Land O’ Goshen, Paw!

As a young boy, I remember this phrase being uttered by one Miz Loweezy Smith, wife of Snuffy Smith of the Sunday Funnies. There’s an interesting William Safire “On Language” column that deals in part with the phrase and its ilk here.

The Land of Goshen apparently was originally land given to the Israelites in Egypt, from whence they split on the Exodus.

Goshen, Indiana is the home of one of my new BFFs, Sara Klassen. The niece of my pal Holly, Sara was staying in Nashville for part of the Summer, and we met briefly back in July. On her way back to northern Indiana, she came through and visited with me one afternoon in New Harmony. Visitors here are a rare treat and we had a lovely (if brief) time.

She had just turned 21 in Nashville, and since I missed the occasion, she put on her birthday dress—not to be confused with her birthday suit—and we wandered about and took some commemorative photographs.

Sara’s one of those rare birds who seems both very young and very old. I like her.

President Jefferson Davis

As I was heading home from Hopkinsville, Kentucky last week, I was about to drive past the exit for the Jefferson Davis Monument. I’ve always intended to check it out, but always find a reason to drive on. Wasn’t even sure how far it was off the Pennyrile Parkway. Turns out it’s just about ten miles, through lovely country. Corn, tobacco, look-out-for-Amish signs...then all of a sudden BANG, this crazy thing rises up out of the surrounding countryside.

Located in Fairview, which was Davis’ birthplace, the monument is situated in a sweet little park with beautiful old trees. It’s apparently the tallest unreinforced concrete structure in the world. The rebel Washington monument. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis_State_Historic_Site

It was closed when I got there, so I didn’t go up inside it. But the light was nice. Part of my current programme of seizing moments. Glad I did. Strange and wonderful. Even though I went to a school in Alabama from 5th grade to 12th that was named after Gen. Robert E. Lee, I’m not a big CSA booster, so it wasn’t a religious experience, but it’s our common history. All y’all. Turn it up.