for those lucky enough to survive the sinking of the Titanic.
Roughly two hours after the Titanic sunk, the steamship RMS Carpathia, reached the site and were able to rescue 705 survivors. On this day in 1903, the ship arrived safely in New York City.
Here is a photo of Margaret Brown (the unsinkable Molly Brown), giving Captain Roston a silver cup and a gold medal.
Ironically, the Carpathia was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy and sunk on July 17, 1918. Captain Roston was not aboard.
Mama liked Miss Helen’s moonshine, but only when she drank with Beauty. Once, when the summer was too hot for anything else, Mama, Scooter and me, took Beauty to the swimming hole. Mama spread out a red blanket and plopped a picnic basket on top. Scoot and me ate cheese and tomato sandwiches and crunched apples while Mama and Beauty drank Miss Helen’s hooch out of paper cups. Beauty got so ossified, she stripped naked and jumped in the creek. It Jolted me a bit, but Scooter didn’t care on iota.
“Betty Bedford, get out of the creek before you drown,” Mama said, laughing.
Then Beauty stood up in water only waist deep, her bosoms shining with moisture. She’d laughed and said, “Hard to do unless something pulls me under.”
No matter where we went, Mama and Beauty always had fun together. Except when everything went wrong.
Excerpt from The Moonshine Thicket
Cono Dennis, my father, at age 18
I still think it’s a crying shame that I had to spend so much time thinking it was my fault. I guess that’s what we do sometimes, take the blame for things that just aren’t our fault, especially when we don’t know any better. But back then I didn’t have a Colonel Posey to tell me any different.
Last week on the base, that responsibility was especially tough, and I don’t feel much like I lived up to it. I was right in the middle of running a training exercise when a young private missed the rope leading down from the
I still think it’s a crying shame that I had to spend so much time thinking it was my fault. I guess that’s what we do sometimes, take the blame for things that just aren’t our fault, especially when we don’t know any better. But back then I didn’t have a Colonel Posey to tell me any different.
Last week on the base, that responsibility was especially tough, and I don’t feel much like I lived up to it. I was right in the middle of running a training exercise when a young private missed the rope leading down from the Climbing wall. He fell fifteen feet to the ground, landing wrong. We all ran over and circled him like a bunch of buzzards.
“Sergeant Dennis,” he says, “My neck. I don’t feel so good.”
“Aw, you’ll be all right son,” I told him. “They’re coming to take ye to the hospital. You’ll be all right.”
But he wasn’t. Private Henderson died later that day.
So far, almost every night since then, I imagine him lying there on that hard ground, his eyes staring into mine with confusion and fear. I’d lied to him.
Colonel Posey told me I had done nothing wrong, that it wasn’t my fault Private Henderson had died. He told me I was the best sergeant he’d had so far, told me how he appreciated me. I looked at him for a second or two until all the guilt flew off my shoulder like specks of dirt in a windstorm.
Excerpt from No Hill for a Stepper, my father’s story
otherwise, you’ll get Cranky. Cranking it wrong could cause serious injuries to your wrist and arms! So, before you, my blogger friends, start your cars today, be aware. 🙂
Today in 1865, our 16th President of the United States died after being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a confederate spy.
Quotes from Abraham Lincoln:
“I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not only his own condition, but to assist in ameliorating mankind.”
“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
“I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think and feel.”
And finally,
“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.”
Sadie threw her arms around me and buried her face in my shoulder. “I’m so grateful you’re here. Maybe it’s time for me to go out. I think Miss Fannie won’t mind as long as I’m with you. I could take you to Brackenridge Park. It’s supposed to be beautiful. It’s named after one of our citizens, George Brackenridge. You know, the waterworks magnate?”
George Brackenridge, Mary Eleanor’s brother.
“I can’t today, Sadie. I’m going to visit Aunt Amelia. Another time, perhaps?”
Sadie withdrew her hug and narrowed her eyes. “I thought you just saw her. Truly, Meta? A visit every day?”
Her sarcastic wrath unwarranted, I clenched my hands into fists. “She is the reason I came here, Sadie. Did you forget?”
Sadie took a step back and glared at me. “I’ve changed my mind about going downstairs. You don’t like me because I’m a prostitute. I know that now. You’re only here so you can play your precious piano.”
“Sadie—”
“Please, do go down without me.”
Veins pulsed in my neck. “And you are only using me to ameliorate your guilt. Your insouciance for others is heartless.”
“You realize, don’t you, that you rely on your big words to puff yourself up. It’s unbecoming.”
Thoughts of Uncle Dirk reappeared. Why? Because Sadie had spoken to me with arrogance and superiority? Because she questioned my intelligence? My stomach churned.
“Let me know if I should move into Etta’s room.” Bitterness dripped from my tongue. I felt happy to descend the stairs alone.
Excerpt from The Last Bordello
I love looking at the past. I took this photo yesterday when I was downtown. These old railroad tracks have existed for over one-hundred years. I wonder if the new buildings will as well.
On this day, April 9, 1965, Time Magazine featured the Peanuts gang. Why? This was the Vietnam era. It was also the year of Bloody Sunday when 200 Alabama State Troopers attacked 525 civil rights demonstrators in Selma as they attempted to march to Montgomery. So why the Peanuts cover?
Charles “Sparky” Schulz’s comic strips had philosophical, psychological, and sociological overtones. In his subtle ways, he wrote of gender equality, the need for racially integrated schools and neighborhoods, and his views against the Vietnam war.
“I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.” – Charles M. Schulz.
Thank you, Charlie Brown and gang. And yes, happiness is a warm puppy.
Yesterday, April 3rd, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his last sermons in Memphis.
“We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop…And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.”
On this day, April 4th, he was assassinated.
God Bless You, Dr. King.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 