In The Devils Garden - A Review by D. Vour - 4 of 4 revised

 Review and Commentary by D. Vour

 Gourmand, & Food Critic, at “The Home"

 “In The Devils Garden - A Sinful History Of Forbidden Food”

by Stewart Lee Allen --  Ballantine Books 

Chapter Four – Conclusion

*

How we prepare foods is a big part of the food taboo story. Rules and recipes abound on precise ways to make, bake and prepare things 'legally'. Variations – authorized or unauthorized – have caused chaos, and all hell breaking loose when food violations occur. 

The Roman Catholic church, and Greek Orthodox church for example. Someone added yeast to the recipe to the communion wafers, and made little mini loafs instead of wafers, and war broke out between the factions 'til they split, a schism lasting over 900 years, until resolved in the 1960's... all that drama over a touch of some yeast bacteria - it's quite a remarkable story!

Great Chefs are almost a modern form of high priest today, but they have always held special places in society throughout the centuries. 

In some cultures the highest chef was even made the King-Priest! There is a direct symbolic relationship to a priest giving a wafer, and a chef serving a meal! 

Chefs are our modern high priests! Each one teasing us with greater and greater culinary heights and delights, vying with each other in social acceptance, and celebrity, like modern day gunslingers, each pulling us into their orbit of gastronomic experimentation with nearly spiritual food experiences! 

Each modern bite prepared by these wizards of food prep, can be virtually a quasi-religious-spiritual and orgasmic experience at once! 

Modern chefs are expanding culinary horizons to places seemingly without rules .. can this mean the end of civilization as we know it?... Are new rules evolving? Perhaps the yardstick has simply been temporarily pulled out, like a golf flag, but will be moved a bit farther out ?

Every food we enjoy today has been banned in history at some point. Garlic and onions could bring a death penalty, as have at one time or another, eggs, all types of meats, vegetables, almost every spice, many methods of preparation, and even what ingredients may, or may not, be used to 'correctly make' something - some even had punishments worse than instant death for the hapless chef (often in horrible ways related to the ill used food.. boiling in oil, roasting in an oven, or flayed and cooked along with the meal, or buried in salt!) The famous French Chef to Louis the 14^th – Vatel, is noted to have committed suicide by falling on his sword when the fish to be served ... arrived a half hour late for the Kings dinner !

Each of the seven sins is well covered here with great erudition and wit .. and it reads easily and quickly .. perfect for a kindle and limited read time .. short segments tied together for easy chapters on Lust, Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, Greed, Envy, and Anger, and he even offers an intriguing 8^th sin – “When Everything Is Allowed, And Nothing Has Flavor.” !

This whole idea of forbidden foods bumps up against a future where we currently have vast foodie 'lawlessness' – where the classic rules are tossed out in ever more adventurous culinary feats. In severe contrast, this trend is fighting against a growing wasteland of corporate food conformity.

Modern attitudes to dining, encourage creative chefs to reach out and try new things; allowing, and encouraging the meeting of disparate ingredients not traditionally used together, breaking new ground, and food laws too, whilst seeking exotic flavor profiles, and ever more complex taste horizons. 

These valiant modern priest-chefs seek to sate the demand for 'Amuse-bouche's and 'tasting' menus that are more over the top than the previous efforts. 

Battalions, and cadres of new young chefs work to fulfill ever exotic culinary demands by modern gourmands – in some irony – or homage – mirroring the extreme explorations of olden time chefs trying to meet the demands for sumptuous meals and feasts of their own times. Now, good foods are in reach of everyone, and no longer consigned to the rarefied dining of only the aristocracy.

However, on the other side of that approach, could we just as easily be facing a looming and darker corporate food future in the not too distant future; one fraught with the dangers of mass food conformity, trying to feed the increasing masses? 

This portends a dreary corporate sterility – a world without many food options – everything cardboard flavored, but “approved”? ("Soylent Green" comes to mind !?)

We have to be watchful about our modern food rules, laws, and taboos. We could just as easily be evolving to a place where the only foods being offering are those officially approved! No other foods need apply! Whoever controls the food chain controls this issue.

Where do you stand on food conformity, or genetic modifications, or mass production of your grub? The western food supply lines are getting more and more tenuous, in spite of the amazing range of seeming abundance, and choices that we enjoy in fancy western markets. 

Will our modern western cornucopia endure forever? Genetic modified grains, droughts, severe weather and storms, global climate changes, all will play a role in our food supply in years to come. Are we prepared for it?

What about places in the world that barely have one item of food for the masses; limited local grains, rice, or corn - and that's it!? Do we need to have guilt about our abundance of choice, while others have none? Is this a form of subjugation that we unwittingly play a part in ? Food laws and taboos are ever evolving, and challenging us all to stay alert and aware.

There are forces at play that want to control your food, and all your ideas about food, thus controlling your thoughts and emotions especially, so that you buy and eat what “they” want you to. Food taboos and laws are the means to control you !

It's a crazy, modern, adventurous, and even dangerous food world out there, but delicious and exciting, good, and wholesome foods still await the adventurous – enjoy, but be sure to follow the rules, and remember, only allow your “right” foods in !

End

In The Devils Garden - A Review by D. Vour - 3 of 4 revised

 Review and Commentary by D. Vour

 Gourmand, & Food Critic, at “The Home"

 “In The Devils Garden - A Sinful History Of Forbidden Food”

by Stewart Lee Allen --  Ballantine Books 

Chapter Three – of Four

*

Food is a powerful tool, for good and evil; used to control people through virtually every civilization, religion, region, state, and even across continents. Throughout history for example, limiting – or preventing – certain foods has allowed subjugation of the poor.

The true story of the white potato is heartbreaking .. and I thought I knew about the Irish potato famine. I learned the tragedy was put in motion many years before, when grains were restricted, or priced out of reach, or forbidden. The English - used the white potato to subjugate the Irish, and control them. Believing the white potato was not fit for humans, it was forced -- by law --  as the only crop allowed to be grown by the 'subhuman' Irish. 

Grains were virtually non existent, and at times illegal to posses, making the lowly 'tater the only food source. When the potato blight hit, destroying all the potatoes, and ruining the only food source, it doomed millions to perish from starvation. 

There was no grain to fill the void! The resulting migration to 'greener pastures' brought millions to North America, and anywhere ...  that wasn't Ireland. The Irish were amazed at our 'land of plenty', which was certainly a remarkable, and welcome, contrast to the old country. It's no accident that the early Irish in North America settled where grains grow well !

Who you feed, invite to dinner, or don’t invite, has, each, been the cause of wars and social unrest. Religions with castes for example; if one invites another from a higher caste, they have just redefined that person as a caste lower! .. and in some cases such an invitation can bring a death penalty. 

It pays to know your place – literally .. in the 'food chain' ! Surprisingly, food has even been used in lieu of wars – to prevent fighting – there is an anecdote about a state that believes whoever throws the biggest most lavish gluttonous feast wins – when the last person can't put in one more morsel of food!

Food has been used to pit one religion against another – or even within a religion. I was unaware that the Roman Catholic Church, and Orthodox Greek split apart for over 900 years over the serious philosophical argument about the use of 'yeast', or 'no yeast' in the baking of communion wafers!

We begin to see food as a primary force, moving, shaking, controlling, and shaping history. There have been food laws in every time and place throughout history; Aboriginal, Native American, European, Middle Eastern, Asian, and every known place around the globe. You name it, and virtually every society, culture, religion and civilization, has rules or laws about foods. There are laws to 'use', or 'not use', almost every ingestible ingredient in history. Food has played a dominant role in shaping the times, and places of history, and even all human evolution !

Everything that can be ingested has been used to control manipulate, or stimulate, in some way in its past -- you name it – there are factions on both sides of it ! Virtually every single thing you get at a modern grocery store or restaurant, has detractors, or proponents: for good or bad, either currently, or in the past. In ancient times, many things that you can't even believe could be eaten today, were prized and controlled. All foods have had their unique moment in time, and place.

... to be continued..

In The Devils Garden - A Review by D. Vour - 2 of 4 revised

 Review and Commentary by D. Vour

 Gourmand, & Food Critic, at “The Home"

 “In The Devils Garden - A Sinful History Of Forbidden Food”

by Stewart Lee Allen --  Ballantine Books 

Chapter Two – of Four

*

We all have favorite foods, and some have traditional places in time, season, or related superstitions ... have you ever tossed salt over your shoulder? Ever been curious why bacon, eggs, toast, and cereal are considered just for breakfast? They weren't for centuries. How did that evolve? We have classic and traditional holiday meals – Turkey feast at thanksgiving comes to mind, or a Christmas Goose, Ham at Easter, even 'Day of the Dead' feasts for the Mexican culture. We all have foods made to celebrate various religious dates. This goes back past ancient Egypt, the Romans, and Greeks.. who have each successively co-opted the others holy day feasts … unto modern times.

Many years ago I saw an intriguing documentary on foods – exploring the idea that food was a big factor why the ancient Roman soldier was so successful. 

They contrasted what the Roman army ate against the sumptuous banquets and the omnivorous diet of the aristocracy; warrior food, versus royal food. 

The documentary recreated the soldiers recipes from ancient cookbooks, prepared, and reviewed the flavors of the foods – even checked nutritional values – It was all quite different than modern times I assure you. 

The food and flavors would never be accepted today, - using herbs, and plants,and ingredients that in modern days would never cross your lips, but were popular favorites of the Roman troops of the day. Flavors that would make a modern person gag. Overripe and putrid foods, and just 'nasty stuff'. Some dishes and sauces were too nasty and not edible ... even by the TV crew. 

However, the idea that one type of food was only acceptable to certain classes was an eye opener to this omnivorous writer … I never followed up on this interesting idea until this book arrived .. but I digress..

I will try to give a sense of the depth and scope of this insanely fun, informative and equally challenging tome. There is a remarkable range of food information covered, and I doubt that I will ever think about any food in the same way ever again. 

The author - Steward Lee Allen – makes wonderful and remarkably intriguing connections, and tells amazing and fascinating stories of how foods have been used to shape history. He utilizes a clever format for the sections, the seven deadly sins. 

He ties these sins to an incredible array of foods and ideas; religious, political, and social. He offers great anecdotes about how these foods have come to associated with the appropriate sins. With 10 pages of fine print bibliography, it is very well researched. 

This book reads like a travelogue around the globe, but through time and places, past and present, covering the four corners. and several ancient civilizations !

Each chapter starts with an appropriate menu to that sin, and there are a few incredible recipes offered from the menus, all done with a delightful bit of tongue in cheek wit liberally applied, reflecting a modern twist on some interesting old foods or drinks – all worth trying at home. Absinthe with Champagne sounded pretty interesting. All look fun, some for curiosity, some because they still taste great ! .

This is a complicated tale of how food has played a role in evolving everything – all aspects of history -- not just physical history, but the whole evolution of our core religious, sociological, anthropological, political, emotional and psychological beliefs! It's a tale of how these ideas and beliefs can be manipulated by society, social organizations, corporations and religions, to affect what we believe, and thus ultimately in modern times : how we buy, eat and see the products we get – often symbolically.

Ketchup, is our modern metaphor for 'blood' (representing a fresh kill when we go out 'hunting' for food -ie driving for a burger). We learn that salads are traditionally 'woman’s food'. As an historical fact, at one time in the 1800's, women were only allowed to eat salads.. meat was forbidden, thus today, commercials selling salads feature women, because we have been inculcated by time and DNA, and traditions, that salads are for 'women folk'.

Conversely, meat is for men. We only see 'He-men' at a BBQ grill in TV meat commercials ! (how would you feel seeing a woman grilling a steak, or a football player eating a dainty salad in those commercials?) - these feelings are created and manipulated to make us think a certain way, by promoting or prohibiting foods! We even have had restrictions on what we can eat on certain days; meatless Monday, fish on Friday. Marketeers know that everyone likes to break rules .. so if it is 'forbidden' or Taboo, you will crave it. We tend to give higher marks to food we feel guilty about. Ever feel guilty eating something? That was because you were manipulated to feel that guilt.. and guilt sells! If you put a warning label on food .. the sales surge ! Why?

This book helps us understand a lot of those why's !

... to be continued..

In The Devils Garden - A Review by D. Vour - 1 of 4 revised

Review and Commentary by D. Vour 

 Gourmand, & Food Critic, at “The Home"

 “In The Devils Garden - A Sinful History Of Forbidden Food”

by Stewart Lee Allen --  Ballantine Books 

Chapter One of Four 

*

I just finished reading one of the most interesting books I've ever come across. 

I found it completely by accident as these things usually do, I was looking for another book with a similar title, but mis-typed the search, and by pure synchronicity,   'The Devils Garden' popped up. I saw that it was a history of forbidden food .. which immediately caught my fancy, how fascinating .. !?

I checked it out from the library, and started reading the prologue. I was instantly... hooked -- line and sinker too ! 

I could see that I was going to be caught up in an exciting maelstrom of swirling new ideas to me about food: Taboos ! 

Food as social engineering – who knew? How could we not be fascinated with forbidden foods? What foods are forbidden? I quickly wondered to myself – hmm … religious food bans of course,(or curse?) - but nothing else came immediately to mind. 

After reading a few paragraphs, I realized that this was covering way more than just ...  'don’t eat pork'! 

I saw a comment about  a taboo to enjoy, and a taboo to not enjoy, whilst eating ?!? This begs the question, if it's a taboo or sin to enjoy food, and a taboo or sin not to enjoy food – which side are you on: Saint, or Devil ? hehehe ;) With food, don’t both views have allure? 

I love food preparation and cooking stuff, and have always had a curiosity about foods people have eaten in bygone days. What did a Roman soldier eat? What was the palette of the ancients ? 

Likewise, I've been curious why certain foods are always identified with people or places; think of sauerkraut, and Germany comes to mind, think wine – et voila, La Belle France, and pasta is  “Italian”. Of course today, these stereotypes are of no consequence as  items come from everywhere, but we still think of them as things associated or related to those people, cultures, or places. 

What do you think of first, if I say 'watermelon', 'garlic', curry, or 'sweet potato pie' ? 

I suspect that cultural factors reflect your personal view of these; Chinese food was only for special occasions. Garlic, when I was a kid, was avoided in school as being just for 'Italians, as was the dreaded salami sandwich – garlic breath brought ostracism and social 'death'. 

Curry was a weird 'foreign food'. I didn’t eat curry 'til I got to college. 

Watermelon somehow ascribes to poor southern culture, as does 'fried chicken' – even while both are readily available anywhere around the world, and equally popular or famous in Beijing and Beirut ! What about the poor and oft maligned sweet potato, (and sweet potato pie, which is not quite as popular as its' pumpkin pie cousin)?.

The lowly sweet potato was once a product allowed for european royalty only, and now in modern times, it is thought of as something more for 'poor folks'. In spite of this, the sweet potato is becoming respectable and trendy with modern foodies again. The sweet potato, and other veggies are seeing a re-surging popularity among the hip young organic crowd. 

You could not give kale away 10 years ago. Its only use was decoration on a salad bar. Now kale is everywhere, and in everything !? 

Our ideas about food are constantly evolving! We do assign our belief structure to our foods. Would you eat a live baby octopus ? Apparently, this is quite popular in Korea – but not so much here in USA.!? ... my point exactly!. 

One mans meat,  is another mans throat choker - err - I mean 'poison'! 

Snail, grubs, brains, offal, sweetmeats, organ meat, wild game, bush meat : how do you feel about eating these ? 

What emotions are stirred pondering a bite of fried insects or bush meat? 

These emotions are used to control us, by making certain foods "approved", or "taboos". 

 This tale is brilliantly told with compactness and alacrity. The scope is remarkable, making connections, and contrasts with the ancient and modern views on our constantly evolving and changing attitudes, rules, and laws about food, and food items. There are amazing and incredible histories and anecdotes into the whys and wherefores of how these taboos, superstitions, and traditions have come about … and usually not what you previously expected or believed ! 

End of part 1 ... to be continued..

El Rancho S-OH-S Part 14 by KimB

Episode Counting Rocks

Between a Rock and ...  Water?

One of the interesting aspects of having unimproved land is that it is UNIMPROVED. Meaning: there isn't anything there that hasn't been there since the dirt was invented. There maybe the occasional leftover of some prior attempt at making nature better but for the most part It Is What It Is and You Get What's There or Not.

A long time friend gave me a wonderful gift last holiday season, something totally unexpected and the surprise just about knocked me over when I opened it up. The gift was funding for a project on the lot. A small project, something easily accomplished. Something to make the lot a fun destination. Something to help the us enjoy the lot during the hot summers after COVID-19 lock downs end and going up the mountain can be a more frequent occurrence.

I spent a good amount of time mulling over which of the many projects would be a good target. The majority of projects are Big Number Projects. They require a large amount of investment and can become complicated quickly, requiring additional funding. Everyone who has attempted to do such development has found out quickly that the amounts needed can expand faster than Harry Potter's Aunt Marge.

I decided that a small concrete patio sitting area would fit the budget and the needs. Something not too large, but usable. Designed with the potential to do more later but would be more than sufficient for having a nice picnic on the mountain, enjoying the view, the trees, the smell of sages and watching the birds, hawks and wild turkeys as they make surprise appearances swooping across the sky, stalking through the grasses or, as Chaucer put it, smale foweles maken melodye.

After playing more than a decade of a video game that has detailed simulated crafting as a primary activity, you learn that what in the USA is called interchangeably Concrete or Cement, is really 2 separate items: Cement is the powder base, to which you add gravel and then it becomes Concrete, ready to use by adding water.

You can remember which one is which because:

CONCRETE has an R in it for ROCKS and READY TO USE.

One of the unexpected aspects is that small projects do not mean easy projects. Since the budget is small, you also have to find someone who will do small projects too. While finding a good contractor for big projects is sometimes a challenge; finding one for small projects can be equally challenging. Fortunately my contacts on the mountain, all know each other and a referral was made to someone who didn't mind doing smaller jobs.

We met (socially distanced and masked) and given the limited budget, we spent a good while reviewing possibilities. We settled on a perfect location, and suggestions were made about the layout of, what is in fact, a very small patio and some items that could be included for the next project.

Act 1 Scene 14 Rocks and Water
sound effect: birds chirping

Moi	Are you planning on using concrete?
Stone	Yes it's the fastest way to get the patio.
Moi	How do you plan to make the concrete?
Stone	I will rent one of the concrete mixers and buy bags of premixed concrete.
Moi	The bags with the gravel already in it?
Stone	Yes
Moi	You know there is no electricity here?
Stone	No problem, I will bring a generator to run the mixer.
Moi	You know there is no water either?

End Act 1 Scene 14 Rocks and Water
sound effect: smale foweles maken melodye

Picnic Patio

MrsB: 99 Years and More to Come! by KimB

MrsB: 99 Years!!!

and More to Come!

June 15 marks MrsB's 99th Birthday and WE could not be happier! It is a milestone for sure and MrsB has been having an entire weeklong celebration with family and friends. Lots of cards, letters, flowers and hoopla all week. Special presents of trees, cakes and more chickens for the farm-in-the-backyard along with the requsit sing alongs and cheers entertaining both MrsB and the neighbors!

MrsB has seen a lot of goings on during her lifetime and here is a summary of some of the world events that have happened.

MrsB June 2021

Presidents

• Presidency of Warren G. Harding #29, March 4, 1921 - August 2, 1923
• Presidency of Calvin Coolidge #30, August 2, 1923 - March 4, 1929
• Presidency of Herbert Hoover #31, March 4, 1929 - March 4, 1933
• Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt #32, March 4, 1933 - April 12, 1945
• Presidency of Harry S. Truman #33, April 12, 1945 - January 20, 1953
• Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower #34, January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1961
• Presidency of John F. Kennedy #35, January 20, 1961 - November 22, 1963
• Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson #36, November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969
• Presidency of Richard Nixon #37, January 20, 1969 - August 9, 1974
• Presidency of Gerald Ford #38, August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977
• Presidency of Jimmy Carter #39, January 20, 1977 - January 20, 1981
• Presidency of Ronald Reagan #40, January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989
• Presidency of George H. W. Bush #41, January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993
• Presidency of Bill Clinton #42, January 20, 1993 - January 20, 2001
• Presidency of George W. Bush #43, January 20, 2001 - January 20, 2009
• Presidency of Barack Obama #44, January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2017
• Presidency of Donald Trump #45, January 20, 2017 - January 20, 2021
• Presidency of Joe Biden #46, January 20, 2021 - ''Incumbent''

Events

• 1922 – Lincoln Memorial is dedicated
• 1923 – Teapot Dome scandal
• 1924 – J. Edgar Hoover is appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• 1925 – Scopes Trial
• 1926 – The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is published.
• 1927 – Charles Lindbergh makes first trans–Atlantic flight
• 1927 – Babe Ruth hits a record 60 home runs in a single season
• 1928 – Disney's Steamboat Willie opens, the first animated picture to feature Mickey Mouse
• 1928 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
• 1929 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets a record 68 points over a two–day period, setting off the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and triggering the Great Depression
• 1929 – The Great Depression starts
• 1930 – Frozen vegetables, packaged by Clarence Birdseye, become the first frozen food to go on sale
• 1931 – Empire State Building opens in New York.
• 1931 – Japanese invasion of Manchuria, start of World War II in the Pacific.
• 1931 - “The Star-Spangled Banner” becomes official U.S. national anthem
• 1931 - Hoover vetoes Veteran Bonus
• 1931 - Pearl Buck publishes The Good Earth
• 1932 - Son of Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and later found dead
• 1932 – U.S. presidential election, 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt elected president
• 1933 – Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak killed during a failed assassination attempt on President-elect Roosevelt.
• 1934 – John Dillinger killed
• 1934 – The United States Great Smoky Mountains National Park is founded
• 1935 – The F.B.I. is established with J. Edgar Hoover as its first director.
• 1936 - Hoover Dam
• 1936 - Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals at the Olympics in Berlin, Germany
• 1937 – Hindenburg disaster, killing 35 people and marking an end to airship travel
• 1937 – Golden Gate Bridge completed in San Francisco
• 1939 – Nazi Germany invades Poland; World War II begins
• 1940 – World War II: Operation Ariel begins
• 1940 – Oldsmobile becomes the first car maker to offer a fully automatic transmission
• 1941 – Regular commercial television broadcasting begins; CBS and NBC television networks launched.
• 1942 – Casablanca released
• 1944 – World War II: The United States invades Saipan
• 1944 – D-Day (also known as Operation Overlord)
• 1945 – Germany surrenders, end of World War II in Europe
• 1945 – Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Days later, Japan surrenders, ending World War II
• 1946 – President's Committee on Civil Rights
• 1946 – RCane
• 1947 – Polaroid camera invented
• 1947 – Jackie Robinson breaks color barrier in baseball
• 1947 - World Series is broadcast live on television for the first time
• 1949 – Germany divided into East and West
• 1950 – Senator Joseph McCarthy gains power, and McCarthyism (1950–1954) begins
• 1950 – Korean War begins
• 1950 – The comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, is first published
• 1952 – Kimosabe
• 1954 – The Tournament of Roses Parade becomes the first event nationally televised in color
• 1954 – Joseph McCarthy discredited in Army-McCarthy hearings
• 1954 – President Eisenhower proposes the Domino theory (Southeast Asia)
• 1954 – First Indochina War ends after the U.S. kept sending aid to the French. France was defeated by Ho Chi Minh and his army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
• 1954 – Brown v. Board of Education
• 1954 – NBC airs The Tonight Show, the first late-night talk show, originally hosted by Steve Allen
• 1955 – Ray Kroc opens a McDonald's fast food restaurant
• 1955 – Rosa Parks remains seated on a bus
• 1955 – Disneyland opens at Anaheim, California
• 1955 – Jonas Salk develops polio vaccine
• 1955 – Rock and roll music enters the mainstream, with "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets
• 1956 – Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.
• 1956 – "In God We Trust" adopted as national motto
• 1957 – Civil Rights Act of 1957
• 1957 – Soviets launch Sputnik; "space race" begins
• 1957 – Little Rock, Arkansas school desegregation. Eisenhower recruits the U.S. National Guard to escort the Little Rock Nine
• 1958 - The Affluent Society written by John Galbraith
• 1958 – NASA formed
• 1958 – Jack Kilby invents the integrated circuit
• 1959 – The NBC western Bonanza becomes the first drama to be broadcast in color
• 1959 – Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th U.S. states
• 1960 – U-2 incident
• 1960 – Author Harper Lee publishes To Kill A Mockingbird
• 1960 – Civil Rights Act of 1960
• 1961 – Eisenhower gives celebrated "military–industrial complex" farewell address
• 1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion
• 1961 – Alan Shepard pilots the Freedom 7 capsule to become the first American in space
• 1961 – Vietnam War officially begins
• 1962 – Andy Warhol becomes famous for his Campbell's Soup Cans painting
• 1962 – John Glenn orbits the Earth in Friendship 7
• 1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
• 1963 – March on Washington; Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech
• 1963 – Assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas
• 1964 – The Beatles arrive in the U.S.
• 1964 – Tonkin Gulf incident; Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
• 1964 – President Johnson proposes the Great Society
• 1964 – Civil Rights Act of 1964
• 1964 - The Ford Mustang is introduced
• 1965 – President Johnson appoints Thurgood Marshall as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice
• 1965 – Medicaid and Medicare enacted
• 1965 – The Watts riots in Los Angeles, California
• 1966 – Miranda v. Arizona established "Miranda rights" for suspects
• 1967 – The first Super Bowl
• 1967 – Detroit race riot precipitates the "Long Hot Summer of 1967", when race riots erupt in 159 cities nationwide
• 1967 – The "Summer of Love"
• 1968 – Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
• 1968 – Tet Offensive
• 1968 – Civil Rights Act of 1968
• 1968 – Apollo 8 and its three-astronaut crew orbit the Moon, Earthrise photograph taken
• 1969 – Author Maya Angelou publishes I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
• 1969 – Stonewall riots in New York City
• 1969 – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon on the Apollo 11 mission
• 1969 – The Woodstock Festival
• 1970 – Kent State and Jackson State shootings
• 1970 – The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) begins operations
• 1970 – Singer-songwriter-guitarist-musician Jimi Hendrix dies
• 1970 – Singer Janis Joplin dies
• 1971 – Singer Jim Morrison dies
• 1971 – A ban on radio and television cigarette advertisements
• 1971 – The landmark situation comedy, All in the Family, premieres on CBS
• 1971 – The 26th Amendment is ratified, allowing 18-year-olds to vote
• 1971 – In New York Times Co. v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Pentagon Papers may be published
• 1972 – President Richard Nixon visits China
• 1972 – Watergate scandal
• 1973 – Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling overturns state laws against abortion
• 1973 – The Paris Peace Accords ends direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War
• 1975 – The movie Jaws is released
• 1975 – The Vietnam War ends
• 1975 – Fall of Saigon
• 1975 – President Ford survives two assassination attempts in a 17-day span
• 1976 – Americans celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States
• 1977 – The first home personal computer, the Commodore PET, is released for retail sale.
• 1977 – The television miniseries Roots airs on ABC
• 1977 – The science-fiction space opera film Star Wars debuts in theaters
• 1977 – After the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, the first democratic elections took place in Spain
• 1978 – The Camp David Accords
• 1978 – Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone are assassinated in San Francisco, California
• 1979 – The Three Mile Island nuclear accident
• 1979 — Facing bankruptcy, Chrysler receives government loan guarantees
• 1980 – The United States boycotts the Summer Olympics in Moscow over Afghanistan
• 1980 – The Mount St. Helens eruption
• 1981 – 1982 United States is part of the global recession
• 1981 – Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court
• 1983 – Chrysler unveils its minivans
• 1984 – Most of the Eastern Bloc boycotts the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
• 1986 – Iran–Contra affair breaks
• 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes
• 1987 – During a visit to Berlin, Germany, President Reagan challenges Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "Tear down this wall!" (referring to the Berlin Wall)
• 1989 – The tanker Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound
• 1989 – The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
• 1989 – President HW Bush declares a "War on Drugs"
• 1990 — Hubble Space Telescope launched
• 1991 — The Gulf War
• 1991 — The World Wide Web publicly debuts as an Internet service
• 1991 — The Cold War ends as the USSR is dissolved
• 1991 – Mount Pinatubo Philippines, erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century
• 1992 — Los Angeles riots resulting from the beating of black motorist Rodney King.
• 1994 — "1994 Northridge" earthquake
• 1995 — Oklahoma City bombing
• 1998-1999 — Clinton-Lewinsky scandal
• 1999 — Y2K computer bug
• 2001 — September 11 attacks
• 2003 — Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon re-entry
• 2004 — The social networking website Facebook is launched
• 2005 — Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita
• 2007 — Democrat Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• 2008 — U.S. oil prices hit a record $147 a barrel
• 2008 — A global financial crisis begins as the stock market crashes
• 2010 – The Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico explodes
• 2011 – A tornado devastates Joplin, Missouri
• 2011 – End of the 30-year shuttle program
• 2012 – Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully tightrope walk directly over Niagara Falls
• 2013 – Edward Snowden leaks highly classified documents from the National Security Agency
• 2013 – The Supreme Court strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act, which banned the federal recognition of same-sex marriages
• 2013 – Black Lives Matter
• 2015 – Same-sex marriage is legalized in all 50 US states
• 2017 – Trump fires FBI director James Comey, precipitating the Mueller investigation
• 2017 – Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria
• 2018 – Death of Stephen Hawking in Cambridge, United Kingdom
• 2019 – All the works published in 1923 except for sound recordings (2022 scheduled events) enter the public domain in the United States
• 2019 – Large portions of the United States are hit with a polar vortex
• 2019 – The first image of a black hole is taken
• 2019 – The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors
• 2020 – January 21, 2020 – The first patient in the United States is diagnosed with coronavirus
• 2020 – March 11, 2020 – The World Health Organization officially declares COVID-19 a global pandemic
• 2020 – May 25, 2020 – George Floyd is killed by police officers
• 2020 – December 14, 2020 – The first COVID-19 vaccine shots are given
• 2021 – January 6, 2021 – Trump-supporting rioters storm the United States Capitol, forcing Congress to evacuate and interrupting the Electoral College vote count that certified Joe Biden's victory
• 2021 – January 13, 2021 – Trump becomes the only president to be impeached for a second time
• 2021 - June 2021, Juno spacecraft performed a second flyby of Ganymede, a satellite of Jupiter, the largest and most massive of the Solar System's moons taking more detailed images

MrsB Birthday Wishes Galore

More Interesting Cars I've known by Anno Nymus

More Interesting Cars I've known …

by Anno Nymus

Our extended family has had some wonderful cars over, lo – these many years ! Let's take a trip down nostalgia lane here, and revisit some of these mechanical marvels, and style wonders !

* * *

Growing up in Hollywood, California in the 1950's was a wonderland of exploration and excitement every day – cars were the centerpiece of our daily doings. Car culture a-borning !

A car was mandatory – distances were far – time becoming too precious … Time saving tips every where – freeways were being invented – get there faster – get more work done – to have more free time ! … quicker and easier cooking .. TV dinners … drive thru fast food was coming into the scene ... The weekend getaway was a ritual ! Tourism, and of course 'profiling ourselves and strutting' … displaying your status to the world by what make, model, year chariot you sported !

A car for everyone was the goal ! Gas was cheap, and the the wide open spaces beckoned! We heard Dina Shore singing a catchy jingle, and urging us to “ See the USA in your Chevrolet !” (did you hum it mentally just now ?? .. giving your age away ! ). In the 1950's we were on the move! .. and it was steadily getting faster and faster every year.

Our family returned from Europe in 1950 … and after time with family in the east … and a side trip to Kentucky for a few years .. the trek to California was made … in a Woody Station wagon. We traveled … “on the highway that’s the best … Route Sixty-Six..” California here we come !

Ford 'Woody'

*  * 

The land of Milk and Honey .. but ya need to have a car !

After rambles and stops in various towns and places .. we landed in Northern California.. San Francisco and the Bay Area. Redwoods - Stanford !

I have vivid memories of Uncle Chuck's Mercury .. I wrote a ditty about it here** … it was a car to remember and all my uncles envied it .. and borrowed it any chance they could .. it was a hot fast ride .. and about the most envied car in the area .. my uncles were very into cars and did a lot of engine and mechanical work .. Grandad had several Gas Stations – the Flying A notably – but they guys were all into tinkering and 'souping-up' – y'know … just to go a bit faster .. :D

Hot 'n Fast Mercury

*  *

Los Angeles ! City of Angels ! “Hollywood!”

We finally landed in Southern California .. and wound up in the movie capital of the world: “HOLLYWOOD” … we lived almost in the shadow of the big sign – it hovered over us like a benediction … me 'n my buddies climbed up to it a few times – badge of honor to 11 year olds .. we were in West Hollywood awhile , and then moved a block away from Sunset and La Brea !! – The Heart of Hollywood ! 

I walked past the old Charlie Chaplin movie studios on my way to the bus stop (or nearby Fosters Freeze -for a cone or banana split :D ) - seems we ate a million times at the Tiny Naylors drive in – right across from the movie studio!

Chaplin Studios became home of Kermit the Frog! 

*  *  * 

Tiny Naylor's Drive In

This was literally our back yard … we lived on the street behind the houses in this picture !

Tiny Naylor's was a great and famous place – directly across from the Chaplin Studios, it was one of the original car hop drive-in's .. you could show off, and talk with other cars whilst eating from a tray in the window – you could actually eat in your car... with the radio playing your favorites stations .. mostly KFWB – channel 98.. the original LA rock station with Kasey Kasem - Rock 'n Roll baby !

Stars would pop in for a burger and shake – show off and profile for us. Rumors abound, that it was the model for the Happy Days car hop set :D

 * *

Imported English cars and California !?

1949 Hillman-Minx – English Import

We had a Hillman-Minx for a while – and this one was 'special' <wink nudge> .. designed for the UK, it did not like the heat of Southern California  nor driving on the LA freeway ! It would overheat at the slightest excuse;  stuck in a traffic jam, or on small hill.

The radiator was tiny –made for English weather. On I-10 ..going east from LA – the hill from West Covina up and over – past Forest Lawn – and down into Pomona was just too steep for the Hillman-Minx. That hill was a mountain to that car! My 12 year old memories are vivid:  Sitting on the verge of I-10 with Semi- Trucks blowing us almost off the road, whilst Volkswagen's passed us like we were snails – which we were -- barely creeping along under the required speed - trying not to overheat ... chanting “... I know you can! I know you can! I know you can! …

Alas, it did always overheat and boil over .. or, we got stuck with 'vapor lock'. All we could do is pull over - open the hood (bonnet?) ,  wait for the engine to cool enough so it could start again. Once a sympathetic trucker stopped to help, and showed us how to pour water carefully on the carburetor to cool it down! Thank you Mr Truck Driver!!

This was a unique car, and since I was the one to do all the cooling and engine bits .. I was quite happy when it went away .. as I recall ;-)

.. The history of the Hillman-Minx is interesting in the car nerd sense .. but the car was a lemon by California standards of the time .. it could not beat the heat or tiny hills ! Buh-bye!

*  *  

Next up - we acquired a 1957 Plymouth - Belvedere – with the big fin tail lights ! My folks bought it from a friend that had won it in a contest:  “Describe an earthquake in one word”. Dad's friend won the car using the word “Tumultuous!” .. and I have loved, and used that word as often as I could find a place to put it - ever since !! hahaha !

Note the novel and Avant-garde Push Button Transmission .. just left of the steering wheel!

Speaking of style and fins in the 50's … The Arizona bunch had kewl cars that were all top of the line .. snazzy and futuristic … check out those tail lights ! This was the height of luxury and style!

Chrysler Imperial snazzy and iconic 50's design !

* * *

Later on .. we came into a tank of a vehicle .. a virtually indestructible 1950 Plymouth Station Wagon, that ultimately got nicknamed “Bonaparte” .. because no matter how things went,  it never met it's 'Waterloo' :D … It was an ever stalwart, 1950's Plymouth Station Wagon – (car nerd note: the original 'Suburban')

Our particular car made numerous treks all over the American Continent … notably … quite a few treks, and back country excursions, throughout Mexico. The car became well known by every shade tree mechanic within hailing distance of any place it traveled, or was parked !

Reliable but needy for constant attention  .. it always needed tinkering or fussing. It once notably had 4 blow-outs simultaneously .. but that’s a story for another time ;) .. and I digress.

Ol' Bonaparte was indestructible! Anyone could fix it with bailing wire and chewing gum! .. sometimes just a good “word” would do it – trying not to be late for work - hoping it would kick over nicely, you would repeat whilst petting the dashboard gently – “ OK .. now pleease … start... THIS time .. can't be late !!” ..

I found this photo online in vintage car ads – for sale – and appears to be a clone of our dear Ol' Bonaparte ..!? who knows, that car was a TANK ..  this might even BE .. Bonaparte !?!

1950 Plymouth Suburban

More tales soon - from the family annals of car culture madness ...and some nifty vintage vehicles that I have enjoyed over the years .. the 1965 Corvair Van tale is worthy of tuning back in to catch... 

it will be tumultuous ! 

More tales to follow .. stay tuned !! 

*  *  *  *  * 

Footnotes

photos by permission – and/or public domain

** Kings Mountain Wild Ride -

https://mrsbizzybsayshello.blogspot.com/2020/01/kings-mountain-wild-ride-true-story-by.html

Cars and other 'Stuff' by Anno Nymus

Cars and other 'Stuff'

by Anno Nymus

– thoughts in passing – on passing –

I never much thought of myself as a 'car guy' … although growing up in Southern California in the 1950's and 60's, cars were an interwoven part of our daily life.

As my sis used to say, "we got bunched in" with a rather large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and friends of friends. Back in those days, every family had at least one car for every adult, so we were exposed to, and experienced lots of, different cars --  all used by this huge extended family of drivers.

Of course every one who had a car had opinions about other cars, envied other cars, wanted other cars, looked down on other cars, etc etc  to a fault ad nauseum. … Your car defined who you were, and told the world where you fit in the great pecking order. Everyone I knew had to start at the humble bottom.

When I was a teen .. it was not uncommon to get a decent running “work car” for well under $100 – it likely burned a little oil, but gas was 25 cents a gallon, and a quart of oil less than 20 cents .. so you would just keep a few extra cans of oil, and an oil spout in the trunk !

The “$50 work car” was a common ad in the classifieds in the 50's and 60's. Grandma once bragged that she bought a Model T for 25 dollars right after the big war started. She sold it for 75 dollars after the war, and we never heard the end of it !

Radios! For my generation it was all about the radios and radio stations !! Cars had radios !! Teens and radios became a marriage! My musician friend Al once said .. “ teens and musicians don’t buy a car .. they get a radio with wheels. ! “

And boy, was the radio a big part of the culture in those days! .. There was a row of preset push button stations on the dash console – which we played like a piano – to switch stations, or find a particular tune you wanted to hear … :D

My car memories go way back . I actually remember as a toddler, riding in our old 'woodie' station wagon, traveling to California from Pennsylvania – after returning from Europe .

We traveled the famous 'Route 66' in all its glory; the Tepee Motels, and roadside attractions. Paralleling long freight trains snaking west kept me rapt for hours as a toddler on the highways. I have always loved trains ever since. And of course, there was a lot of family singing to make the time go by.

I have a picture in mind of men futzing with  canvas water bags hanging on the radiator when we were traveling through the deserts and hot country at night to keep the motor cool. I loved watching for new and different “Burma Shave” motto signs along the long straight stretches. All our nomadic 'bunch'  loved traveling the back roads and byways of yore – but I digress.

My first car was a 1959 Caribbean Brown Chevrolet Bel Air – that came to me from a distant cousin that had passed away suddenly. It cost $300, and I got it for my 17^th birthday in 1963. I thought I was a king!

I was able to purchase it with my generous birthday money, from Mom, and Grandma B. I even had just enough birthday money left to buy a beginners 5 string banjo (which launched my musical career). My birthday wishes fulfilled; a banjo, and a car !

I had finally joined the great horde of teen drivers; freedom, and miles of highway to explore. I think for someone like me, with a burgeoning vagabond spirit, this car was the ultimate key to the future..

1959 Chevy Bel Air - Caribbean Brown

this one – identical to mine – recently sold at auction for $85,000

The Chevy had a 3 speed 'H' pattern column shift, with clutch, and brake pedals. I got very good at driving a 'column stick' ! I thought I was a king the first time I drove it to High School as a Senior. I prayed I wouldn't stall the clutch in front of the kids in the parking lot.

There were some amazing adventures and road trips in that car... stories for another time .

It was great to be 17 in California, out of school for the summer, with a car .. endless places to go .. and gas sometimes less than 20 cents gallon! $5 of gas could last a week of school commuting, dating, 'Sunday' drives, or the ever popular sudden 'road trips' !

There have been a surprising number of cars pass through my life .. and I'm finding it fascinating how many, and how varied they are. I decided to do a few stories about some of them so this is the first installment of a random series of car tales ..

My earlier story, score of the 1933 Divco Twin Coach, is the most current installment of collectible cars and truck tales, but I think y'all will enjoy the variety of stories coming soon about some cars y'all might even remember...

Till Next Time ….

* * * *

When ya gotta go – ya gotta go !!! by Anno Nymus

When ya gotta go – ya gotta go !!!

a true story from back in the day ...

by Anno Nymus

Avatar was a 2009 blockbuster movie – theaters were full – lines were long !

*  *  *

After watching the 3 hour blockbuster movie “Avatar” with some friends at the local multiplex, and after all the sitting, snacks and soda .. well, like everyone else ... me, and my 3 mates really had to pee after the movie !!! 

Of course, the restroom lines snaked out to the main corridor. 

Hmmm … there was no prayer of making it to the car and holding it till we all got to the restaurant. There was nothing for it but get in line for that great post movie adventure known as the multiplex mensroom.  Reluctantly, but with urgency, the 4 of us got in line!

Once we made it inside the cavernous restroom, it was the old standard; washbasins on right - stalls with doors on the left, and a  row of 20 urinals with basins-bowls, beyond the washstands.

All the stalls and urinals  had several men waiting for each ! Wow and yikes !! Seems there were only about 100-ish of us milling around - waiting to use any one of them --  NOW !!!!

Tick tock, tick tock, 1-2 cha-cha-cha …

There was a steady stream of flushing .. hand washing, and rushing out … industrial scale urination station rotation … but alas, it takes a certain amount of time for everyone just to do what they gotta do, and those of us in line were starting to worry about how long it was all taking .

Suddenly the door bursts open with a bang, and a cute blonde boy about 6 years old - in shorts - pushed thru, and past us – but stopped cold when he saw the lines !

He was already 'dancing', and holding his crotch with his hand, and obviously really had to pee ! His agitation and obvious consternation got some attention. 

He let out a loud “OH NO !!!” ... which got everyone's attention.

We all sympathized with the poor kid – we all had to pee badly, and were quietly doing our own dancing … Tick tock, tick tock. 1-2 cha-cha-cha …

In despair, and about to burst, he was getting that panicky look in his eyes - 'what can I do' !??! – just then – like clouds parting for the sun in a storm – a man flushed, and stepped away from a nearby urinal - an opening!

The guys in that queue were watching sympathetically, and quickly motioned to the kid to jump line - and go next !

The kid took a step forward - but paused. There was an immediate problem.

It was an adult urinal -  the bowl was a foot higher than his crotch !! 

Glancing to the right, he confirmed the single lower kids urinal was occupied with 2 waiting. 

Out of time !! What to do??

Suddenly his expression said “light-bulb!" - with a huge grin, and exclaimed  “GOT IT !!!”

In a blink - and all in one motion - he took a half step back from the urinal … shoved  his shorts down past his ankles,  hollered “sorry 'bout my butt!" - all whilst gauging 'n eyeballing the  physics of  getting a stream up ,over, and INTO the urinal – he then arched backwards ...  waaay back .. and .. let GO !!!

A 'golden arch' suddenly appeared!  A stream of pee was arc-ing up, from his crotch ... and over the lip, and directly into the urinal 3 feet away – bullseye !!  direct hit !!! – A rousing cheer went up in the room from all those watching !! His aim was true ! 

It was classic – he held that pose ...  and kept that 3 foot stream arc-ing perfectly  - for the longest time. For all the world, he looked just like that classic statue of a youth peeing into a pond that we have all seen!**

It was brilliant!The whole room - dozens of  men and boys - burst into spontaneous cheers, hoots and applause ! The place was abuzz with admiration.

When he was done .. he pulled up his shorts .. turned around grinning and took a bow! Everyone was laughing, applauding and telling him how well he handled that !! Atta Boy – You Go Kid ! Future NASA Engineer! Problem Solving 101 ! Well Done!! Kudos !! Bravo etc !!!

He quickly rinsed his hands – and with an impish grin waved to the room, then disappeared out the door and was gone as quickly as he had burst in !

The mensroom was still laughing and abuzz with chatter about his performance when we all finally exited … alas ... a very long 15 minutes or so later. 

Now it was finally off to the restaurant for us, but as we left, I thought to myself what a brilliant scene for a Mel Brooks movie titled ... 

"When ya gotta go .. ya gotta go !"

* * *

Footnote: stranger than fiction

Japan – the famous “Peeing Gorge Statue ” National Park widely imitated in pond statues. A bronze statue commemorates the spot, where by ancient traditions in days of yore, to show fearlessness, youth would climb up, and pee over the edge.

Peeing Gorge Statue

Hospitality by KimB

Things have certainly changed on the planet. Well, the planet is still here but there are about 2.5 million fewer humans due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 525,000 dead in the USA.

We are partly through the storm and still have a long ways to go to find out how this virus will impact human populations into the far future. At the moment, it looks like we will have the COVID-19 virus around forever in countries that did not engage in Zero Tolerance, with regular outbreaks occuring in the population. In other countries that opted for Zero Tolerance at the beginning, their biggest worries now are US(A) hauling our virus laden bodies, trade goods, food and exports into their countries. Some are getting pretty good at realizing Quarantine means Quarantine.

One of the changes that's been going on for a while, is a change in our social interactions. COVID-19 has made most social interactions a bad idea, but people like people, and they want to pass along their infection so everyone can share. Some people die from this: 525,000 so far.

One of the old hallmarks of the USA was our Hospitality ¹. Our friendly outgoing nature. Our open views and eagerness to experience the world and to meet other people from all walks of life (as the saying goes).

Something flipped.

It's been flipping for some time now but it's pretty obvious that the whole concept of Hospitality has hit the dustbin.

I am not sure when it all started but we can trace the slow ebb and drain in my own lifetime. 

Remember when: 

• You didn't lock the doors 
• You talked with the neighbors 
• You visited other people's houses 
• You played with the neighbor kids 
• You took people who needed a ride to an appointment 
• You didn't pull down the blinds or drapes until nightfall 
• You could ask people questions 
• You could invite a stranger into your home 
• You fed a stranger who came to "beg a meal" 
• You could sleep with the windows wide open 
• You could borrow a "cup of sugar" if you just wanted to chat 
• There was always room for one more at the table

It was one of the biggest differences between the United States and other countries where Class, Social Standing, Wealth, Pedigree, Title, School Affiliation are the indicators of who you can or cannot talk to or interact with.

Long ago, during a summer trip with Grandmother and Grandfather, the car broke down while traveling through a semi-rural neighborhood somewhere in the Upper Midwest. The houses were on large lots, maybe acreages. The houses were older wooden structures, well kept, nearly all with white paint which was The House color at the time. They had large grassy areas in the front, side and backyards. No fences.

We pulled over to the side of the road and waited while Granddad diagnosed the problem. He said it wouldn't take too long to fix.

Soon a man came from one of the houses to inquire what was the problem. Grandfather explained the situation. The man invited us to come sit under the shade trees in his backyard and have some ice tea while the repair was done.

We all greatfully accepted. It was hot. The shade was cool and the man brought out extra chairs for us to sit on. His family came out and brought the cold ice tea for us. It was Just Perfect.

The man went to help Grandfather repair the car and brought some tools to make the repair easier. Soon they had finished and they came to sit under the large shade tree out of the hot summer sun.

The adults talked and exchanged news. The man said he had killed a snake while mowing that morning, so he and Granddad went to check out what kind of snake it was. It was a water moccasin.² Granddad offered some advice on how to keep the snakes away from the house. Everyone noded sagely.

Soon the hot day began to cool and it was time to continue our journey. We thanked the people for their kindness, piled back into the car and headed for the next adventure.

I do not think I ever knew the people's names or perhaps I have forgotten over the decades. I have never forgotten their kindness and their graciousness, or their open welcome of total strangers passing by and briefly stopping to share a life's moment with them.

I did not realize how special those few hours were until many years later.

Not once did they make us feel unwelcome, awkward or mention the color of our skin: white.

1. 1 ht tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality
   

   Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, where in the host receives the guest with goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis, chevalier de Jaucourt describes hospitality in the Encyclopédie as the virtue of a great soul that cares for the whole universe through the ties of humanity.

2. 2 ht tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_moccasin

   It is the world's only semiaquatic viper.... It is the only venomous species of North America's water snakes and one of 21 venomous snakes in the United States.