I admit that I miss autumn in the north. Living in Texas, you don’t see very much color. There is something just not right about hayrides in 90 degree heat! I just returned from a trip through Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, where the foilage is beautiful, the temperatures are cool, and the caramel apples are awesome. Enjoy!
Happy Halloween!
Earlier this summer I posted about my visit to the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. It was such a great experience, I decided that as I headed from Dallas to Ohio and Kentucky, I would stop and check out the Clinton Library. I am so glad I did, as it was fascinating on many levels. In addition to the library itself, the museum is currently hosting a Chihuly glass exhibit! It was a very enjoyable day.
During the campaign for the Presidency in 1992, Bill Clinton went on talk shows and played the sax. He also played at his inauguration ball.
The Clintons failed to pass their Health Care Reform Bill….but I think there might be time for them to do this. (I believe Hillary Rodham Clinton will run for President).
The digital age was truly born during the Clinton years. I remember getting our first PC Christmas, 1993. My son, Wes, wanted to constantly play with the Dinosaur disc it came with.
The 1990s witnessed the growth of antagonism in political debate. The President was vilified by the Right, led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. I miss the days when politics could be discussed calmly, without rancor. The vituperative discourse has only grown worse.
The replica of the Oval Office was extremely interesting. Two things caught not only my interest, but my fascination. The first of these was the collection of “challenge coins” behind the desk. These are a small portion of Clinton’s collection, he has over 400 challenge coins that have been presented to him. A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale (Wikipedia). When President Clinton visited military installations, service areas, etc, he was given a challenge coin. He saved them all, and has the largest collection of any President.
The second most interesting part of the history of the Oval Office during the Clinton years surrounded the Resolute Desk. The Resolute Desk is very famous, for several historical reasons. First, there are six Resolute Desks, made out of the HMS Resolute (Her Majesty’s Ship) which foundered in the ice of the Arctic, which it was exploring. It lay frozen in the ice for several years, and when rediscovered, Queen Victoria had several desks made from the wood of the ship. Four desks were designed and made by William Evenden. The desk in the Oval Office (currently used by Barack Obama) was presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes on 23 November 1880. A small “lady’s desk” was presented to the widow of Henry Grinnell and this desk is now in the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Queen Victoria had two desks made for herself: one similar to the one given to the president and people of the United States, currently in Windsor Castle; and a writing table, which she had made for her private yacht, HMY Victoria and Albert II. The writing table is in the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.
Now, the Resolute Desk was made very famous by President John F Kennedy Jr. His son played beneath the desk, where a “filler” partition was made and inserted by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR did not want others to see his crippled legs, so he added the hinged center piece with the US Eagle so it hid his disability. Look at the photo below, of the Eagle, closely.
The arrows in the Eagle’s left talons represent War, while the Olive Branches in the Eagle’s right talons represent peace. Note that the Eagle’s face is turned toward the Arrows of War. There are only four such depictions in the White House. The now Official Presidential Seal depicts the US Eagle facing Peace, the Olive Branches. There are 13 arrows, and 13 olive branches, symbolizing the 13 original colonies.
My trip to the Museum was fascinating. I loved hearing about the history of the challenge coins and the Resolute Desk. The Presidential Libraries were historically fascinating, representing not only the presidencies but the “times”. I do realize that there is a brand new Presidential Library within 5 miles of my house in Dallas. I am not ready to tour that museum…but I’m sure I will be someday. Those days and “times” are still too close for my comfort….
Thomas Wolfe said one can’t go home again, and in a sense, that’s true. I cannot be a child again. My parents are gone, friends have moved on, and much has changed, yet the landmarks remain, and there are still people I care about. I had forgotten the beauty of the change of seasons, and the simple pleasures of the country…hayrides, fruit and vegetable farms, pumpkin patches. A piece of my heart will always be here, the place where I grew up: Montgomery County, Southern Ohio.
I have a family wedding next week in Kentucky, so I drove up a week early to spend time with my “sister” and her family. Holly isn’t really an actual relative, but our parents were best friends, and I’ve known her since I was a baby. I normally saw her at least 2 or 3 times a week, during which she and my big brother, Mike, teased and tortured me, as older siblings do. They were a team when we were little, and I was the baby. They locked me in dark closets, told me there was no Santa, and committed the usual tricks that siblings perform. I survived. Mostly, the times were good. We spent our Christmas Eves together, watched The Wizard of Oz together, and played together. Holly is 6 years older than I, and I thought she was the coolest thing ever when she was in high school, and received her driver’s license. So many of my childhood memories include Holly. She is family and an integral part of my life, as is her husband and two daughters.
And they have kept me busy! Taking drives around the area, seeing what is new, driving through the cornfields, taking hay rides, picking pumpkins, visiting Yellow Springs, Ohio where Antioch College was founded in 1852 (it is the cutest town, and very progressive). We also went to Young’s Dairy to eat ice cream and pet goats and cows. I even saw a Pumpkin Chunkin’!
I also saw old friends….people I went to elementary with, sang with, and grew up with. It is an incredible experience to sit among them again. The connections are still there, the thread of childhood and the discovery of growing up together. Those memories bind us, and always will.
Tomorrow I head for Kentucky, but this week spent with my “family” has been wonderful. I could use more sleep though….Holly and I have stayed up until 2 a.m. more than once! I have enjoyed the amazing colors of Ohio, so different from the fairly lame display we get in Texas, and I can tell you that hayrides in the cool, brisk air beats hayrides in 90 degree heat. I head out tomorrow, and I leave with a happy, full heart.
Happy autumn!
The Chicago Art Museum is full of treasures….these are just a few of my favorites!
I love Chicago. If you have been there, you know what I mean! Yes, it is too cold to live there (at least for me!), but I’ll take many more visits! I went to the Art Institute, and saw Marc Chagall’s White Crucifixion in person. I absolutely love Chagall’s work, and am fortunate to have some of his Lithographs. Seeing this work in person, up close, was incredibly moving, and exciting, and I could hardly drag myself away. Chicago’s Art Institute is a marvel, but the city, by itself, is art as well.
Next week, more art!
As a native midwesterner, I have to say I LOVE Chicago. What a great city! Fabulous night life, restaurants, art, theater, parks, lake…and so on and so forth. Chicago is a bit different from the other large, popular US cities like New York, Boston, San Francisco….because it is down to earth, and accessible. One doesn’t feel that one cannot drive downtown, one doesn’t fear snobbery (not much, anyway), and anyone on the street will be happy to help. Chicago is the midwestern version of “the big city”. As a midwestern girl (as the Beach Boys would sing) I appreciate frankness with no airs.
My husband and I had a dual purpose in visiting Chicago last week. One of our friends had a daughter getting married at the Westin River North (lovely view of the river!) and Randy had his 40 year high school reunion in La Grange, where he grew up. As a bonus, my hairdresser, Eric, whom I have known since 1990, just moved to Chicago and it was lovely to have dinner and then lunch with him. Eric knows his way around Chicago, and took us to the most wonderful restaurants I’ve ever been to in Chicago. First, he took Randy and I and another (reunion) couple to an Italian eatery called Topo Gigios. Randy and his lifelong friend Murph have been eating and drinking in Chicago for many years, but Murph has decided that Topo Gigios is his new favorite Chicago restaurant. That means it is really good! Strange name, I thought, until my Baby Boomer friends (older baby boomers, I’m on the tail end) informed me that Topo Gigio is a cartoon character who was often on the Ed Sullivan Show. I’ve seen reruns of Ed, but I have no memory of the real show back in the 50’s or 60’s. Well, the mouse character is in the restaurant, and as long as he can cook fine Italian cuisine, I love him!
The next delicious venue was Siena Tavern. Siena Tavern is a contemporary establishment, with modern decor and reservation only seating, even at lunch! Eric and I had lunch at the bar, which was actually fun as we kidded around with the bartenders. The menu changes with the seasons….Eric had Italian ribbon noodles while I enjoyed Mozzarella and walnuts, covered with honey. Sigh. Siena Tavern is having Truffle Tasting through October 12….email [email protected]. Very tasty!
The wedding was fabulous, and most of us danced all night. Well, I danced a few times, but many others truly danced the whole time. Randy and I hung out with the Lyons Township High School reunion crowd, and had a great time. The next night was the reunion, and visiting the places of Randy’s childhood. The 40th reunion was quite emotional as Randy was very lucky to be there at all. One year ago, Randy had a double lung transplant and came very close to death. It made the reunion all the more sweeter for us all. (you can read about that journey HERE). I was unable to visit my students in Chicago….next trip!
Well, I will be off on a nostalgic trip of my own soon, as my cousin’s daughter is getting married on October 25 in Kentucky. I’m going to drive up early, stop at the Clinton Presidential Library, check out Hendrix College (did you know I am a college counselor in private practice? Well, I am!), look at Indiana U in Bloomington, and spend time in Ohio with my “sister” (long story…our parents were best friends and we were raised in each other’s pockets…but she is older and she and my older brother tortured me. Which explains a lot about me, actually!
So safe journeys to you, and I will be checking in along the way!
