Oh yeah? Resolve THIS!
Mornin’, campers. It’s early, on the first day of the new year. I’ve had a rousing breakfast consisting of a bowl of peanuts, three orange milano cookies, and five-yr-old tea I decided to brew in the coffeemaker. There’s a first time for everything, you know, and I thought - it being the first day of a new year - I might as well do something novel with the tea, well, besides drink it. (It HAD been five years.) Of course, then I remembered seeing a tea-brewer at the store when I was out buying all my gifts the day before Christmas, so I guess it’s not such a novel idea after all. But I’ll bet the people who used their tea-brewer this morning didn’t have a cup of five-yr-old tea that tasted like coffee, now, did they? Okay then.
As you can tell from the preceding paragraph, I’m an adventurer, and I don’t mind bragging a little to say I’m from a long line of adventurers. In fact, if any of you have spent any amount of time with me at all, even one minute on the phone, or five interminable hours over Thanksgiving dinner, you already know that I had ancestors who sailed over from England on the Mayflower. This has always been a point of pride for me. I was delighted to be part of a line of people who flew in the face of persecution and their King to establish a colony in which they could worship the way they wanted to.
Ha ha, silly me. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of asking for Nathaniel Philbrick’s new book Mayflower for Christmas, and all my delusions were shattered. (By the way, Scott turned the entire island of Nantucket over to find it for me and since the author lives there, to get it signed: “To Kelly, a Proud Mayflower Descendant - Nat Phiilfihkhjh”). Wasn’t that nice of Scott, though he had no idea he was taking a hammer to my dreams? Anyway, within two chapters, I found out that not even one of my ancestors was a Puritan. One was a cooper hired on to make sure the beer barrels didn’t bust during the journey, and whom I believe wrote The Beer Barrel Polka, though I can’t be sure because I haven’t done any research to find out; and the others were from families the Puritans termed “The Strangers”, people taken on just because they wanted to tag along for the ride, and had beer money.
However, seeing as - in subsequent chapters - the Puritans went on to massacre Indians, hang Quakers, and burn witches, I’m probably better off with the accordian-playing, merry-Maypole-making, Christmas-celebrating crowd. I don’t know. What do you think?
I’m going to have to write again tomorrow, because I suddenly have lots to say. I hope you guys have a great New Year’s Day. And remember to follow your Aunt Kelly’s favorite New Year aphorism which she just made up: If resolutions make ye, the devil may take thee. Let your only resolution be to find peace for yourself this year. kiss, friends! xo
January 1st, 2007 14:05
I am first on the first. My ancestors didn’t come over on the Mayflower, but Ben Franklin is supposedly in the lineage back there. And a distant cousin is defintely Bing Crosby.
When I speak of being at the Edigers I am speaking of Debbie and the Kids. I havent said three words to Brad in the last ten years.
We spent New Years Eve with the Smouses and Rowletts. Hope to see you at readerman.
January 1st, 2007 14:14
Did you just write a new post, Roddy? Because I was over there early this morning, and even deigned to leave you a comment. Shock shock, I know! Hey, it’s awesome that you’re related to Bah bah bah Bing, and Bah bah bah Ben. How our ancestors must roll over in their graves over US, eh?
Your New Year’s sounds fun. I was in bed by 7p! xo
January 1st, 2007 14:24
Never wanted to be a puritan anyway.
Seriously - we found some of that out a couple years ago, and I didn’t mind at all. Makes our past much more interesting and not so self righteous, eh?
Happy New Year Cuz Kelly - and yes I will have to check out the book!
xo
January 1st, 2007 14:31
Best New Year’s Entry Ever! Thanks for the giggle on this, the first day of Twenty-Oh-Seven. I had no idea that there were people hired to keep the beer barrels safe. What an excellent job!
January 1st, 2007 15:44
Karedy Kuz. Okay, did you know our illustrious Stephen Hopkins voyaged to America BEFORE his Mayflower trip, and was on the ship whose trek through turbulent waters inspired Shakespeare to write the storm scene in The Tempest? Yea verily. He also was almost hanged for mutiny, but got off by pleading tearfully for his life. We’ll just skim over that part.
Yes, you must read the book. It’s excellent. xo
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Heathy doo. Oh yay! Making you laugh is the reason I write. Yes, YOU personally. And isn’t it ironic that my people would’ve been hired to keep the beer safe, when I hate beer? Even though I’ve tried to like it? And still hate it? Isn’t it ironic? Isn’t it?
I’d still take the job, though. xo
January 1st, 2007 19:24
I used to tell people I was related to Kit Carson because I thought it was so cool. I don’t know if anyone ever believed me.
And I have to ask Rod if he knows anything about Bing Crosby. Becuase he is from Spokane, you know. And apparently Rod thinks Spokane is the backwoods of Washington. Apparently backwoods was good enough for Bing.
Love the Beer Barrel Polka (how can you not love a polka?) and am so glad to know someone related to whoever wrote it.
Happy New Year Kel-Kel.
January 1st, 2007 21:43
Actually Kelly, I had heard reference to that, and always intended to do research on it, but was too lazy. Then, I thought I might read The Tempest to see what it was all about, but Shakespeare and I have a love hate relationship. I love it if some one explains it in plain ‘ole English. The double entendres are often missed tho, and that is half the fun……
You didn’t steer me wrong with O Rugged Land of Gold so I guess I should trust you on this one too.
xo
January 2nd, 2007 17:19
My ancestors (on the mother’s side) were (shockingly) Protestants! Boo, hiss etc. But they decided to convert to Catholicism (yeah! rock on!) during the Penal Laws (bad timing baby) and lost all their land. And presumably lots of privileges associated with being part of the minority-religion-ruling-class-type-peoples in a country full of persecuted-majority-religion-native-types-under-the-thumb-of-the-other-dudes. Dopes.
And what in the hell is a tea-brewer? I’m so confused.
Oh, and Happy New Year. And all that.
January 3rd, 2007 13:20
Oh YAH? Oh, yeah?!!
Well, my ancestors may not have been Puritan either, (although I really have no idea), but Billy the Kid was in my family tree somewhere. (Not a direct line, thankfully–he was more of a very distant cousin.)
And my husband’s grandma’s cousin was that guy that disappeared in Oregon with a plane and a bunch of gold that they made that movie “Without A Paddle” about.
So, apparently, my only claim to fame is being related to famous criminals. Hmmph.
January 6th, 2007 12:47
I thought I had commented on this, but I apparently forgot to.
Happy New Year!
I’m not into NY resolutions. They have never worked for me. But I do may something along the lines of quarterly resolutions. Or at least I have for every leg of Charles’ absence and I find that it works much better for me. But they are loosely defined you know, like “run more” or “mostly avoid sweets” and that sort of thing.
January 15th, 2007 20:56
I’m totally stealing that: “Oh YEAH? Resolve THIS.” And maybe putting a playful little “biotches” onto the end of it. Just for a bit of added flair. ; )
Happy! 2007 to you my KellyBelly.