Crossing the Lord Mayor’s Walk in York (UK), I could not help but notice the prescriptive sign above. The first time I saw it, I was running late and scampered across the street on my way to St. John’s University. The sign greeted me daily for about a week. On more leisurely mornings, I
Articles Categorized History
“THE TARGET WAS ONE ENEMY CASUALTY AT THE END OF A RIFLE”
In his retirement, my father collected biographies about World War II leaders. He said he wanted to understand what really happened in the war that dominated his adult life. My father was a navy man then, a middle grade officer. I don’t know if he found what he was looking for. I don’t know if
OLYMPIC HOTEL: DOYENNE OF 1920s SEATTLE
OLYMPIC HOTEL. When I was a high school student in a Seattle bedroom community on the other side of Lake Washington, those two words symbolized all that was posh and sophisticated. I never dreamed I could set foot inside such an illustrious palace, let alone stay there regularly. The Olympic Hotel is a palace of
ELLORA CAVES – SITE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
The Ellora Caves are eighteen miles northwest of Aurangabad, a small town in the Indian state of Maharashtria. Like the Ajanta Caves, the Ellora Caves are carved from a sheer vertical rock face. Unlike Ajanta, Ellora represents a more tolerant age during the Gupta period. At Ellora, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain devotees coexisted and created
“THE LADY’S NOT FOR TURNING” – Margaret Thatcher, 1925-2013
Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979-1990, died last Monday, from a stroke. She was 87 years old. Her detractors are ecstatic – making “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” from the Wizard of Oz near the top of the charts and holding celebratory “Death Parties.” They hold her responsible for current
EASTER – SPRING – THE EXPECTATION OF NEW LIFE
OSTARA: PAGAN GODDESS OF SPRING Ostara, an obscure Germanic goddess, lent her name to the annual season of Easter. Anglo-Saxon accounts mention feasts in her honor held in April. EASTER: CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION The early Christian Church superimposed its teaching on many ancient holidays, among them celebrations to welcome Spring’s return. Easter is
NEW GENERATIONS AT THE MANAGO HOTEL
In 1929, Osame Manago took her children to Japan. Her father said, “seeing [them] was worth more than a house filled with gold.” But the triumphant visit became bittersweet on the day Osame and her family prepared to leave. Osame’s sister observed that at seven months old, Osame’s baby was “so young that she couldn’t tell
SIX FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS IN THE SAME WEEK
Whew! There were more holidays last week than during the official “Holiday Season.” Funny word “holiday.” It’s a contraction of Holy Days. Most folks don’t think of holidays as religious – we think of free time, decorations, special food, gifts, and shopping. But, for those so inclined, there is opportunity for contemplation and purification. CHINESE
GUNG HEI FAT CHOY – HAPPY LUNAR (CHINESE) NEW YEAR
“Okay, I’ll bite. Why are you wishing me a Happy New Year when we already celebrated the New Year on January 1?” Excellent Question, Grasshopper. (Historian settles in for a lengthy chat.) The January 1 date is completely arbitrary, a result of the introduction of the Julian calendar in 45 BCE. “Could you answer my
HISTORIAN & WRITER DISCUSS A PICTURE
Historian sniffs: “It isn’t a picture. It is a painting. Oil on canvas, mounted on a parquet panel.” Writer pouts: “You know what your problem is? You are too literal. What are paintings if not pictures telling a story. Who do you think this woman was?” Historian: “As the title indicates, she was an
ELEVENTH DAY CHRISTMAS BASH
Sorry I missed last week. Christmas village residents did not want to go back into storage. The ungrateful wretches attacked me and tied me up with cheap garlands. While I gnawed my way out, I got a song stuck in my head. Which brings me to today’s topic: What famous Christmas carol takes a long
CHRISTMAS IS COMING — THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT
Christmas — Some celebrate the day as a holiday for presents and feasting. For others, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, honored by Christians as the Messiah. On that first Christmas, angels appeared to shepherds (talk about a light show), and a few weeks/months later wise men appeared with gifts. Such diversity of
HALLELUJAH! – It’s Time to Sing Messiah
Christmas is a time when otherwise ordinary people burst into song. Children and adults sing carols to their families, their friends, unsuspecting pets, and even venture into assisted living facilities. Little kids learn Jingle Bells. Adults throw caution to the winds and participate in Messiah Sing-a-Longs. An extreme version of this activity is “Christmas Food
On Christmas Pudding
I sat enjoying the evening breeze, when the Handsome Bloke said, “I fancy Christmas Pudding this year.” Was he joking? No, he wore a meaningful look. “Oh,” said I. “I don’t suppose our grocery store has any in for the holidays?” “I’ll ask.” Wait a minute! What about the picture? What is the picture
Thanksgiving & Holiday Shopping — Two American Traditions
Sorry I missed our date last week. I was busy doing Thanksgiving, and rolling my eyes at news stories about our annual shopping frenzy. I remember when Thanksgiving was about eating and watching football. Today the topic is shopping. How did Black Friday become a national event? Why do we put ourselves through this annual
YORK – where “the gates are bars & the bars are pubs”
As some of you know, I was recently in UK. My last blog featured the fabulous afternoon tea at the Milestone Hotel, but if you follow me on Facebook, you know I began the journey home last Saturday. First stop, Seattle, where I have been experiencing really bad jet lag. Which is why