What Would Jimmy Do?

If you’ve read this blog over the years, you know that I’ve often written about the moon. There’s at least a couple of reasons for that — one of my brothers-in-law absolutely believes that the moon influences every aspect of one’s life. So I think that made me a little more aware of the moon, but I’ve always been somewhat fascinated by it.

Anyhow, in a couple of days this month’s full moon will appear. I’m sure you already know that each month’s full moon has a “name.” Most likely, more than one — depending on your ancestral roots or where you live, or what your parents told you, etc. 

The traditional name for the full moon in June is the Strawberry Moon. I know that lately, almost every full moon get some amount of press for being “special” for some reason or other. But the upcoming fully moon on June 11, 2025 really is kind of unique.
It’ll be the lowest full moon of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere.) The moon will rise, and stay, very low in the sky, making its lowest arc for the year. This happens because the full moon in June is opposite the sun, and the sun is at its highest point, so the moon, being opposite, is at its lowest point. The result will be that the moon will appear to hover low over the horizon all night and will create low moon shadows. It will also have a golden color. Because the moon stays low in the sky, it will appear larger than usual — that’s call a moon illusion.

As I said, the June moon is called the Strawberry Moon — the name comes from Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquin. They used it as a mark in time for harvesting strawberries.
In some places this month’s moon is called the Rose Moon and sometimes the Honey Moon — that name possibly comes from it being connected to June weddings. 

So the upcoming moon is special because it’s a low-hanging, golden colored Strawberry Moon. 
But I think the moon is always special…. even when it’s unseen, we trust it’s still there — just like hope in difficult times.
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Seems like recent lunches with friends have become more serious lately. Maybe that’s because it’s getting harder to laugh at most of what goes on anymore. Generally speaking, the news is depressing — not only the US news, but the world news, too.

Yesterday, my friend, that I was having lunch with, said that he thought the US had become a rogue country, and maybe the entire world had become a rogue world. Even though that statement seemed a little harsh, I kind of tended to agree with him. 

Anyhow, last night over a a glass or two, or three, of wine I gave the subject some serious thought. It certainly seems like the world has become more unpredictable, lawless, and more defiant of norms or rules. I didn’t do much extensive research, but I’m pretty sure that many countries are more and more ignoring norms or conventions or institutions. If you think about it, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a clear break from post-World War II rules against aggressive war. Even though global sanctions are in place, North Korea continues missile tests and nuclear development. 

So it appears that there has been a noticeable decline in respect for international agreements and alliances. Trade wars and treaty withdrawals have certainly changed complexion of global cooperation.
Countries like Turkey, Hungary and some others have moved toward more authoritarian styles of government, and our leaders are consolidating power, stifling opposition, and ignoring democratic checks and balances.

On a social level, there’s a growing distrust of institutions, experts, and traditional authorities. Social medial has empowered individual voices — maybe sometimes for good, but often promoting extremism. 

I’m old enough to realize that history has always had its share of chaos — world wars, colonial exploitation, cold war brinkmanship, and so on. But the difference today might be the speed and visibility of these actions and events — probably thanks to digital media. There’s a sense that global order is unraveling faster than ever before.

So — I think my friend is right. The world does feel, and behave, more “rogue” in many ways. It seems more fractured, less rule-bound, and more unstable. But maybe our perception is just intensified by modern technology and global interconnectedness.
I think I may have to start doubling up on lunchtime wine……
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Someone asked me this past weekend if I was going to celebrate Claire’s birthday in a couple of weeks. My initial reaction was, of course — why wouldn’t I? But then I got o thinking, that It was a legitimate question. As I thought about it, I guess many people’s thoughts about birthdays are that they are a mark that someone’s grown a year older. When someone has a birthday, most people, besides offering congratulations or something like that, often ask how old the person celebrating their birthday is. It’s like birthdays are celebrated because on that exact day that a person was born, they’ve made it another year.

So — if birthdays are about years lived, does that mean they should end after a person dies? My answer is no — their birthday is always their birthday. In part to keep my extensive research skills up, I looked up the definition of birthday. It’s interesting that none of the dictionaries I checked, made much mention of the passage of time or the accumulation of years. Most just defined a birthday as the day of a person’s birth, or the anniversary of their birth. Those continue to exist after a person dies. 

Back to the original question — although she’s not here physically, she’s still a big part of me and it’s still her birthday. So when June 13th rolls around, I’m going to celebrate!
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I realize I’ve written about his before, but it came up again over the weekend. Two people in a small group I was talking with said they didn’t know what “woke” meant — at least not the way it is usually used in today’s news. 

The word “woke” has been around a long time, but only fairly recently did it become popular — and — political.
From what I’ve read, “woke” originally came fromAfrican American slang and it meant someone who is awake or aware, especially about racism and social injustice. I remember during all the racial unrest in the 1960’s it was used to encourage people to stay “woke” — to stay aware of the fight for equal rights. 

Of course, social media made it popular once again in the 2010’s — it was used to describe people who were aware of things like, racism, sexism, inequality and LGBTQ rights. It was a positive word, used by people who wanted to show they cared abut fairness and justice. 

But — before too long, politicians and some media started using “woke” in a negative way, saying it meant being too sensitive, trying to force certain beliefs, or being overly politically correct.

It’s worth remembering that the term originally meant being aware of unfair treatment, especially toward people because of their race, gender, or background. It was all about paying attention to how others were treated and caring about making things more fair.
Unfortunately, today, it can mean different things, depending on who says it and how they say it.
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Today is Memorial Day — we always did something on Memorial Day weekend. Even if it wasn’t much, we did something together and that made it special… being together. I was just trying to remember our last Memorial Day together and nothing specific comes to mind — I think it was just one of those quite holidays for us and we just spent time together. Of course those were the best times — our time together. 

When I came downstairs this morning, I remembered that she was usually downstairs first and when I came into the kitchen, she’d always give me the biggest smile. I know I’m biased, but I think she had the most contagious smile I’ve ever seen. I asked  her once how she could always be so happy. 
I remember her saying that she wasn’t happy — she was cheerful. And she explained the difference. Being happy meant that she didn’t have a care in the world, but being cheerful meant that she had worries and issues, but had learned to deal with them. I always wished I could be more like that.
She also said that a smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re home — she was always home…..
Happy Memorial Day!!
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Those of you who know me and some of the ones that read this blog, know that I haven’t had the best of times the past couple of years. I’ve learned a lot in that time — one of the things being who my friends really are. 

Last week, things didn’t get any better when some close friends moved away. I’m happy for them because I think for all the right reasons, the move was absolutely the best thing for them both.
But somehow, it just feels a little empty around here without them…..
We all have people come into our lives and quickly move on — and then some people become our friends and stick around for a while and create a special place in our hearts. And when they leave, we are never quite the same because we became such good friends.
Good luck Norm and Cathy — enjoy “retirement” in Florida…..
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A couple of friends are on an extended vacation to Europe and they chose to sail there rather than fly. 
A few days ago, they sent me a picture of their “stateroom.” I showed the picture to a friend during lunch a few days ago, and he asked why it was called a “stateroom,” and not just a room or maybe even a cabin. 

Well being a good friend, I figured I should check in to that for him. Originally, “state rooms” referred to the grand and luxurious rooms in European palaces and mansions during the 17th and 18th centuries. These rooms were designed for entertaining royalty and high-ranking officials showcasing the wealth and status of the host.

The term “stateroom” also began to be used in the 17th century to describe the captain’s cabin on a ship. As passenger ships became more common, the term evolved to denote the more luxurious cabins reserved for high-paying passengers. These rooms were superior in comfort and amenities compared to standard accommodations. 

Another possible theory — the one I like — is that early American riverboats and steamships often named their passenger cabins after U.S. states — like, the “New York Room,” “Georgia Room,” or “Virginia Room.” Again, these rooms were the more luxurious accommodations — they didn’t have numbers, just names. 
But, no matter how it came about, to this day cabins on ships are called staterooms.
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Some people believe they are on this Earth because they lost a bet with God. Some believe they are here as a messenger for God. And some don’t have any idea why they’re here. 

If David Randal falls into any of these categories it’s probably the latter, but in the process of trying to figure out why, he’s collected an abundant supply of observations about life. Luckily, he’s chosen to share those observations through his first novel. 

Reading his book, Kelsey’s Crossing, you’ll not only witness his ability to make the plain elegant, you’ll possibly be inspired to sharpen your own view — maybe even change the way you view life.
I found his writing style engaging and the book to be a well-crafted novel. I was impressed at how the plot unfolded and the characters seemed real — I felt like I knew them personally and got attached to them very quickly. His descriptions were vivid and added to the story without slowing it down. 

I won’t spoil the plot for you, but it addresses on-going problems that we face in the US. I think the book should be required reading for our current leaders in Washington.
Reading the book was like being taken on a journey. It was a compelling story — well paced and satisfying. I read the book in 3 sittings.
— 30 —

To the love of my life on our anniversary — not just my wife, but also my best friend. On this special day, I’m reminded of the love we had and the incredible journey we shared. I never thought that I’d celebrate an anniversary and you wouldn’t be with me.

I’m pretty sure you’re spreading your charm up there like you did here on earth, but I’m sadly missing you like crazy. The best times of my life I’ve spent with you. Now it seems like my life has turned into just a long waiting period before we’re finally together again.

I thought about how much I love you today, but that’s nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and the day before, and every day. I think of you all the time and I often say your name.
God may have you in Heaven, but I have you in my heart….
Happy Anniversary.
— 30 —

The area we live in is rich with history. I’m constantly learning about historical events and activities that happened in and around Shepherdstown that I didn’t know. A local paper recently ran an article about an event that originated in Shepherdstown that I found interesting.

Back in June of 1775, it was pretty certain that the country was headed toward war – a revolutionary war. It was then that the Continental Congress took a couple of steps to prepare for the battles to come. It put out a call for 10 companies of riflemen from around the colonies and it appointed a 43 year-old Virginian — young, but experienced — to head this new “American Army.” The Virginia Colony was asked to supply two of these companies. In Mecklenburg (the original name for Shepherdstown,) Hugh Stephenson stepped up and had 98 men equipped and trained by mid-July. 

The men assembled just outside of town at Morgan’s Spring on July 17, 1775. Twenty five days later, after a 600 mile march, the men arrived in Cambridge (Massachusetts) and presented themselves to General Washington. Because of the speed at which they traveled, their march was immediately dubbed the “Bee Line March,” and that nickname stuck through the years

The company that made the Bee Line March is of particular significance for three reasons: it was among the first of the ten companies to reach Washington’s encampment, it is probably the best documented of any of the ten companies because of a detailed diary that was kept by one of its members, and the starting place of its march to Cambridge is likely the only starting place of any of the ten companies that can be identified reliably today. 

So with the 250th anniversary of the Beeline March to Boston coming up, seems like a good time to celebrate….
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