Thursday, November 24, 2016

Eleven Score and Seven Years Ago



By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation:

     Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:

     Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

     And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

     Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

                                                                           Go. Washington

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Perhaps No One Noticed



     I felt stylish in the outfit I chose to wear to church. Not chic—I don't think I'll ever pull that one off—but cute enough for comment. I don't often feel fashionable and, to be honest, I don't always try. I tend to focus on other things. Every now and then, however, I wake up to what's trending because it catches my eye and suits my taste. Leggings, for instance; I love wearing leggings, scarves and tunic dresses.

     Low heeled boots are another example. I have foot problems that prohibit the wearing of high heels but I found these smashing leather kicks to finish my outfit:


     Later, as I was shoving the shoes aside on the floor of my closet in order to vacuum up dust bunnies, I noticed that I had forgotten to remove the price tag from the sole of one boot.


     Ooops.

     Perhaps no one noticed.

Friday, November 18, 2016

A Day Out of Season




     We left windows open yesterday to let the late autumn warmth creep in. The french doors were ajar until midnight. It was a day out of season; a last grasp for something that has faded like an old woman wearing a short skirt and too much make-up. Just the same, no one was fooled. The parade of autumn is nearly over and the ticker tape of leaf fall swept away. Winter is just over the horizon.

     Today is another sort of day. Bracketed by gray skies with fits of wind and rain, the lines are falling in familiar places. It is a berry cobbler and candlelight sort of day; just as it should be in mid November. Still, I left the bedroom window open a few inches because, in or out of season, I relish a curtain blowing day.