In school, I loved reading about history and social studies. I grew up in California, so much of what I read about the Civil War made me think that this was a conflict far away from reality. I didn’t understand the significance of the events and the eventual outcome. I’ve lived in the South for many years now, and I have a vastly different view of the events that many people here still refer to as the “War of Northern Aggression.”

I’ve visited several battlefields like Gettysburg, Appomattox, Chickamauga, Manassas, and others. Each visit to these locations brings the Civil War to life for me. Suddenly, it isn’t represented by a page in a school history book, but rather where tens of thousands of people just like me died for a cause they really believed in. I stood on the very land they all fought for.

Living in the State of Tennessee as I do, I have learned some fascinating facts about what happened here during the Civil War. While Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union to become a part of the Confederacy, it was also the first Confederate State to be readmitted to the Union in 1866. Before Tennessee’s secession from the Union, people in Scott County (about 60 miles from where I live) voted to secede from the State of Tennessee. They formed the “Free and Independent State of Scott,” which lasted until the end of the conflict. Now that took guts, and I didn’t even know it happened.

One of my friends is an LPN nurse. She cares for elderly patients with health issues, all threatened by the virus. Last week, several patients died from the virus, and a young nurse diagnosed with it also died. I can’t imagine the emotional stress she faces. She discussed restrictions on family visitors and mourners. In the South, these are part of life; many want to visit, and many want to be with the dying. She recalled an elderly female patient who couldn’t understand why her son didn’t see, asking if he had died from the virus. The reality was he couldn’t stay due to safety guidelines, which she couldn’t understand.

The nurse described family members who couldn’t be there or grieve as is customary. She and colleagues try to comfort them with little success. Although she didn’t share her fears, it was clear she’s reaching her emotional limit. Many medical professionals share her fatigue, hurt, and fears. How can we recognize and honor these heroes?

I’m reading ‘1491’ by Charles Mann, about North America before Columbus, when the area was called ‘Dawnland.’ It reveals the valuable contributions of Native tribes and the cruelty they faced from settlers, including land theft and disease. This book offers fresh insights into history I’ve misunderstood book.


Well, I certainly didn’t know that. I’m in the process of reading a book titled “1491” written by Charles Man. This book focuses on life in North America, specifically on the area that came to be known as the United States. This book is crammed with facts that I wasn’t aware of. First of all, long before Columbus landed (in the Bahamas, by the way), the area was known as “Dawnland.” What a great name.

This book is fascinating; it offers a view of what happened here, who did what, and most importantly, the enormous value that tribes of Indians brought to the settlers. As history reports, we weren’t very kind to these folks, doing everything possible to take their land, agriculture, and birthright. We gave them deadly diseases in return for their initial hospitality and assistance. It certainly seems that many of the history books I read as a child weren’t exactly on target. This book opens new and exciting insights into what happened and when. I’m sure glad I found this book.

Prince George celebrated his 12th birthday today, July 22nd. Since his father, the Prince of Wales, will eventually assume the role of King, George will be elevated to super-stardom as the next eventual King. For decades, people in the United Kingdom have debated the value of their Royal families; for now, this is one young man (and his sister and brother) who doesn’t have a care in the world. Happy birthday, George.

Hatch chilies from New Mexico are a big deal with foodies everywhere. They are only grown in New Mexico, and the harvest season is pretty short. I was amazed when I walked into my local supermarket here in East Tennessee and immediately saw a large display of fresh Hatch chilies. It’s fair to say that most people in our neighborhood aren’t aware of what a prize these chilies are.

There they are, waiting for me to begin the roasting process; with a bit of work, roasting turns them into delicious, mild peppers that are wonderful. Roasting them at home isn’t as fun as watching how they are roasted in the Southwest. In Tucson, people waited all year for the supermarkets to receive Hatch chilies. In the store’s parking lot, they’d roll out a giant metal contraption; it’d a huge metal drum on top and a ferocious propane-fired flame source at the bottom of the frame.

All day, they’d shovel chili into the drum, lighting the burner and turning the drum. Pretty soon, they would have a big pile of fresh, roasted chilies, ready to take home and peel for later use. It was community involvement at its best. Here in Tennessee, I often go for the more straightforward route by using a convection oven. Hopefully, I’ll succeed in creating some truly fantastic cooking condiments. If things turn out well, I might even pick up a couple more bags before they sell out.