Ninety Years Ago

It’s a few minutes until the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, at least CST. Jean got me thinking about reading I’ve done on the Great War, which ended this day, 90 years ago. Go read her post. Just in case my last Remembrance Day’s post didn’t get you reading, here’s a quote from The Middle Parts of Fortune by Frederic Manning. Originally published anonymously, then a bowlderized version was published as Her Privates We. Out of print, but available as an ebook at http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200261.txt

When Bourne got back to his hut, he divided the contents of his parcels among the whole section, keeping only the cigarettes, cake, and a pork pie, which a farmer’s wife of his acquaintance had sent him, for himself. Most of it was food, though there were a few woollen comforters and impossible socks, as well as a couple of books, with which one could not encumber oneself.

And two WWI patterns for what we hope were not impossible socks:

http://www.hjsstudio.com/redsocks.html
http://www.fibergypsy.com/patterns/wwiisock.shtml

Red Cross

And since here in the US we honor all veterans, thanks to my dad, my brothers, my nephews. To all those still serving, safe home.

MLE

Make that 364

349

This went up at 270 — something we haven’t done in many years.

Sent by a friend to get me through a long day of election judging:

What I got done during 14 hours of election judging:

I’ve laughed, cried and had to work all day today, too. I thought I’d write about election judging, and how great it was, from the new citizen waiting at the door at 6 am to be the first to vote, to putting the final seal on the ballot box. However, I’m too exhausted. Instead, go see Deb Robson’s account, I’m sure it’s more cogent. The big difference is that here in Minnesota we have same day registration, so I spent much of the day helping first-time voters register. They ranged from three 18 year-old African American buddies who got me to give them extra ‘I voted ’stickers so they could put them all over their faces, to an 80 year-old white woman voting for the first time. It was moving and humbling. I have no words. To quote a friend, I am dumfounded with relief. Thank you to everyone. I am so filled with hope for the future.

MLE