IN THESE DAYS - ONE HAS TO LOOK AHEAD

(One just never knows what lies ahead) Now that's a common
 saying I have often heard. And, who hasn't?   NOTE: The following essay on
 Abraham Lincoln is almost totally made up . . . other than Lincoln was assassinated
 on the 15th of April. (A true thing includes inventing the floating dry dock.)
                                        ).

                            *   *   *   *   *   *

    An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln?

 April, 3, 2011

 Dear Keepers of Official U.S. Documents, 

 I believe I have uncovered something of historic value and that it should
 be archived somewhere in Washington, DC. I can't believe what I am
 about to share with you.

 I found a very old envelope in a side pocked of an ancient storage trunk in
 Wanamingo, Minnesota.  I almost paid no heed to it. On the front of the
 envelope was a "to do" list which, at first, didn't catch my eye. That was . . .
 until I read it! 

 Does what I found have any value? What should I do with it?

 Respectfully submitted, 

         Clem J. Nagel

                              (The "To Do" List)
            
                                        To Do Soon
                         -Finish the speech of Gettysburg
                         -Give more thought to the idea of a floating dry dock
                         -Empty garbage as soon as I get home
                         -    ?  ?     (I was unable to decipher the 4th entry)
                         -Decide what to do about the problem in Mankato, Minnesota.

 What really triggered things for me were the words "Gettysburg", "dry dock"*, and
 "Mankato." It could only mean one thing. Abraham Lincoln must have scribbled the
 list on the envelope while somewhere away from home.

                        *(Note: This part about the dry dock is true). On 5/22/1849, Lincoln
                          received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift boats over shoals. It was
                          an invention that never got manufactured.

 I then turned the envelope over and couldn't believe my eyes!  Whoever had written
 on the backside of the envelope was obviously confused in trying to come up with
 a phrase to begin some kind of a speech. There were crossed out words, here and there
 notations in parentheses, comments clearly added by someone else who must have
 known the writer. Just who was that ghost-writer traveling with Lincoln at the time?
 His wife? . . . or someone else? Mysteries abound! Fascinating, to say the least.

             (THE WRITING FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE)

                                          The Talk at Gettysburg
                                  (years?)
                   Fourscore and seven days ago  (three score and 27 years ago?) our country . . . 
                   2 x 2 score and (fore?) four (4) years ago, our country . . . 

                           Abe, that doesn't add up. Just take my word for it!

                   OK.  Just possibly, use "A long time ago?"  (not sure)
                   31,755 days ago, our country . . .

                           Abe, do not use this ! ! !

                    One score, 7 years and 21,900 days ago, our country . . .

                           Abe Dear, keep it simple! Just use 87, believe me!  Love,  Mary

                     87 years ago (or maybe, just fourscore and seven years ago?) I'll have to
                     give it more consideration . . .

     It's a little early, but need to check with Mary to see if those tickets for the
                     theatre have arrived yet?
                   

An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln?

                Abraham Lincoln was assassinated mid-April                  

An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln

April 3, 2011

Dear Keepers of Official U.S. Documents,

I believe I have uncovered something of historic value and that it should
be archived somewhere in Washington, DC. I can't believe what I am
about to share with you.

I found a very old envelope in a side-pocket of an ancient storage trunk in
Wanamingo, MN.  I almost paid no heed to it. On the front of the envelope
was a "to do" list which, at first, didn't catch my eye. That was . . .
until I read it! 

Does what I found have any value? What should I do with it?

Respectfully, submitted, 

        Clem J. Nagel

                                    (THE "TO DO" LIST)

                                TO DO SOON

                                  -Finish the speech for Gettysburg
                                  -Give more thought to the idea of a floating dry dock
                                  -Empty garbage, as promised, as soon as I return home
                                  -    ?   ?    (I was unable to decipher the 4th entry)
                                  -Decide what to do with the problem in Mankato

What triggered things for me were the words "Gettysburg", "dry dock",* and
"Mankato".  It could only mean one thing. Lincoln must have scribbled the list
on the envelope while somewhere away from home.

           *Dry dock. On 5/22/1849, Abraham Lincoln received Patent No. 6469
              for a device to lift boats over shoals, an invention that never got manufactured.

I then turned the envelope over and couldn't believe my eyes! Whoever had written
on the back side of the envelope was obviously confused in trying to come up with
a phrase to begin some kind of a speech. There were crossed out words, notations in
parentheses here and there, comments clearly added by someone else who must have
known the writer. Just who was that ghost-rider traveling with Lincoln at the time?
His wife? . . . or someone else?   Mysteries abound!   Fascinating, to say the least.

       (THE WRITING FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE)

                                 Gettysburg Address
                                  (years?)
   Fourscore and seven days ago  (3 score and 27 years ago?)  our country . . . 
   2 x 2 score and (fore?) four (4)  years ago, our country . . .

            Abe, that doesn't add up. Just take my word for it!

    Perhaps, just possibly, use "A long time ago?" (not sure)
    31,755 days ago, our country . . .

            Abe, do not use this ! ! !

     One score, 7 years and 21,900 days ago, our country . . . 

            Abe Dear, keep it simple! Just use 87, believe me!           Love, Mary

      87 years ago (or maybe, just fourscore and seven years ago?) I'll have
      to give it more consideration . . .  It's a little early, but need to remember
      to check with Mary to see if those tickets for the theatre 
                                                                             have arrived yet?

                       
                                             

TO IT

Not so sure
I'm up to it.
But,
I do bring
experience
to it.

When it comes down
to it,
I will just hold on
to it.
And then, do it
when I
get around
to it.

Nothing
to it.

News Flash: General Beauregard Lee In BIG Trouble!

I just received an urgent message from Minnesota Fat Cat. If you remember, he is the Midwest's honorable groundhog.

Minnesota Fat Cat says that his southern cousin, General Beauregard Lee, who lives in Atlanta, is in big trouble. It seems on Groundhog Day, Beau predicted an early spring this year for the south. 

However,  four - let me repeat that - four major storms have hit the south in just the last couple weeks. Some folks are suggesting he get his eyes checked. Others are reacting more strongly and suggesting he should be arrested for making false predictions. 

I hope he can weather this storm (pardon the puns) and clear his reputation. Because normally he is a reliable groundhog sort of guy. And a genial southerner. Why, he'll make up a batch of sugared ice tea when he sees you coming and sweep out his den to welcome you. He even will check to see if the pictures on the wall are straight. (He does worry about those many earthquakes in Oklahoma).

Because climate change has screwed up the winter weather big time and left meteorologists's computer models crashing, groundhog predictions are more important than they have ever been. Folks need to know when to put out the deck furniture and grill baby grill.And when to start walking in the woods looking for morels.

Speaking of spring say a prayer or two for the Massachusetts groundhog. They have so much snow in Boston that the poor fellow didn't even try to find his way through all the snow. Now there is a groundhog suffering cabin fever in a major way! When all that snow eventually does go away and he can emerge, he'd better have his sunglasses handy so as not to damage his eyes.

THREE LENTEN POEMS (2,4,6,8,2 syllables)

pinnacle

person
human being
two-legged, featherless
always striving to be on top
alone


living courageously

it is
right and proper
virtues become habits
temperance, courage, and justice
for all



challenge

our world
demands that we
persevere to always creatively
cope with the world
do it !

The Gift that Keeps On Giving

Every year we buy a balsam tree for Christmas. We can't remember where we bought our first tree. Though I do remember buying our first imported glass ornaments at the department store on Wisconsin Avenue. 

Every Christmas we add a new ornament or two to our collection. When we take them carefully from the box, they are a review of our life together.

I love the smell the tree radiates. It is a reminder of celebrations of Christmas past.

We have learned to make a fresh cut at the bottom of the trunk as soon as we bring it home on the day before Thanksgiving. Then the tree stands in a bucket of water in the garage - until it is time to bring it in and decorate it. This access to water - even if it freezes over - is the secret to keeping it fresh and preventing it from shedding its needles. Sometimes the tree even puts out new pale green tips on the ends of its branches.

After New Years Day, the tree is stripped of its lights and decorations. It is hauled outside and tied to the edge of the deck - next to the bird feeders. 

The birds are overjoyed at this shelter that suddenly has sprung up in their midst. They fly in and out of its branches all winter long, as they come to feed on seeds and suet we put out for them.

We call our balsam tree the gift that keeps on giving!

THAT ROSALYNN . . . SHE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD !

Gosh . . . it seems a long time ago.  I was volunteering for the Minneapolis Habitat for Humanity and had been asked to introduce Rosalynn Carter to the crowd that had gathered. The pastor who had been asked to give the opening prayer had failed to show up on time and so I had been asked to do that as well. It seemed so "impromptu" and it actually was. Both of the Carters have been my heroes ever since the first Habitat home was built near Americus, Georgia.

Both Rosalynn and I were up at the podium and after the prayer, it was time to introduce her. (I think I was a little nervous.)

I had been given a two-foot long 2X4, a hammer, and a 16 penny nail to be part of the event. The plan was to dramatize the beginning of still another Habitat home on the lot just adjacent to where the ceremony was taking place.

Rosalynn was to pound the nail into the board.    So far, so good.

She kneeled down by the 2X4. With the hammer, she just got the nail started . . . and then looked up at me.  Then she said  "I bet that you don't think I can do this, right?"  (The look on my face must have belied the worry that she would slip and hit her finger.) Don't remember what my reply was . . . but the  crowd laughed.

Then, she deftly whacked in the nail with just three blows.  The crowd cheered. Rosalynn went on to say that she and Jimmie had worked on ____ (number to be filled) Habitat homes so far !

I so wish that I had thought to keep the board with the nail in it.