My grandparents had a similar routine, my grandfather was in the Navy for 30 years and it made him an early riser even after he retired, he'd be up at 5 am, going for a walk, baking bread and then in bed by 9 am every night. My grandmother, on the other hand, was a bohemian, staying up late into the night, talking and drinking with friends or painting into the wee hours and sleeping till noon. Their differences made their marriage work for more than 60 years. As a child visiting them, my grandfather would take me out to breakfast in the mornings and I'd spend evenings with my grandmother, dancing to rock music and talking, looking at her beautiful paintings.
For nearly 30 years my father rose at 6am to catch the commuter rail from CT to NYC. After retiring, he almost never slept past 8am. He said "that's what happens when you spend decades married to the train."
A luminous photo by Buddy, a well deserved rest for you. Thanks so much for the daily dose of clarity and insight you bring us in these troubled times.
These glimpses into the life of the person behind the words make the words all the more resonant. And Buddy's luminous photographs leave us with a tranquil sense of place from where the words spring.
Since today’s post is a fill-in-the-blank, here’s some news about my story project. In the last few weeks it has been galloping along.
My wife gives me one appointment a week to get her advice and criticism re: progress on my project. My normally skeptical sweetheart is becoming a rabid fan of the story. During our last appointment, she shocked me by suggesting we remove the dining room table and chairs, put them in the basement, and replace with a solid tropical hardwood banker’s desk that has been hiding in storage forever. Can you believe that? She thinks we should park a desk I’ve never been able to use (lack of space, no office) in the dining area so that I can work on the book-and-movie, since there’s no office for me. I am flabbergasted. I am flabbergasted because (A) she is suggesting turning the dining area into an office for my book project and (B) clearly it’s because she is so excited about the story. Well, she’s finally seeing it my way. I have been telling her for awhile that I know it’s a world-class project, and probably the hottest thing on the planet, and now she sees the evidence and agrees.
Winning over a skeptical wife is quite a milestone. And converting the dining room to your office? WOW. Sounds like she’s all in. Congratulations on your progress.
Beautiful photo. My late husband and I were like that too. Because of him and work schedules, I tried hard to follow him. Now that he’s gone I seem to be moving more and more to my own flow. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes is makes me sad. Sweet dreams.
Buddy, thank you for this serene sunrise. With its band of water, reflection of orange light, the dark land on the horizon meets with the airy color of salmon at the start of day; a delicate crescent moon breaks prettily through the quiet blue sky and trees front the scene. There is a lot to see, and, yet, the photo reflects peace. It is a beautiful ending to an intense week.
Heather, with deep knowledge and a light hand, you took us through time using historical markers to reflect the roots and flow of the country's challenges. Your week's work needs to be reread. So much is packed on each page, and life in America today is heavy. Crosscurrents have jumped from the dictionary page as they now seem to characterize the nation's dilemma. Thank you Heather for your rich illumination at this time
Dear Dr Cox Richardson: I’m wondering if you will compile all Letters From An American into a volume at some point — they weave a story about this time, and the past, that I would like to have and pass along. History books are certainly good but your writing is interesting, compelling and draws the reader in. I much appreciate the historic context you provide.
An excellent publishing idea, similar to Dr Richardson's 18C inspiration, Hector St John de Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer." Preferably a book of LFAA keeps the current ratio of words to photos. Also hope it includes some of the best comments on the Letters.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Those of us in Buddy's camp are grateful for those of you in Dr. R's camp who keep watch into the night. As you slumber, we rise early and continue the watch til we both meet again into the day!
From April 6 through 20 we're in an impressive run of major Civil War anniversaries. No doubt there are others beyond what's here.
Apr 6-7, 1862 -- Shiloh
Apr 9, 1865 -- Appomattox
Apr 12, 1861 -- Fort Sumter
Apr 14, 1865 -- Lincoln assassinated
Apr 15, 1861 -- Lincoln calls for volunteers
Apr 20, 1861 -- Great Union Rally, 250,000 in NYC's Union Square
[E and B Long, The Civil War Day By Day]
What's needed in our current Time of Troubles is the same spirit and resolve that sustained the North in the successful effort to restore the union and destroy slavery. There will be casualties (there are already -- RIP Heather Heyer and Brian Sicknick), but this time victory can be won with far less suffering and bloodshed, a sweeter triumph.
One more piece of history I never was aware of - along with Juneteenth, and the NC "incident"! None even mentioned when I was in school, and I'm thinking that its likely none of them still are! All these grand & magnificent "stories" of our ancestors (white of course) but nothing about African Americans, Hispanics, or this countries Indians! Is it any surprise why most white Americans consider this country "exceptional"???
Shocked me, too, at first, Maggie. Now I wonder how many more stories like this there are to tell. I agree that sadly very few, if any, will be told in school. At least two of us got to read about it!
Learning something new is good at any age, but since it took me till 83 to become aware of lots of this information? Thats pretty sad in this information age, right? Thanks, Lynell. Every little bit may not help but it makes me smarter (somewhat).
Maggie, I’m a little bit younger, but more or less in the same boat. Didn’t pay a lot of attention to politics until 2015 when dt jumped into the race. Alarming! So I began to read politics to learn what he was up to. Thank goodness I discovered Heather, sometime prior to Covid. She (and all you wonderful commenters) has helped to put so much news into an historical context. I will be forever grateful for the education I am receiving here. Can’t wait to see what I’m interested in learning about when I reach 83! (If my husband’s dream comes true, it will be motorcycles lol!) Glad you’re here, Maggie!
We were in the same boat, I guess. Until the Orange Menace popped up - I always voted but other than sticking with Dems, really didnt pay that much attention. Good luck with the motorcycles - frankly, my main interest is Wild Horses & the peril they are in since I am no longer physically involved with horses. And I'm glad youre here too! I dont read ALL the comments as I used to, but now just check to see what the current topic is for the day - so to speak! Its always interesting.
Hi Lynell- another couple bits of trivia-while I was reading that article, a name cropped up: Phillip Barton Key. It mentions that he was the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. 1. Son of Francis Scott Key. 2. Had an affair with Daniel Sickles's wife, Teresa then was murdered by Sickles (yes, that CW general who screwed up@ Gettysburg). (Sickles got off w/ the very first ever insanity plea - was unhappy about HER affair but was an utter hypocrite since he'd had many affairs himself.)
The Sickles trial was also one of the last successful Temporary Insanity defenses, as the legal system recognized the potential for abuse. In theory TI could excuse almost any crime.
Midafternoon, TPJ. I missed Shiloh and Appomattox, but thanks to your calendar of events, I won't miss the rest. My father bought a piece of property near Appomattox back in 1948. We visited there often. Sorry I wasn't as tuned in then than I would be now.
I've read about the CW my whole life, but as a lifelong New England Yankee (not NY) it wasn't til 2011, in my mid-50s, that I saw any battlefields. My relatives live in Fairfax CO so we visited 4 in 3 days. For us the day after Thanksgiving is History Friday. 1st-2nd Bull Run (not Manassas); Chantilly 3 mi from uncle's home; Gettysburg. Like the Red Sox winning world series, it just makes me hungry for more.
Don't forget Antietam! Rode horseback for part of Bull Run and Gettysburg. Hardly scratches the surface, though! Haven't been to any in quite some time now. Like that idea of History Friday.
Contributing a fresh post on Twitter of a Reconstruction era photo of an integrated jury for the trial of Confederate States president Jefferson Davis, acquitted before standing trial.
Same time zone issues at our house but we’re both retired so we do share some afternoon and early evening time. Since we’re both introverts, we each get our required alone time. Ain’t love grand!!!!
I was lucky enough to catch the same moon view Thursday morning at about 5:30, in California. I love seeing how it looked in Maine. Thanks so much for this, and for your wonderful, insightful letters.
We call it “ships passing in the night.” I get home from work around 4 a.m., then in the afternoon I’m up and about and gearing up while my wife is winding down. Ah well, like someone else said, we’re both introverts so it serves us well. For now. Retirement is coming up, then things will change.
After my dad “retired,” he became an inventor and worked from home. One day I asked where Mom was. He didn’t know. In response to my raised eyebrows, Dad said they had married “for better or for worse, but not for lunch.” My parents had a storybook happy marriage for 71 years.
Good morning, Lynell! I always enjoy reading your comments. It’s early morning here and this introvert is savoring my alone time with Heather and you all before facing the day and an awake (as opposed to woke) husband. I love to be around people and often try to make them laugh, so folks think I’m an extrovert. Truth is, this both delights and then exhausts me. I need to refuel by being alone.
Morning, MaryB!! Sometimes my comments fall short, but thanks for reading anyway. I, too, like that still of early morning when we can dive deeply into HCR's Letters and then read the perspectives of all of us. And I've been told I make people laugh, but I'm pretty sure it's not the same as the way you make them laugh!
Some of us out in this great big world are, simply put, 'little'...I've learned it's ok to be an indian, we can't all be chiefs! Or rock stars! My path in life is to be a worker bee and to be of service to others. And I'm ok with that. I am very glad to have come across LFAA. as I have said before, it gives me food for thought and balm for the soul. It is such an outstanding community, intelligent and FUNNY! I learn so much. I am deeply grateful. YOUR GLASSES ARE FINE! I've been 'br' for 46 years.
Good morning Lynell sweetheart. Yes, I am an introvert. Type 5 in the Enneagram. Loner and love my privacy. And a double Leo, go figure, probably only one in the world with that combination. It means I am a writer and investigator with social skills who no one would guess is a hermit; you’re not the first to be surprised, happens all the time.
I looked up Enneagram which is new to me,, and Introvert is not among its nine "interconnected personality types." That sounds like an escape clause, not exactly (Max) Weberian ideal types. The Enneagram majority have positive or admirable traits, according well with my optimistic view of human nature, but I wonder how realistic it is. Again thanks to LFAAers, I know more and need to learn more.
I read the book "Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. She has a story about a college professor so passionate about his subject matter than he's an extrovert in the classroom. Complete hermit when he retired.
I wish I had read this book while my spouse was still living. He was an introvert & this book explained a lot about how introverts prefer to deal with the world. I thought I was an extrovert, but I'm not...more in the middle (ambivert). My granddaughter who was born 9 months 2 weeks after my husband passed. She's got his introvertness...
Getting through the relative isolation of the year of COVID-19 (non-essential-worker) has definitely brought out my inner introvert, who has now rebelled against many of the zoom sessions that filled my time at first. Yesterday I walked and walked, soaking in the beauty of the flowering trees, and the pleasure of being alone without a shred of guilt over it. Same agenda for today - walking and reading - although with warmer clothes, as the temp dropped 20 degrees overnight.
My grandparents had a similar routine, my grandfather was in the Navy for 30 years and it made him an early riser even after he retired, he'd be up at 5 am, going for a walk, baking bread and then in bed by 9 am every night. My grandmother, on the other hand, was a bohemian, staying up late into the night, talking and drinking with friends or painting into the wee hours and sleeping till noon. Their differences made their marriage work for more than 60 years. As a child visiting them, my grandfather would take me out to breakfast in the mornings and I'd spend evenings with my grandmother, dancing to rock music and talking, looking at her beautiful paintings.
Oh, Stephanie, how lucky you ... and they ... were! They sound like just the most fabulous couple imaginable!
Morning, Stephanie!! Must be your grandfather that I "see" on my early riser routine. I celebrate your navigation between the two of them...what fun!
Wonderful memories Stephanie😊
Beautiful story, thank you.
Son of a Seaman and Grandson of a dairy farmer, here.
Early mornings are in my blood and I’m grateful for it. And yes, it helps if your partner enjoys a different perspective.
For nearly 30 years my father rose at 6am to catch the commuter rail from CT to NYC. After retiring, he almost never slept past 8am. He said "that's what happens when you spend decades married to the train."
Thank you for this ❤️
Lucky you!!! Best of both worlds!
A luminous photo by Buddy, a well deserved rest for you. Thanks so much for the daily dose of clarity and insight you bring us in these troubled times.
These glimpses into the life of the person behind the words make the words all the more resonant. And Buddy's luminous photographs leave us with a tranquil sense of place from where the words spring.
His, the sun
Yours, the moon
Such soft keen light
As you inhabit
A single sky
R...Such perfection in so few words.
I'm happy it resonated with you.
Insightful and incredibly beautiful.
Thank you.
Thank you, Danna.
Love this poem so concise and beautiful thank you
It is very nice of you to say - thanks.
Thanks Heather for sharing this wonderful photo from Buddy. Also, thank you for all you do. Much appreciated.
Be safe, be well always.
Unexpected bonus of the Biden Presidency: Heather gets a weekly night off and we get a weekly photo from Buddy Poland!
Since today’s post is a fill-in-the-blank, here’s some news about my story project. In the last few weeks it has been galloping along.
My wife gives me one appointment a week to get her advice and criticism re: progress on my project. My normally skeptical sweetheart is becoming a rabid fan of the story. During our last appointment, she shocked me by suggesting we remove the dining room table and chairs, put them in the basement, and replace with a solid tropical hardwood banker’s desk that has been hiding in storage forever. Can you believe that? She thinks we should park a desk I’ve never been able to use (lack of space, no office) in the dining area so that I can work on the book-and-movie, since there’s no office for me. I am flabbergasted. I am flabbergasted because (A) she is suggesting turning the dining area into an office for my book project and (B) clearly it’s because she is so excited about the story. Well, she’s finally seeing it my way. I have been telling her for awhile that I know it’s a world-class project, and probably the hottest thing on the planet, and now she sees the evidence and agrees.
You never know what’s going to happen next.
Winning over a skeptical wife is quite a milestone. And converting the dining room to your office? WOW. Sounds like she’s all in. Congratulations on your progress.
No doubt she has helpful advice. Maybe you're finally seeing things her way?
Love it! Can't wait. Cheers to your wife for such support!
Go for it. Dream big! Best wishes.
Beautiful photo. My late husband and I were like that too. Because of him and work schedules, I tried hard to follow him. Now that he’s gone I seem to be moving more and more to my own flow. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes is makes me sad. Sweet dreams.
Buddy, thank you for this serene sunrise. With its band of water, reflection of orange light, the dark land on the horizon meets with the airy color of salmon at the start of day; a delicate crescent moon breaks prettily through the quiet blue sky and trees front the scene. There is a lot to see, and, yet, the photo reflects peace. It is a beautiful ending to an intense week.
Heather, with deep knowledge and a light hand, you took us through time using historical markers to reflect the roots and flow of the country's challenges. Your week's work needs to be reread. So much is packed on each page, and life in America today is heavy. Crosscurrents have jumped from the dictionary page as they now seem to characterize the nation's dilemma. Thank you Heather for your rich illumination at this time
Dear Dr Cox Richardson: I’m wondering if you will compile all Letters From An American into a volume at some point — they weave a story about this time, and the past, that I would like to have and pass along. History books are certainly good but your writing is interesting, compelling and draws the reader in. I much appreciate the historic context you provide.
Many thanks
An excellent publishing idea, similar to Dr Richardson's 18C inspiration, Hector St John de Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer." Preferably a book of LFAA keeps the current ratio of words to photos. Also hope it includes some of the best comments on the Letters.
Buddy takes beautiful photos!
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Those of us in Buddy's camp are grateful for those of you in Dr. R's camp who keep watch into the night. As you slumber, we rise early and continue the watch til we both meet again into the day!
P.S. I hope Buddy never loses his camera!
There's always the phone, but photos not as good. Accept no substitute.
From April 6 through 20 we're in an impressive run of major Civil War anniversaries. No doubt there are others beyond what's here.
Apr 6-7, 1862 -- Shiloh
Apr 9, 1865 -- Appomattox
Apr 12, 1861 -- Fort Sumter
Apr 14, 1865 -- Lincoln assassinated
Apr 15, 1861 -- Lincoln calls for volunteers
Apr 20, 1861 -- Great Union Rally, 250,000 in NYC's Union Square
[E and B Long, The Civil War Day By Day]
What's needed in our current Time of Troubles is the same spirit and resolve that sustained the North in the successful effort to restore the union and destroy slavery. There will be casualties (there are already -- RIP Heather Heyer and Brian Sicknick), but this time victory can be won with far less suffering and bloodshed, a sweeter triumph.
Morning, again, TPJ!! As a precursor to the war, Remember The Pearl, April 15, 1848: https://congressionalcemetery.org/2019/02/14/the-pearl/
One more piece of history I never was aware of - along with Juneteenth, and the NC "incident"! None even mentioned when I was in school, and I'm thinking that its likely none of them still are! All these grand & magnificent "stories" of our ancestors (white of course) but nothing about African Americans, Hispanics, or this countries Indians! Is it any surprise why most white Americans consider this country "exceptional"???
Shocked me, too, at first, Maggie. Now I wonder how many more stories like this there are to tell. I agree that sadly very few, if any, will be told in school. At least two of us got to read about it!
Learning something new is good at any age, but since it took me till 83 to become aware of lots of this information? Thats pretty sad in this information age, right? Thanks, Lynell. Every little bit may not help but it makes me smarter (somewhat).
Maggie, I’m a little bit younger, but more or less in the same boat. Didn’t pay a lot of attention to politics until 2015 when dt jumped into the race. Alarming! So I began to read politics to learn what he was up to. Thank goodness I discovered Heather, sometime prior to Covid. She (and all you wonderful commenters) has helped to put so much news into an historical context. I will be forever grateful for the education I am receiving here. Can’t wait to see what I’m interested in learning about when I reach 83! (If my husband’s dream comes true, it will be motorcycles lol!) Glad you’re here, Maggie!
We were in the same boat, I guess. Until the Orange Menace popped up - I always voted but other than sticking with Dems, really didnt pay that much attention. Good luck with the motorcycles - frankly, my main interest is Wild Horses & the peril they are in since I am no longer physically involved with horses. And I'm glad youre here too! I dont read ALL the comments as I used to, but now just check to see what the current topic is for the day - so to speak! Its always interesting.
Hi Lynell- another couple bits of trivia-while I was reading that article, a name cropped up: Phillip Barton Key. It mentions that he was the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. 1. Son of Francis Scott Key. 2. Had an affair with Daniel Sickles's wife, Teresa then was murdered by Sickles (yes, that CW general who screwed up@ Gettysburg). (Sickles got off w/ the very first ever insanity plea - was unhappy about HER affair but was an utter hypocrite since he'd had many affairs himself.)
The Sickles trial was also one of the last successful Temporary Insanity defenses, as the legal system recognized the potential for abuse. In theory TI could excuse almost any crime.
Oh, my goodness, Barbara! Not surprised this one didn't make it into our history books! Thanks for sharing.
Aftermorning Lynell, and good catch!! I can't remember a date I never knew, having only learned a bit about The Pearl incident last month.
Midafternoon, TPJ. I missed Shiloh and Appomattox, but thanks to your calendar of events, I won't miss the rest. My father bought a piece of property near Appomattox back in 1948. We visited there often. Sorry I wasn't as tuned in then than I would be now.
I've read about the CW my whole life, but as a lifelong New England Yankee (not NY) it wasn't til 2011, in my mid-50s, that I saw any battlefields. My relatives live in Fairfax CO so we visited 4 in 3 days. For us the day after Thanksgiving is History Friday. 1st-2nd Bull Run (not Manassas); Chantilly 3 mi from uncle's home; Gettysburg. Like the Red Sox winning world series, it just makes me hungry for more.
Don't forget Antietam! Rode horseback for part of Bull Run and Gettysburg. Hardly scratches the surface, though! Haven't been to any in quite some time now. Like that idea of History Friday.
Contributing a fresh post on Twitter of a Reconstruction era photo of an integrated jury for the trial of Confederate States president Jefferson Davis, acquitted before standing trial.
https://twitter.com/profcsanders/status/1377771164328734720?s=21
Wow! That picture is something I've never seen or heard about before! Thank you for sharing.
Same time zone issues at our house but we’re both retired so we do share some afternoon and early evening time. Since we’re both introverts, we each get our required alone time. Ain’t love grand!!!!
I was lucky enough to catch the same moon view Thursday morning at about 5:30, in California. I love seeing how it looked in Maine. Thanks so much for this, and for your wonderful, insightful letters.
We call it “ships passing in the night.” I get home from work around 4 a.m., then in the afternoon I’m up and about and gearing up while my wife is winding down. Ah well, like someone else said, we’re both introverts so it serves us well. For now. Retirement is coming up, then things will change.
After my dad “retired,” he became an inventor and worked from home. One day I asked where Mom was. He didn’t know. In response to my raised eyebrows, Dad said they had married “for better or for worse, but not for lunch.” My parents had a storybook happy marriage for 71 years.
Your father's response: priceless!
Lynell 100%. Joan, I wish I could have hung out with your dad.
He was a wonderful man. I miss him, a lot.
Morning, Roland!! You, an introvert? Wow!!
Good morning, Lynell! I always enjoy reading your comments. It’s early morning here and this introvert is savoring my alone time with Heather and you all before facing the day and an awake (as opposed to woke) husband. I love to be around people and often try to make them laugh, so folks think I’m an extrovert. Truth is, this both delights and then exhausts me. I need to refuel by being alone.
Morning, MaryB!! Sometimes my comments fall short, but thanks for reading anyway. I, too, like that still of early morning when we can dive deeply into HCR's Letters and then read the perspectives of all of us. And I've been told I make people laugh, but I'm pretty sure it's not the same as the way you make them laugh!
You are both marvelous!
br, happy to see you on screen and for the compliment. I always look for your astute comments.
With those lower case letters of yours, br, I feel compelled to check your level of self-esteem, or I need to get a new pair of glasses!
Some of us out in this great big world are, simply put, 'little'...I've learned it's ok to be an indian, we can't all be chiefs! Or rock stars! My path in life is to be a worker bee and to be of service to others. And I'm ok with that. I am very glad to have come across LFAA. as I have said before, it gives me food for thought and balm for the soul. It is such an outstanding community, intelligent and FUNNY! I learn so much. I am deeply grateful. YOUR GLASSES ARE FINE! I've been 'br' for 46 years.
GLASSES, CAN YOU READ THIS?
I beg your pardon. What are you talking about? I for one, laugh with you!
That's two more thank-you's going to your in-basket, Fern!
Morning Lynell!! Laughing with you, not at you.
TPJ, it's you we depend on to make us laugh...accompanied by song every now and again, which always lifts my spirits.
Awake not woke😂🙏🏼
Agree with Mitzi—that was funny!
Good morning Lynell sweetheart. Yes, I am an introvert. Type 5 in the Enneagram. Loner and love my privacy. And a double Leo, go figure, probably only one in the world with that combination. It means I am a writer and investigator with social skills who no one would guess is a hermit; you’re not the first to be surprised, happens all the time.
I looked up Enneagram which is new to me,, and Introvert is not among its nine "interconnected personality types." That sounds like an escape clause, not exactly (Max) Weberian ideal types. The Enneagram majority have positive or admirable traits, according well with my optimistic view of human nature, but I wonder how realistic it is. Again thanks to LFAAers, I know more and need to learn more.
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/webers-ideal-types-definition-meaning-purpose-and-use/43758
I checked out The Nine Enneagram Type Descriptions and couldn't find myself. Then I looked in the closest, of course!
I read the book "Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. She has a story about a college professor so passionate about his subject matter than he's an extrovert in the classroom. Complete hermit when he retired.
I wish I had read this book while my spouse was still living. He was an introvert & this book explained a lot about how introverts prefer to deal with the world. I thought I was an extrovert, but I'm not...more in the middle (ambivert). My granddaughter who was born 9 months 2 weeks after my husband passed. She's got his introvertness...
Yes, if "introverted" means considerate, communicative, quick-witted and articulate, then Roland is an introvert.
...and talkative?
Getting through the relative isolation of the year of COVID-19 (non-essential-worker) has definitely brought out my inner introvert, who has now rebelled against many of the zoom sessions that filled my time at first. Yesterday I walked and walked, soaking in the beauty of the flowering trees, and the pleasure of being alone without a shred of guilt over it. Same agenda for today - walking and reading - although with warmer clothes, as the temp dropped 20 degrees overnight.
Morning, Joan!! You go, girl, with your walking and reading!
Thank you for the morning laugh, Lynell. You tell it well.
Morning, Fern!! I'll see your thank you and raise you two more!
Welcome back, man. LFAA has endured a break from Rolandiana in the last few days.