I loved going to school. The smell of the old wooden floors. The creaking as you walked across them. And the learning. My brain was like a sponge then. I started on the encyclopedia, A. "Big A, Little A, what begins with A? Aunt Annie's alligator, A, A, A." Oh wait, that was a Dr. Seuss discovery when my little sister was beginning to read. (Many moons after PA.) Though I did read about alligators. I could have easily become that Crocodile man's wife back in those days. I would bet you I read about alligators for 30 days, over and over and over. Fascinating.
And then there was Joey. He was the man in my life then. We both got in trouble for talking in class. Know the punishment? We had to lead morning prayer the following day. Yes, prayer. In a public school. And it was probably the first time I can remember praying publically. We behaved ourselves after that.
But what I remember most, that many left coasters don't know is, the story of Squanto. "Who is Squanto?" you ask. Squanto was the Indian, as in Native American, who helped the Pilgrims (and basically became an "abducted alien" from his own land.) read about squanto here But mostly he taught them how to grow their crops and develop their land. Following his lead, they began a nation that has had the most bountiful harvests ever since. Full cornicopias. Horns of Plenty!
And there in that PA classroom I used to day dream, watching the clouds gather over the purple mountains majesty.....I didn't know then that there were other majestic mountains in our country that we would later discover as we travelled across our great country.
These are the things I remember as Thanksgiving in the USA. At least in my life. A bountiful life where, even in strife He has been good and faithful to me and mine.
We gather together
to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens
His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing;
Sing praises to His Name;
He forgets not His own.
Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining
His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side,
all glory be Thine!
We all do extol Thee,
Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still
our Defender will be;
Let Thy congregation
escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!
Amen.
3 comments:
Not written in your elementary history books was that Squanto (a.k.a. Hector Squanto DeLaTorre) actually tresspassed into the Indian's lands from an area we now call Mexico. The Indians captured him and dropped his first and last names because they couldn't pronounce them and passsed him off to the Pilgrims, who then sent him into the slavery of another colony. Squanto was the first known illegal immigrant to the United States and was followed by millions more, which eventually led to what will be known as the World-wide Financial Collapse of 2008. Amen.
You're getting cynical in your old age, papa.
Here you go:
Big W, litte w, what begins with W?
Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
OK it's kind of creepy when you read it on its own.
that was tonto, brudda. and you are right. he was on tv. black and white. kimosabe'
,,,,some kind of mice in singing in the moonlight, mighty nice. (?)
Post a Comment