Christmas Memories
Christmas Past ...
On Christmas Day two hundred thirty-seven years ago, Captain James Cook guided H.M.S. Resolution to anchor at a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean just north of the equator. He claimed the island as a discovery of the British Empire and named it Christmas Island after the date, Christmas Day 1777. The island was a tropical paradise.Just a little history of two major world events occurring at the same time, a mere 237 years ago.
Weeks later, Cook would discover more tropical islands and these he would name the Sandwich Islands after a prominent benefactor, the Earl of Sandwich. They would later become known as the Hawaiian Islands.
At the same time as Captain James Cook was enjoying tropical trade winds, General George Washington, along with 11,000 soldiers of the Continental Army, were fending off harsh winter winds in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The British had captured Philadelphia and defeated the Americans at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
Washington's army was bedraggled, beaten, and some were barefoot. They were underfed, underclothed, and low on ammunition. Christmas 1777 was a time of desperation at Valley Forge. And, within weeks, fully half of the Continental Army was lost due to death, disease, and desertion.
Merry Christmas!
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2 comments:
In one way I'm glad I didn't live then, but on the other hand I may have learned more on how and why things were done the way they were. Especially what you could eat in the wild that wouldn't make you sick or kill you. What to use or take when sick or injured.
I've heard they used to eat skunk, of course you had to carefully remove the stink glands first.
Even groundhogs, but a lot of fat,from eating mostly plants, that just blows the vegetarians out of the water, if they knew that.
I've seen many people who say they are vegetarians, but they are as big as a house in my eyes.
A good read.
Believe me, the holidays suck, but you get used to is cause you know they'll be over soon.
'Tis the season to hate holidays! Google it, you'll be surprised.
When the Holidays Hurt: 'Tis the Season... to Pretend There's No Season at All
Posted: 12/22/2014 12:42 pm EST Updated: 12/22/2014 12:59 pm EST
Listen. I'm not one to ever come out against presents. I love sea turtle calendars just as much, if not more than the average person, but I really need society to get the hell away from me with this whole "let's be jolly" thing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ravishly/when-the-holidays-hurt_b_6358842.html
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