Out Of The Darkness

         Log cabins were not far out of the memory of my immediate ancestors. Granny Ewen (maidan name Morton) would often remind "us grandkids", that she grew up in a log cabin. This would often come after our 'high horses' got a bit too galloping about. Anyhow, here is a picture of her of her very own growing-up log cabin taken around 1950.

         Now, several of the great-great-grandchildren are shown sitting on the grass in front of the many memories that were contained within. 

        One day just past her 90th year, it came to me to ask Granny what she thought was the most amazing event she had observed among her years. Her immediate response was "...the lightbulb." Say what! Never did I ever think about the lightbulb! Always had one, always been one ... flip a switch and there it was.  Of course, Thomas Alva Edison would certainly have his own thoughts. Well, here is a picture of light before the lightbulb that now sits on my mantel today. The coal-oil lamp (Kerosene) that was used to help light the way in this old Morton cabin.

         Out of darkness and into the light!

P.S. The Mortan family story can be found in "The History and Genealogy of the Morton Families of Powel County, Kentucky", compiled and written by Lynn Douglas Morton, 1993. The Morton's had a few things to say about that "Bluegrass Music". See post of November 3, 2011, titled Pickin' and Grinnin'. 

For Today

                                        Today's Tomorrow is from the Past. 😎

A Penny For Your Thoughts

          A Roman philosopher gave his thoughts some years past ... "A great man can come from a cabin." 

                                                                                                    Seneca 4 B.C. - 65 A.D.

         Well, here is a cabin of such a great man taken at his birthplace, Hodgenville, KY (Larue Co.) around 1964 by me, in the early days of my cabin searching. 

             Likewise, here is a penny for all his thoughts that saved the nation and its Constitution!

Understanding

         The learning curve of my elementary education at Hickman Street School, Winchester, KY, had its ups and downs. [middle 1950s - middle 1960s] Defining words and their correct meaning was one challenge that frequently blocked intended communication. Anyhow, here is an example of a fourth grade English class exercise that was often told among the learning folks of the days.

        An English teacher in her definition exercises class, ask one bright Bluegrass youth, to define two words. Then, they were to use these words in an appropriate sentence. The words were "DEFENCE" and "DETAIL". Now, after a few seconds of deep thought ... the reply ...

                                         "De'head went over De'fence before De'tail. 

Insight

         For most folks, head lice and ticks were not a frequent topic of conversations during one's social gatherings. That is, unless you taught clinical parasitology! Many, many times such issues were discussed during my 20 plus years of educating individuals in various settings. Let's see now, medical schools (2nd year microbiology), residency programs, hospitals, emergency rooms, graduate schools and, oh yes ... back yard barbeques, neighborhood picnics, church parking lots, etc. you get the picture. Anyhow, here is a scan from my teaching collections.

         It is a scan from a woodcut (artist and engraver unknown), first printed Andrew Boorde [1548?] titled no less, The fyrst boke of the introduction of knowledge! What a deal. It is intending to show an Irishwomen picking lice from the head of a kern. All this to give the insight from another long ago.

            "You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself."   Petronius [d. 66 A.D.]

P.S. Woodcut from my RN # 23. Quote from my Jenney's FIRST YEAR LATIN, p. 229. [pub. 1959]

       Caius Petronius (d. 66 A.D.) described Elegantiae Arbiter ! Committed suicide by order Nero.

It's Constitutional

          Hardly a day expires among the many platforms of our American communication system, then one does not hear the following opinion [view, judgment, appraisal, conviction, sentiment or belief] ... 

                                                                "It's NOT Constitutional."

         Hum ... my mentalis mastication [see post of October 3rd, 2025] process finally responds ... well,

                                                                "What IS Constitutional?"

         There must be some interesting stories around this Constitutional thing declared to be in effect July 2, 1788! Wow, lots of stories here. My reference (scan of cover is shown) 

        On pages 38 -42 are the accounts from 1786 - 1788. Then on pages 430 -437 the articles are written (as written) of "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES". Certainly, lots to read here! Anyway, with the 250th year about upon us, thought it would be appropriate to share some from the 200 Years of America [The Bicentennial Almanac]. 

         So here goes ... as time and my fingers typing permit ... my goal would be to give some information regarding what is Constitutional! Using the comment sections which follows, the "Articles" and "Sections" of at least the beginning of each article will be identified.

         Well, enough for this day. Here is the first statement.

               "We The People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common  defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America."

P.S. Please note that this is actually how "defence" is spelled in 1788!

We Are

        How do you contemplate such a title? Hum, ... let's see.

                  Homo sapiens sapiens ... yes ...,

                  One of 8 billion or so other folks out there ... not much help,

                  Just trying to survive on most days ... for many a reality ... well,

                  to the basics of my medical education (got to blame something) ...

                  We are the results of a genetic blueprint (genotype) initiated at the union of two unique cells called gametes. A single cell each from two different, individual agents! How about that. Simple enough ... yes?  Well, some assembly required along the way.