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He was first Off the Wall Feb. 22, 2007
O.K., I'll admit, I wasn't the best student when it came to history while attending high school. Matter of fact, sitting in the last seat fifth row may have been my proper placement since my grades weren't the best when it came to that subject. I can't say it was entirely my fault. I believe my teacher had an attitude problem as well. When it came right down to it, neither of us liked one another. It was misery from the word go. Trying to make the best of a bad situation only got worse. Is that the real reason I know so little about George Washington? No, I don't think so. I can't blame everything on "the lady." I just wasn't into anything historical back then. It's only as I got older did I start to do a 180, as the saying goes, and began to pay attention to the bygone days. So here we have it today, George Washington's birthday. What can I tell you about this leader of our country? Not a whole lot, I'm ashamed to say. But that's not too rare nowadays. I think people concentrate on their thing and let some of the past that doesn't pertain to them slide by the wayside. What I did learn from doing a little reading is that Mr. Washington was our first president, a well known fact to most. He was born February 22, 1732, on Pope's Creek Farm in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Quite a number of things happened up to his marriage in 1759. It wasn't until 1787 when he became president of the Constitutional Convention that drew up the Constitution of the United States. He then became the first president in 1789. His office would take him to the year 1797. On December 14, 1799, he died at Mount Vernon, Virginia. I know I left a lot of facts out that many history buffs could say I should have included. I don't disagree with any sense of one's imagination. I don't mean to offend anybody, but I'm still not into the background of any one person including most of my relatives. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my aunts, uncles, etc., and their children live in Germany. That makes a difference, you know. Anyway, getting back to George, I hope I am disrespectable by calling him by his first name. Does the rule apply here that one should not let someone call him by his first name only by permission only or more intimate circumstances? In that case, I certainly may be out of line, but, under the circumstances, I guess I'll take that chance. If Mr. President (I know that's acceptable, because I hear Bush being called that) were alive today, he may be astonished to find that his name has not only has been used by people in their names, but municipalities have designated streets after him. Take the first governor of the Plymouth Colony and U.S. Black Scientist George Washington Carver. His parents must have really been inspired to name their son after the first president. I know people are giving their children strange names nowadays, but does the slightest chance exist that someone might go out on a limb and call her offspring Paul Volkmann Ottosmidt? Fat chance very fat chance! Sounds very German, doesn't it? It seems that many of the college athletes I've watched on television have Washington for a last name. All have performed very well. I knew a fellow in my high school class whose last name was that. When it came to football, he was the fellow to carry the ball. What town doesn't have a Washington Street or avenue within its boundaries? It is my opinion that once one becomes a president regardless of time in office, his name will probably end up on some street sign someplace across the U.S. of A. Our country's capitol is none other than Washington, D.C. I have traveled up Mount Washington by car back in my teens. It is said to be the highest peak of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Near Seattle, there is a 20-mile long lake in west central Washington call Lake Washington. Finally, a layer cake with a filling of cream or jam is called Washington pie. Imagining that you are watching me write this story, happy birthday George!
Paul j. volkmann 1/8/07
Sounds very Andy Rooneyish, doesn't it? |
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