What's in a name?

There are many colorful figures from America's Civil War -- personalities that only Freud could have invented. Many names are forever linked to that epic struggle--Lee, Jackson, Grant, Sherman. No name is so quickly identifiable with the South, however, as the dashing, debonair, distinguished, and devastatingly handsome Beauregard.

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was born this day in 1818 on a plantation about 20 miles from New Orleans. His Creole heritage gave him an olive complexion, dark eyes and short stature. (The movie, The Hunley, featured Donald Sutherland as Beuregard which is stretching the truth about 18 inches, but it's still a great movie. . . .) This is a name only Charles Dickens could have invented for it virtually drips of Southern-ness and courtly manners. Merely speak the word "Beauregard" and the scent of magnolias fills the air.

The colorful and charismatic "Little Napoleon" had a successful career as a businessman and public servant in his beloved Louisiana following the war. Romania and Egypt begged him to come command their armies, but he declined.

He is entombed in the mausoleum of the Army of Tennessee at Metairie Cemetery. I have paid homage at his grave.

If I could choose a moment of time to experience, I think it would be to have the gallant Beauregard bow and kiss my hand. Let's all toast with a hurricane.

New Discovery

. . . from Freddy the Plumber in Mayberry:

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York archaeologists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: "California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers."

One week later a local newspaper, The Mount Airy Times, reported the following: "After digging as deep as 30 feet in his back yard, Bubba Simpson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Bubba has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, North Carolina had already gone wireless."

Just makes me proud to be from North Carolina.

The Wedding of the Year!

It has been called. . . Here is my handsome groom...doesn't he look happy? Here I am, below. Don't I look happy? If you are so inclined, you may visit topekatonight.com, scroll down to other, then click on Deb G. Gary and Deb's wedding is one of your choices. There is the video, in 3 parts. It was a beautiful service, conducted by our friend Sue Ann Seel with music by our friends, High Falutin' Stringband and Dave and Kim Houser. More pictures to come. These were taken by our dear friend, Doug Ruth, God Bless Him!

Wedding Bells

Today is our wedding day. We are surrounded by so much love and so much good will. My dear friends, Dan and Carol Ann Turner are hosting our reception. We have laughed, cried, bitched, moaned, laughed, cried and toasted life together. We could not love them nor appreciate them more.

Blessings to you all today.

US

America--The Story of US is the most impressive documentary I've seen since Ken Burns Civil War. What an incredible achievement. Between packing and planning, I've caught much of it. Being a Virginian (have I mentioned that in previous posts???), I especially enjoyed the story of John Rolfe, told correctly. Also, the computer generations used in this film really work and further one's understanding. This is exactly what technology is supposed to do. Kudos!