study a broad
i have a healthy fascination with the civil war. i have read dozens of books and watched scores of history channel specials focused on varying aspects of the era. the works of ken burns are exceptional. he is comprehensive in his quest to present the civil war to his viewers as a study of the defining event of this nation's history. i am bewildered by the unrelenting violence of the warriors involved. i am stunned by the complexities of the causes and repercussions of the conflict. i am amazed that it took 90 years for the final chapter of the american revolution and continental congress to be written. and i marvel at the titans of history that were created during this war - lincoln, lee, sherman, grant, douglas.
today, i went to the texas book festival with my brother, neil. one of the exhibitors we went to see was charles bracelen flood. he has recently written a book entitled "grant and sherman: the friendship that won the civil war." his presentation was great. he reviewed themes of his work, gave a short reading, answered questions from the audience, and autographed copies of his book for the public. he was very interesting and more than a little engaging. during his presentation, he tried to share information with the audience that most of us would be unlikely to know. on the other hand, if you've read 20 + books on the subject; it will take a while to get stumped. that really neat story about grant and his wild horse at west point ? heard it. grant saving sherman's bacon after the joe johnston surrender? read it. that one time sherman asked his senator brother to squash any talk in the congress of making sherman the supreme commander of union forces (at the expense of his friend, grant?) knew it. before you start getting the idea that i am a history snob, and think i know it all; let me tell you that i enjoy this kind of symposium because i ALWAYS learn things i never had known. today, in the presence of a real scholar, was no exception.
mr. flood shared with us information about the wives of these two men. i know so little on the subject that i can't even give you the names of these two women. mrs. grant and mrs. sherman. does that work? well, mr. flood shared with us the words of a letter penned by mrs. sherman. she was writing to her rebel-defeating husband while he was somewhere out in the western theater. rather than reflecting the genteel, demure, submissive behavior of a victorian lady; mrs. sherman was downright forceful. her reflections on the penalty required of the confederates was not only direct and unremorseful; she basically defined sherman's "scorched earth" policy. perhaps the operation that bissected, disempowered, and defeated the south began at home, in the musings of a woman who knew and loved her man. if so , he was not the first - nor the last - to be edified by the love of a woman.
the other presentation we went to was given by daryl royal and cactus pryor. if any two people can define the austin of the past 50 years, it may be these two men. they spoke alot about football, of course; but , they also told stories of old politicians, television, and fading memories. it was added fun because the discussion was moderated by my friend ed clements. at one point in the presentation, mr. pryor suggested that coach royal had married way above his head. of course, he got a good laugh ; but , this platitude he used has a ring of truth to it , as it applies to all men. most all men who are married really have done so well above their heads.
i love women. i spend most of my days around women at work. i hear their stories, their jokes, and their concerns. women can be alot of fun. i have never outgrown the habit of girl - watching. a friend of mine named scott (age- 65) told me that this voyeuristic practice may never grow old, as he is still a strong practitioner. i guess there is nothing wrong with appreciating God's creations as long as it doesn't devolve into lust, stalking, or a restraining order. but, i digress.
the woman i'm really talking about is the one who keeps my house clean when i'm too lazy to do it. she reminds me of my weakness when i get a little too big in the head. she braces me when i am falling, then lifts me back up. this is the woman who conceived my child, bore him to fruition, and nursed him at her breast. what do i have to offer as recompense? i truly don't know. watching those events was the lynchpin in securing my fidelity to her.
i think all women have this potential in their core. i have known many who seem beyond this kind of benevolence, but if we were able to scrape off the barnacles, fill the tires to proper inflation, and buff out the rough edges; i would wager any could become the woman God created her to be. at least i hope this postulate is true. who can make her so? is this the duty we all share? we owe it to each other and to ourselves. so here's to scraping, filling and buffing. so to speak.
today, i went to the texas book festival with my brother, neil. one of the exhibitors we went to see was charles bracelen flood. he has recently written a book entitled "grant and sherman: the friendship that won the civil war." his presentation was great. he reviewed themes of his work, gave a short reading, answered questions from the audience, and autographed copies of his book for the public. he was very interesting and more than a little engaging. during his presentation, he tried to share information with the audience that most of us would be unlikely to know. on the other hand, if you've read 20 + books on the subject; it will take a while to get stumped. that really neat story about grant and his wild horse at west point ? heard it. grant saving sherman's bacon after the joe johnston surrender? read it. that one time sherman asked his senator brother to squash any talk in the congress of making sherman the supreme commander of union forces (at the expense of his friend, grant?) knew it. before you start getting the idea that i am a history snob, and think i know it all; let me tell you that i enjoy this kind of symposium because i ALWAYS learn things i never had known. today, in the presence of a real scholar, was no exception.
mr. flood shared with us information about the wives of these two men. i know so little on the subject that i can't even give you the names of these two women. mrs. grant and mrs. sherman. does that work? well, mr. flood shared with us the words of a letter penned by mrs. sherman. she was writing to her rebel-defeating husband while he was somewhere out in the western theater. rather than reflecting the genteel, demure, submissive behavior of a victorian lady; mrs. sherman was downright forceful. her reflections on the penalty required of the confederates was not only direct and unremorseful; she basically defined sherman's "scorched earth" policy. perhaps the operation that bissected, disempowered, and defeated the south began at home, in the musings of a woman who knew and loved her man. if so , he was not the first - nor the last - to be edified by the love of a woman.
the other presentation we went to was given by daryl royal and cactus pryor. if any two people can define the austin of the past 50 years, it may be these two men. they spoke alot about football, of course; but , they also told stories of old politicians, television, and fading memories. it was added fun because the discussion was moderated by my friend ed clements. at one point in the presentation, mr. pryor suggested that coach royal had married way above his head. of course, he got a good laugh ; but , this platitude he used has a ring of truth to it , as it applies to all men. most all men who are married really have done so well above their heads.
i love women. i spend most of my days around women at work. i hear their stories, their jokes, and their concerns. women can be alot of fun. i have never outgrown the habit of girl - watching. a friend of mine named scott (age- 65) told me that this voyeuristic practice may never grow old, as he is still a strong practitioner. i guess there is nothing wrong with appreciating God's creations as long as it doesn't devolve into lust, stalking, or a restraining order. but, i digress.
the woman i'm really talking about is the one who keeps my house clean when i'm too lazy to do it. she reminds me of my weakness when i get a little too big in the head. she braces me when i am falling, then lifts me back up. this is the woman who conceived my child, bore him to fruition, and nursed him at her breast. what do i have to offer as recompense? i truly don't know. watching those events was the lynchpin in securing my fidelity to her.
i think all women have this potential in their core. i have known many who seem beyond this kind of benevolence, but if we were able to scrape off the barnacles, fill the tires to proper inflation, and buff out the rough edges; i would wager any could become the woman God created her to be. at least i hope this postulate is true. who can make her so? is this the duty we all share? we owe it to each other and to ourselves. so here's to scraping, filling and buffing. so to speak.
posted by cm at 10/30/2005
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