Mr. Washington, Where Are You?

Today is the birthday of the very first President of the United States, George Washington. Happy birthday, Mr. President! With Lincoln and Washington being lumped together on Presidents’ Day, I’m afraid that people will one day forget these two men had separate birthdays and our first President was born seventy-seven years before the sixteenth one. I remember as a child coloring pictures of a bunch of cherries and a hatchet each Washington’s birthday. It seems to me the teacher would put up a border of these hatchets and cherries that we children colored. Then there were the silhouettes cut from black construction paper. Ah yes, the years melt away and those memories come back to me.

I remember how the lives of these two Americans were used to teach children the virtues of truthfulness, persevering in the face of adversity, overcoming obstacles, and pride in our great Nation. I grew up knowing how blessed I was to live in a country where freedom was cherished and courage was praised.

Sometimes I let my mind wander and imagine what it might have been like nearly 250 years ago. For example, right now I would not be sitting at a computer. My light would come from a tallow candle sputtering on the table and I would write with a quill pen dipped in ink. If I were fortunate enough to have a church near-by, someone would go saddle a horse or hook him to a buggy for me to get there. Think of how times have changed in only two and half centuries! We need to change with those times but we need to hold fast to the virtues!

The temperature on this dampish Sunday morning isn’t terribly cold but a possibility of snow is in the forecast. Weather is moody, unpredictable and interesting. Only thing is, I can’t count on the weather.

I believe that both Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln were writers. They left lovely examples of their work. How neat when a person’s thoughts last that long. A writer couldn’t ask for more than that!

http://www.amazon.com/Blanche-Day-Manos/e/B0090018EI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://pen-l.com/Mystery.html