MAKE HISTORY - HISTORY IS A STORY SO WHY NOT BE PART OF IT?

MAKE HISTORY – HISTORY IS A STORY SO WHY NOT BE PART OF IT?

Where to start?

Make a statement such as “I represent my ancestors” and then tell a bit about them before getting to you.

Write your own obituary.

Use a historical timeline such as: “I was born just before Pearl Harbor was bombed”.  “I grew up loving Elvis” or “for a kid who was born before television isn’t it remarkable to have Google? ”

Include any special family sayings.  My grandmother always said, “A cat can eat a grind stone one nibble at a time.”

Collect family memorabilia and include it.  Pictures are very important.

As you write a theme will come to mind that will give you a title. 

Lulu has stock covers that you can customize or if you are adventurous do your own art work.

Both suggested methods of publishing are free.  You can use Lulu.com or publish a blog. The blog can be made into printed material or simply exist in the ether.

Go to Lulu.com and watch the Demo.  Type Woodrough into the search box to see what I’ve written or helped publish.  All of the covers are my own design, but you can use Lulu.com templates. 

The easiest way to make a blog for yourself is to go to mine chihuahuasforchange.blogspot.com and in the upper right you will see “make new blog” Click on that and you will be asked to make an account.  Follow the bouncing ball.  Be sure to note the URL of you blog so you can get back to it.

If you get stuck, give me a call and I’ll walk you through it. Margot 898-9003.

Here’s my favorite quote – you may want to use it as a jumping off place for your story.

"My character or nature is made up of infinite particles of inherited tendencies from my ancestors – a little seed of laziness came from this grandfather, some remote grandmother has stamped me with a fear of dogs and a love of horses; there may be in me a bit of outlawry from a pirate forefather, and a dash of piety from one who was a saint. My so-called particularities, my gestures, my ways and manners, I borrow them all, without exceptions. So everything in me passes on through my children. I am sewn between ancestry and posterity."

Oliver Wendall Holmes

DONALD TRUMP

We have been so distressed at Donald Trump.  Paul Krugman hit the nail on the head with this piece.
I have been reading my previous posts and it is quite clear this has been coming for years.  I am so glad that I will be released from this life soon. I weep for the kidlets.

The party of Lincoln is now the party of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Southern slave owners who decided to kill fellow Americans so that they could keep men, women and children enslaved. The Republican Party, in other words, has obliterated its entire historical legacy and become the party of the Enemies of Lincoln.

And let’s be clear: Republicans cannot say, “That’s not us — that’s just President Trump.” They supported him, they elected him, they defended him and they gave him the aura of a normal presidency. They cannot be the party of Lincoln and be the party of Trump. In that vein, we can dispense with Republicans’ “outrage,” “frustration,” “anger” and all other meaningless expressions of internal sentiment. Unless and until they are prepared to do something — not just send tweets — to politically disown Trump, the party is toast and none of its members should be elected or reelected.

How would they do this? First, elected officials must deny Trump the audience he so desperately craves. They need not appear with him, nor invite him to the Hill. (The State of the Union can be delivered from the White House or in writing; he would besmirch the House by appearing there.) Lawmakers and state officials should not troop to the White House for photo ops. They can communicate with the White House by phone or through aides. In short, Trump must be shunned and ostracized. He is not fit for polite company, let alone the presidency. He has demolished the rules of civilized behavior, and therefore should enjoy none of the ceremonial niceties that are extended to normal presidents.

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Second, beyond resolutions condemning Trump’s remarks, every member of Congress should do his or her utmost to remove the neo-Nazi iconography in their districts and states. Neo-Nazis have claimed the Confederacy as their own — and therefore have reminded the rest of us that the Confederate statues are not tributes to patriotism, gallantry or liberty but to treason, inhumanity and slavery. That is why neo-Nazis identify with these symbols of the Old South. That is why they have no place in a democratic society built on the principle that “All men are created equal.” State and local officials need to carefully examine school curriculum to make sure students are not confused as to the heroes and the villains in the Civil War. Every student should learn to spot and debunk the “Lost Cause” propaganda. Perhaps April 9 should be a national holiday commemorating the Confederacy’s surrender and the magnanimity displayed by President Abraham Lincoln and U.S. generals toward their defeated foes.

Third, Cabinet members, sub-Cabinet officials, staffers and outside participants on councils, commissions and committees must leave the administration. It’s not enough, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, to look on with a pained expression as the president declares that some of the white nationalists were “very fine” folks. He deceived you and others as to what he would say and he has shown himself unfit. You cannot serve in the administration of a neo-Nazi sympathizer. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, why stay in an administration in which you command so little respect and in which you must lend your own reputation to a disgraceful president? (Defense Secretary Jim Mattis should remain, a final backstop to prevent a military disaster.)

Fourth, Republicans must treat the president as they would someone not of their party — for he is not, to repeat, of the party of Lincoln. If Hillary Clinton refused to release her tax returns, hired unqualified relatives, kept business ventures that posed a conflict of interest and violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause, Republicans would commence hearings and pass legislation to put an end to all of it. It’s long past the time that Trump should be permitted to escape the kind of inquiry Republicans would insist upon for any Democratic president. By refusing to do so, the GOP is saying: “He’s one of ours. He’s a Republican, so we don’t rock the boat.”

Fifth, now would be a fine time for formation of a third party, one that can at the end of the Trump presidency repeal and replace the GOP. The Free Republican Party, the Appomattox Republicans (It cannot be said enough: The Confederates were losers) or whatever ex-Republicans in the center-right call themselves can endorse for office defectors from the GOP and reclaim Republicans who have disassociated themselves with the GOP thanks to Trump. Moderate Republican House members of the Tuesday Group, the new Centrist Project (dedicated to backing independent candidates), members of Stand Up Republic (founded by 2016 conservative independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and his former running mate, Mindy Finn) and others have the chance to stake their claim as the true successors to the party of Lincoln. Those who have wrestled with the question as to whether the GOP could be reformed or whether it should be discarded in light of Trump’s GOP takeover have their answer. If they cannot disgorge him, they must start over.

In sum, Republicans’ words are insufficient and, at this point, insufferable. When we look back at this time, the only thing people will ask is: “What did you do?” Republicans will need a better answer than “I was outraged and gave tough quotes — on background.”

PALE BLUE DOT

We succeeded in taking that picture, and, if you look at it, you see a dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives. The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings, thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilizations, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every hopeful child, every mother and father, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species, lived there – on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.

[...] To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

— Carl Sagan, speech at Cornell University, October 13, 1994

DOLPHIN CAY and FAB Fiber

Three years ago we sold our two units at The Florencia in order to buy one last home.  The "kidlets" were getting so big and needed room to roam.  One of the units brought enough money to purchase the house.  I made a You Tube so the "kidlets" would remember the place.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=UMTp82KS_qY

For the first time in my life I have a housekeeper who comes monthly to keep the place up.  Last year Amy and Jamy moved into the garage apartment.  Amy comes three times a week to keep my feathers fluffed with an hour's worth of exercise.

The next biggest excitement was the creation of Fab Fiber at 5708 Gulfport Blvd.

My dear partner Elizabeth Neily

Seventy-fifth Trip Around the Sun

My Seventy Fifth Trip Around the Sun

So far this was the worst birthday ever. Below is a letter I wrote to Greystone Home Health. I can not describe my 75^th birthday any better:

My husband and I have used Greystone three times in the past and written glowing reviews. In fact we had a particularly nice relationship with Sheri Blume whom I understand is no longer with Greystone. We are equally fond of Aycha and Prisca.

Our most recent experience has been a nightmare of epic proportions. On Saturday July July 15^th my husband was near a wall that collapsed and lacerate his leg. 911 was called and he was taken to St. Anthony’s emergency room. I spoke with him by phone while he was being stitched up and told him to get an order for home health. It was about 6:00pm and knowing it was the weekend I called Greystone to give them a scheduling heads up. I was told that the order needed to come from his primary doctor so I called Dr. Gross’s office (Baycare Medical Group) and got the “on call” physician who said she couldn’t issue the order. On Sunday the wound started bleeding through the bandage making a spot about the size of an orange. I again called primary and got same “on call” doctor who was rather short with me saying: Mrs. Woodrough I told you last night I cannot write the order. (one wonders why she didn’t contact Dr. Gross but I didn’t think to ask at the time).

By now I was frantic as was my husband. He is 80 years old recovering from recent back surgery and not very mobile with the wound. I spoke with Donna at Greystone and she said nothing could be done without an order. I was left with no alternative except to call an acquaintance who is a retired nurse. She came and changed the bandage Sunday and Monday.

On Monday I started calling Dr. Gross’s office early and the line was constantly busy. About noon I finally got through to the office and made my request. When I received no response in the afternoon I started calling again and getting the same busy signal. Finally toward the end of the day I received a message that Dr. Gross (primary) was not going to issue an order since there was a referral from St. Anthony’s for Steve to see a wound care specialist (Dr. Murphy) on Tuesday. Dr. Murphy saw Steve on Tuesday and faxed the order to Greystone early afternoon of Tuesday the 18^th of July. Both Steve and I made several follow up calls to Greystone Tuesday afternoon and were told they were waiting of a form 485 (? I think that is the number I was told) and a third piece of paper. Steve seems to be of the impression you were still waiting for a referral from Primary Dr. Gross (whose phone continued to be busy) It was late Tuesday the 18^th that the paperwork apparently was all in place. (On Wednesday July 19^th both Steve and I spoke with our insurance company and were assured that there was coverage. Steve and I both asked that the customer service representative contact Greystone which they did.)

However, no one from Greystone came until Thursday the 20th when Prisca came. (I told Prisca about the nightmare and she said I should talk to you.) (I did get a call from Donna but it was unproductive.) Yesterday Leasa came to dress the wound and complete the paperwork and we are now on a sound footing with Greystone. I told Leasa of the trouble and she encouraged me to talk with you. I asked her to have you call me at your convenience.

Please tell me for future reference how this nightmare could have been avoided. (I must have a very sound heart as the stress would surely have killed me last week.)

After sixteen years of luxury living our precious Little Libby died in her sleep in June. May was an interesting month with the visit of the Woodroughs for the Derby Party, the party itself followed by Steve's back surgery then a visit from the McDermotts.

All of the kidlets are growing up to be lovely people.  their parents have raised them well.

After Libby's death I searched for another long hair chihuahua and found a dream dog in Isla.  She joined our family in August and is truly the best dog in the world.

I cannot bring myself to detail the emotional distress that Donald Trump has inflicted on the country.  As I write this august 16th 2017 it appears that Republicans are finally getting the message, but it has been a long time coming.  Unfortunately, the damage done to our country may never be repaired.  Last weekend there were racist riots in Charlottesville, Virginia.  The Tea Party and radical right have split the country in ways that remind me of the Civil War.

I've said it before and will repeat that I am ready for my life to be over.  No regrets.

Bi Centennial 1976 DUNWOODY GEORGIA

History is a story and a story must have a beginning, but where?  My genealogy research was born of the Bi Centennial celebration of 1976. It is a story of America as seen through some of its most notable people.  You will not find these most of these people listed in history books.  However, they are no less important.  These are the people who make up the whole of the United States.  It is they, collectively, who are America and they are notable and worthy of remembrance.  Their names may not be known but their spirit is.  I researched the family back following all the paths.  Here is a remembrance of July4, 1976.

Today is the Fourth of July 1976 – two hundred years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. Celebrations are planned across the country, but in Atlanta they will be smaller as the rain is pouring ceaselessly.  Atlanta seems to be the only rainy place in the country this Independence day.  Yesterday the Dunwoody Community parade passed through the small but growing crossroads north of Atlanta.  Most observers and parade participants were not from either Atlanta or the south.  Most residents of Dunwoody are from other parts of the United States and particularly from the north.  They are new immigrants to this growing center of business activity.  The climate is agreeable and the people still unspoiled and friendly.  It seems everyone wants to come to Atlanta and Dunwoody is one of Atlanta’s better neighborhoods.

Today the people of Dunwoody cannot attend a picnic, go to Lake Lanier or even attend a fireworks display at Stone Mountain.  July 4^th 1976 is sodden with an unremitting cold rain.  The only alternative is enjoying the activity of others as seen on the day-long coast to coast coverage on the three networks.  But, perhaps that is not so bad after all.  How else could one get such a marvelous overview of the whole country’s activities and taste the entire buffet of activity: from the blood chilling entrance of the tall ships into New York harbor; the reenactment of the battle of Gettysburg; to the playing of the 1812 Overture by the Boston Symphony complete with real cannon and fireworks.  The grand finale was the magnificent firework display at the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.  It was an exhilarating day and while the rain restricted our physical movements perhaps it provided us with a bonus bird’s eye view.

What a country and what a people.  How did it come to be?  Who are these people? How are we one? In personal terms, exactly what did independence mean to people two hundred years ago?  Do we still share the same feelings, hopes and fears as they?  Let’s take a look and as we look keep in mind that two hundred years passes quickly.  Will our descendants two hundred years hence ask the same questions?  We must be sure to leave something worthy of their backward glance.

We are a family of four living in Dunwoody Georgia.  The children are Stephens Blakely Woodrough age 13 and Page Annette Woodrough age 5 this Bi Centennial year.  These future adults are presently blessed with a relatively stable world and it does not look as though Stephens, Jr. will face military draft.  Page lives in a time of women’s liberation and will be free to be exactly the person she wishes.  Once she finishes her education she will be free from the prejudices that have restricted women for thousands of years.  The future is full of hope; there will be problems, but it appears that the country is headed in a forward direction.

The parents are Margaret Vollmer Woodrough and Stephens Blakely Woodrough who live at 1823 Trowbridge Drive in a lovely spacious home full of various projects and interests of the senior Woodroughs.  Both Steve and Margot are immensely interested in life.  They are curious, searching, thinking people and have been active in the community.  They were married in the year that John Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas Texas.  Their early years together were tormented by the escalating Vietnam War.  Inflation was rising but in general things were economically sound and income kept pace with rising costs.

Politically things were worsened by the election of Richard Nixon as President.  Neither Woodrough voted for him but somehow in spite of the odds a majority of citizens did. Nixon’s story over the next six years is most important as it tested the constitution and the resolve of the founding fathers.  With Nixon’s resignation and the new presidency of James Carter there is much hope.  Time will tell.

Steve and Margot Woodrough were married at St. Stephens Martyr Church in Washington D.C on Pennsylvania Avenue.  It is a lovely new church which was recently built to replace an older outdated structure.  St. Stephens was the parish church for the Kennedys while they were in the White House.  At the time of her marriage Margaret Vollmer was living at 2411 H Street NW in a little townhouse that was recently renovated. This area of the city was gentrified and called “Foggy Bottom”.  Previously it housed some of the worst slums and the city’s gas tanks.  The gas tank land remained vacant for many years and it was on this site that the infamous “Watergate” apartment and office building building of Nixon’s Watergate scandal was built.  Down the street was the once  infamous (of Watergate fame) Howard Johnson Hotel where one could go for a drink after work and a quick pack of cigarettes.  A little further down Virginia Avenue was the Harry T. Thompson Water Sports Center.  It was the perfect summer meeting spot where one could bicycle up the C and O Canal tow path, or take a canoe to Theodore Roosevelt Island and marvel at the fact that once Indians stalked its trails.  On summer evenings there were concerts at the Watergate Concert barge at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Bridge. These were the tag ends of a calm peaceful simple time.

Change was coming, but we didn’t know it.  In 1963 the “Poor Peoples March” on Washington launched Martin Luther King into national conscious followed by his assassination and student protest over the Vietnam War.  It was these events that made the Bi-centennial year appear serene and special.  Had we finally come together?

THOMAS PAINE

I like this quote very much.