My favorite selections from The American Patriot’s Almanac (hereinafter referred to as TAPA), a daily journal by Bill Bennett of Americana:
September 1, 1773 Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published: the first volume of poetry by an African American poet. “In every human breast, God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom. It is impatient of oppression, and pants for deliverance.” I can think of no greater cause to be here in Afghanistan right now than to help restore freedoms to these people.
September 2, 1944 George Herbert Walker Bush, the only one of three survivors in his Avenger torpedo bomber crash after taking AntiAirArtillery (“triple A”), is rescued by what? The USS Finback, a submarine! He returned shortly after recovering from his ordeal to the front lines.
September 3, 1777 Captain John Paul Jones raises the Stars and Stripes for the first time on an American warship, the Ranger, in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire. The flag was given him by a group of young ladies who made it out of gowns.
September 4, 1609 Henry Hudson explores New York Harbor before sailing up the Hudson River to present day Albany, New York when he figured out that was not a short cut to China. He would be killed by a mutinous crew along with his son John and seven other just two years later by being set adrift in a small boat in the vast inland sea of Canada, now known as Hudson Bay.
September 5, 1836 Gotta go with “Sam Houston elected president of the Republic of Texas!” Runner-up: 1774, The First Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia to draw up a declaration of grievances against Britain. Just think, we may all be crumpet-eating, tea-sippers if King George had been a little wiser in his handling of “the colonies.”
September 6, 1781 British troops under Benedict Arnold burn New London, Connecticut. Wonder if we could do that again and start over??
07 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Joshua 11-14
TAPA: 1899, In Newport, Rhode Island, 19 cars decorated with flowers and flags participate in the first automobile parade in the United States. One of my grandfather’s brothers used to decorate floats for parades in Central-North Texas. Don’t remember which parades, though…
Workout: 45 min elliptical, chest/arms, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w mixed berry yogurt, Protein Shake
Lunch: Pastrami/cheddar wrap w garlic mustard, fruit salad
Dinner: Turkey breast, shrimp salad, steamed cauliflower, strawberry ice cream
08 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Joshua 15-17
TAPA: 1763, The oldest standing synagogue is the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island (been there, but they don’t do Tee-shirts – just yamulkas.) In a famous letter to the congregation about religious liberty, George Washington avowed that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction,” and that when anyone wishes to worship God in his own way, “there shall be none to make him afraid.”
Workout: 45 min elliptical, shoulders/back, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w peach yogurt, Protein Shake
Lunch: Chicken wrap, fruit salad, shrimp salad, V-8
Dinner: Cheese tortellini pesto, shrimp salad, corn cob, fruit salad, V-8
09 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Joshua 18-21
TAPA: 1776, The Second Continental Congress makes official the term “United States.”
Workout: 45 min elliptical, chest/arms, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w mixed berry yogurt, Protein Shake
Lunch: Chicken breast, green beans, carrots, fruit salad, V-8, diet coke
Dinner: Turkey breast, potatoes au gratin, asparagus (of which I was reminded later when urinating), fruit salad, V-8, iced tea
10 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Joshua 22-23
TAPA: 1813, Following the Battle of Lake Erie (versus the British in the War of 1812), Oliver Hazard Perry sends the message, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.
Workout: 45 min elliptical, shoulders/back, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w mixed berry yogurt, Protein Shake, GJ
Lunch: Chicken wing, pulled chicken, tossed salad, V-8, diet pepsi
Dinner: Chicken breast/wing, jambalaya, corn, broccoli, V-8, butter pecan ice cream
11 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Joshua 24
TAPA: 1941, A groundbreaking ceremony takes place for construction of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
Workout: 45 min elliptical, chest/arms, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w mixed berry yogurt, Protein Shake
Lunch: Chicken Enchiladas, fruit salad, V-8
Dinner: Shrimp, crab legs, green beans, Beck’s NA beer
It’s surreal to be spending any day in Afghanistan, but on this particular day, I am proud to be here doing my part to help make our country, this country, our world a little bit safer.
12 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Judges 1-4
TAPA: 1782, Betty Zane, 16, runs for more gunpowder under a hail of gunfire from British and Indians during the siege of Fort Henry (was part of Ohio, now Wheeling, WV).
Workout: 45 min elliptical, shoulders/back, situps
Breakfast: oatmeal w peach yogurt, Protein Shake
Lunch: Tuna salad wrap, wilted lettuce salad, fruit salad, V-8, diet coke
Ice Coppee: $3 ($1 tip)
Massage: $30 ($10 tip)
Dinner: Pasta, Broccoli salad, Iced Tea
13 Sep 09
Bible Reading: Judges 5-7
TAPA: 1814, A British fleet bombards Fort McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland, as Francis Scott Key looks on. The following morning, overcome with emotion, he would scribble a few lines that began, “O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light…”
Breakfast: 3 eggs over medium w cheddar/jalapenos, biscuit/gravy, coffee
Chapel Service: Ch Sanders used all of Deut 8 as his text wherein God was reminding the Hebrews to do what he said or they would suffer lack. What do we gain during times of lack? Humility, fewer distractions, dependence on God, privilege of focus on God. What are my idols? Where is my Egypt that I want to return to?
Lunch: Chicken enchilada w jalapenos, refried beans, maxican corn (that’s how it was spelled on the dry erase menu board…) and Spanish rice. Dined w my favorite Cuban: Rich Gonzalez.
Nice letter from Lora on marriage vows dated 3 Sep and a box w James Patterson Beach Road, 2 boxes of Bora Bora bars and the sleeve for the speaker system we gave to Melody.
Box of office supplies from Paige at Leonie via Ray at Fenty.
Dinner: Rotisserie chicken, carrots, green beans, fruit salad, V-8, diet pepsi
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