes area, few people would remember the incident, and it would have vanished into the oblivion of forgotten history were it not for the efforts of one man who said, "I can't let that happen."

I'm talking, of course about Gordon Lightfoot, who read an article about the wreck, then sat down and wrote one of our greatest folk songs ever. 

I was in college when I first heard the song -- probably re-released in 1985 for the tenth anniversary -- and even then, I thought it was just a lovely little folk song.  I had no idea it was based on a true story.  After I found that out, I still thought it was based on something that had happened back in the 1700s.  

I was in the Navy when I found out..."Whoa!  That happened in 1975!"  From that moment on, I was hooked -- on the mystery, on the tragedy, on the romance, but none of that would have happened without the song.  So, after the church bell rings twenty nine times...

🔔  Ernest M. McSorley -- Captain 

🔔  John H. McCarthy -- First Mate 

🔔  James A. Pratt -- Second Mate 

🔔  Michael E. Armagost -- Third Mate 

🔔  George J. Holl -- Chief Engineer 

🔔  Edward F. Bindon -- First Assistant Engineer 

🔔  Thomas E. Edwards -- Second Assistant Engineer 

🔔 Russell G. Haskell -- Second Assistant Engineer 

🔔 Oliver J. Champeau -- Third Assistant Engineer 

🔔 Thomas D. Bentsen -- Oiler 

🔔 Ralph G. Walton -- Oiler 

🔔 Blaine H. Wilhelm -- Oiler 

🔔 Gordon F. MacLellan -- Wiper 

🔔 Frederick J. Beetcher -- Porter 

🔔 Nolan S. Church -- Porter 

🔔 Robert C. Rafferty -- Steward 

🔔 Allen G. Kalmon -- Second Cook 

🔔 Thomas D. Borgeson-- Maintenance Man 

🔔 Joseph W. Mazes -- Special Maintenance Man 

🔔 Ransom E. Cundy -- Watchman 

🔔 Karl A. Peckol -- Watchman 

🔔 William J. Spengler -- Watchman 

🔔 Eugene W. O'Brien -- Wheelsman 

🔔 John J. Poviach -- Wheelsman 

🔔 John D. Simmons -- Wheelsman 

🔔 Bruce L. Hudson -- Deck Hand 

🔔 Paul M. Riippa -- Deck Hand 

🔔 Mark A. Thomas -- Deck Hand 

🔔 David E. Weiss -- Cadet

for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald, 

let's ring it one more, for the man who made sure they would never be forgotten. 

🔔 Gordon Lightfoot -- singer and songwriter. 

While we're at it, raise a glass to those who have taken up the torch, and passed it on to the next generation.  🍺

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.  -- Joel 1 : 3

So that we may never forget...

Twenty Years

I woke up disoriented this morning, not being able to remember if it was Saturday or Sunday.  Then it hit me.  It's only Friday, and my long weekend had just begun.  I know it'll fly by, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.  

I wish I had a more exciting post for you, but truth is, I didn't do much at all today.  I finished watching Band Of Brothers, then watched the Netflix documentary on hurricane Katrina.  It mostly focused on New Orleans, as usual.  People always forget the storm hit Mississippi as well.  

Oh, you can find documentaries on Mississippi, but they're mostly locally produced.  All the major media ones -- Netflix, National Geographic, and the like -- focus on New Orleans.  

I remember that day well.  They had us working all day at the plant, but my coworker's boyfriend was in the shipping department.  They had a radio on, and he came out and give us regular updates.  We knew when the roof blew off of the Superdome, and when the levees failed.  But they kept us there until 3:00 -- which was quitting time back in those days.  We worked a 7-3 shift.

The shift finally ended and I came home to find that the schools had let out at 1:00, so Cody was already home.  That little stinker was outside playing in the yard,  yes, during a hurricane.  He came bopping up to the car and announced, "Mama!  A branch fell out of a tree and nearly hit me in the head!"

"What-choo doing out in the yard during a hurricane, boy??  Get your but in that house right now!"  

Just to be on the safe side, we spent the night at Beverly and James' house, because the storm was still packing quite the punch even this far inland.  I don't remember if the kids had to go back to school the next day, but I do remember we had to go back to work.  They let us go home after only half a shift, though.  Someone said it was because the roads were so damaged that many of our purchased parts and supplies -- like steel and aluminum -- couldn't get through.   I don't know for sure, though.  

In other news, my back feels much, much better, but I didn't really work all that much out in the yard, mostly because we got quite a bit of rain yesterday and the red clay needs to dry out some.  It was a nice, sunny day and didn't get out of the 80s once again.    It felt so Fall-ish that I put my wreath up on the front door. 

I usually put my Fall decorations out over Labor Day weekend anyway, and I'll probably start with the rest tomorrow.  While watching the football games. 

Now for a bit of serendipity, several weeks ago, I was in the check out line at Walmart, and someone had changed his mind and put this up onto the candy rack.  

I saw it sitting there, and on impulse, I picked it up and added it to my  stuff.  Well, today I made a hamburger with this stuff to season the meat, and I do have to say, that's one of the best impulse purchases I've ever made.  Boy howdy that burger was good!  

And finally, I got another pleasant surprise this morning when I checked my fasting glucose.  I expected it to be high because I'd eaten two of those Little Debbie cakes yesterday -- one of each flavor.  Much to my surprise, it was only 99.  

That's all I have for now, because I'm sure you don't want to hear about my laundry and other housework.  Which reminds me, I still need to mop my bathroom.  I guess I'd better get to it, then. 

Laters.

P. S. I really need to come up with a clever and witty sign off for blog posts.  I'm open to suggestions.  

Patriot's Day

 

Stand your ground

Don't fire unless fired upon

But if they mean to have a war

Let it begin here. 

Concord Hymn 

 RALPH WALDO EMERSON

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

   We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

   To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

   The shaft we raise to them and thee.

1941

Advent will be posted below the remembrance. 

December 7, 1941

Tell it to your children, 

and let your children tell it to their children, 

and their children to the next generation.  --Joel 1:3

So that we may never forget.  

Today's advent figure is Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  Luke 1:30-31

Patriot's Day

 

Stand your ground

Don't fire unless fired upon

But if they mean to have a war

Let it begin here. 

Concord Hymn 

 RALPH WALDO EMERSON

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

   We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

   To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

   The shaft we raise to them and thee.

A Day Of Remembrance

* Blogmas and Advent will be posted below the remembrance. 

December 7, 1941

Tell it to your children, 

and let your children tell it to their children, 

and their children to the next generation.  --Joel 1:3

So that we may never forget.  

Normally, I'd only post about Pearl Harbor today, but since I had decided to do blogmas and advent, this will be a little different.  I know this may seem like a lot to put into a single post, but there is a lot going on.  I'd considered doing two posts, but since most of you don't click through on my history posts anyway, I decided to put it all into one.  

If you made it this far, congratulations.  Most people won't.  OK?  On we go...  

Today's advent figure is Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

And the scripture is:  The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  Luke 1:30-31

The nice thing about doing this advent again after not doing it for so long is that so many new songs have been written in the intervening years.  

This is one of them.  It is loosely based on the song Mary sang when she went to see her relative Elizabeth, which can be found in Luke's gospel, chapter one beginning with verse 46:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—Holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; 

He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 

to Abraham and his descendants forever, 

just as he promised our ancestors.”

And finally, tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, 

So you know what I have to post.  Yep, my favorite Hanukkah song by the Maccabeats. 

 

Finished!

 And with this hat, I am done!

With this batch, that is.  I'm not done knitting hats -- not by a long shot.  But I have enough to get the shipment I've been working on all boxed up and ready to go.  The hats are currently in the washer, and the labels are printed and drying.  I'm going to try to get it into the mail tomorrow, even though I'll have to go to the post office after work.  For what it's worth, I looked up the address on Google Earth, and it appears to be a legitimate location. 

And that brings me to Thanksvember Fifth:  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.  It may not seem like much to some, knitting hats, but it's my cup of cool water.  I won't go into all the whys and wherefores here, but if you want to know, do go back and read the post I linked above.  It may be an old post, but it's still just as relevant. 

I'd said I was going to take a break from knitting hats for a while and get some other stuff done, but last time I said that, it didn't last very long.  I mean, I've got lots of yarn, and lots of time...and nothing better to do with that time.  

In other news, something at the rest of the apple slices last night, so I went ahead and put some more out this afternoon.   The first two does that came up didn't eat them, but maybe the bucks will come later on and get them. 

In other other news, I noticed yesterday that my Whatever Cactus is loaded with buds.  

I'm stoked about that, because they (I have three of them) hardly bloomed at all last year.  I think I was overwatering them, so I seriously cut back after I repotted them all, and they're doing much better this time around.   I got lucky night before last, because my weather apps said it was only supposed to get down into the mid 40s, but when I got up, the thermometer I keep on my back porch said 35°.  But there was no frost on the grass, so I think all my outside plants will be OK.  

And finally, your history moment for today.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring

Holler boys, holler boys

God save the King!

Batesville Mounds

 Those of you who know me at all know that I don't like to leave the house.  If I've got something I need to do, I have to go straight from work, because once I go home, I'm home.  Even on the weekends, I say I'm going to get up and go do stuff, but I don't.  I sit in front of the TV thinking that I really should get up and go do stuff, but I don't get up and go do stuff.  

Then Monday comes and I go back to work thinking next weekend I'm going to get up and go do stuff.  

So, what did I do this weekend?  I got up and went and did stuff!

Well, one stuff at least.  After 29 years of driving by the signs and thinking I ought to stop, but not stopping, I finally made it up to the Batesville Mounds!

Unfortunately, there isn't really a lot of information about who built the mounds and why, but they are estimated to date to between 100-500 AD.  There were originally 5 mounds that they discovered, but only two are intact, and one has been completely destroyed.  

There isn't much left of Mound A, just a slight rise in this field.   If the sign weren't there, you probably wouldn't even notice it. 

Mound C is the most visible, being the tallest and conical. 

Mound C:

Next to it, you can see one of the borrow pits, where the people dug up the dirt to build the mounds.  It's kind of hard to see in this picture, but in person, it's quite obvious. 

All of these mounds are connected by nice, wide paved sidewalks big enough even a wheelchair bound person can enjoy the history and the beautiful scenery.  But there are also dirt trails through the woods. 

And if you know me at all, you know I had to walk these, too. 

These are really nice, too, and take you Mound D, which is almost gone, and to a site where they believe the village once stood.  Unfortunately, there aren't any signs, so unless you printed out the map, you won't even know where it was.  

I didn't print out the map, by the way.  I had to use the map in my Pokémon Go game because I didn't have sense enough to print the real map.  Alas, it didn't have the historical sites marked, but I got to spin quite a few Pokestops.  Yay!  I can send my friends different postcards than the Grenada Airfield Hanger one!

On the other side of the park is a trail -- a paved one -- that takes you to this overlook of the Tallahatchie river. 

I could have stood here all day and watched the water flow....But eventually, I had to return to the real world.  

Overall, it's a nice little park, and great if you live in Batesville.  It's a little too far to drive from here regularly just to walk the trails, but seeing the history and the ancient mounds was way cool.  I only wish we knew more about the people who lived there.  Who they were.  What their lives were like...What happened to them. 

I took more photos while I was there, too many to post here, so I'll post them on my Facebook and MeWe pages.  

One last thing before I go.  I finished another hat last night. 

I bought some card stock while I was in town, so I can print out the labels and start getting them ready to ship. 

I guess I'd better get on that...

Patriot's Day 2023

 

Stand your ground

Don't fire unless fired upon

But if they mean to have a war

Let it begin here. 

Concord Hymn 

 RALPH WALDO EMERSON

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

   We set today a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare

   To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

   The shaft we raise to them and thee.

I Did A Thing

I did a thing today.  I mean, more than just watching TV.  I did a thing that involved...*looks around furtively*...leaving the house. 

Yes, gentle reader, I actually left the house when I didn't even have to!  

Why did I embark on this adventure?  Well, back in the day, in a conversation on Facebook, I happened to mention to a friend that we have a couple of old Civil War forts here in the area.  I said something about going out and doing a video tour of them, and she was all, "Yes!  Do that!" 

Naturally, I said I would, and just as naturally I didn't.  Until today.  

Without further ado, here for your viewing pleasure, is my walking tour of the two Civil War forts.  First up, the one that has been restored. 

And here is the unrestored fort, so you can see the difference. 

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my town, and let me know if you'd like to see more of these types of videos.  

For now, I've got to recover from all that being outside nonsense with a little Time Team binge.

Laters.

Spindletop

All this week, I've been telling myself that when I get home, I'm going to go for a walk.  Not far, just up and down the road.  And all this week, I haven't.  

Gone for a walk, that is.  

I get home and decide I'm just too tired, and I'll do it tomorrow.  Then tomorrow comes and I don't.  Go for a walk, I mean.  And I know you must be tired of reading my complaining about how tired I am.   All I have to say to that is, "Man, I need a nap." 

In other news, they've decided we need to wear steel toed boots to work now.  I'm not sure when it's supposed to start, but they announced it in a safety brief last fall.  What we were told is that it has always been Lennox policy (they're our parent company), and this is just to bring us in line with that.  We've really been supposed to be wearing them, but they just haven't enforced it.  Now they're going to. 

That's the official line.  What I think -- completely off the record, of course -- is that they're tired of seeing people wearing house shoes to work.  Seriously.  People are seriously wearing house shoes to the plant.  I saw someone last week walking down the aisle and out the door at the end of the shift, and she had moccasin style HOUSE SHOES on.  

They looked just like these:

A bit of good news before I go -- a new season of Kid's Baking Championship has started, and new seasons of All Creatures Great And Small and Miss Scarlet And The Duke are showing on PBS, so now I have some good shows to watch.  Yippee!  

And finally, I couldn't leave you without acknowledging this important day in Texas history, the discovery of oil at Spindletop.  

It was January 10, 1901....

The Lucas Gusher blew the cap off of oil production in Texas, and revolutionized the oil industry.

Prior to that, oil had been primarily used for lighting and lubrication, but the discovery of such a massive deposit made using it for fuel feasible for the first time.  The rest, as they say, is history. 

It also led to today's earworm, which I will now pass on to you.



You're welcome.

For more information, The Texas State Historical Association has a pretty good article:  Spindletop.

And also, Wikipedia.

Don't Skip This One

So many do, you know. Skip these kinds of posts. 

The memorials.  The observances.  The remembrances.

The boring posts that are the same old thing as last year...

But it's important that we don't skip the posts.  

And thus forget.  

It's important that we remember.  And tell it to our children.  

Don't skip this one.  

December 7, 1941

Tell it to your children, 

and let your children tell it to their children, 

and their children to the next generation.  --Joel 1:3

So that we may never forget.