Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow.  A name which is so non-threatening for it produces images of a slumbering community.  Unless, of course, you have read Washington Irving's tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  If you have, then the images you conjure in your mind's eye is like this one; a headless horseman galloping through the streets of Sleepy Hollow.  Without the automobiles of course.

Washington Irving published this tale in a collection entitled, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., which he published in 1820.  This short story was written in England by Irving who was living in Birmingham at the time.  This spooky and fun story, along with Rip Van Winkle became 2 of the most popular and enduring tales of a young American country.  Not only was it loved in England, it caught the attention of the new United States and laid the foundation for American novelists to strive for:  tales and stories about and concerned with the American people.

Yes, Sleepy Hollow.  It's more than a short story.  More than something written and published in 1820.  It's been made into cartoons, has been published over and over, told at bonfires, and at Halloween.  There have been numerous movies, radio shows, stage re-enactments, and television shows.  It has endured for almost 200 years, just 7 years short of that anniversary.  It tells so much about the early New York period, and it gives us the desire to know more.  The Headless Horseman galloped then and he still does.

Today, he rides through the streets of modern Sleepy Hollow, but there's a twist.  Ichabod Crane is a resurrected Revolutionary War soldier whose blood mixed with the horseman on the field of battle, linking them together.  However, this horseman is more than a Hessian soldier; he is Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Sleepy Hollow is the battlefield between two covens of witches.  One good, one bad; both fighting over the End Times.  Ichabod is  on the good side- stopping the Horsemen and he and his new partner, Lt. Abbie Mills, a member of the Sleepy Hollow Sheriff's Department.  So, this program not only updates it, it changes the tale and guess who gave Crane the order to stop Death?  No one else of course than General George Washington.

Now the television show took an untold number of changes, and let's face it- it's very very loosely based on Irving's short story, but it is a new reinvention of a tale which goes along with the attractions of today's society concerning witches, evil, good, and ghosts.  Let's face it, we love these characters and if you want to see what it's all about, the picture above is from the show.  Special effects are really good and you really do enjoy watching deal with the advances of life in the United States which he missed for 250 years.  Crane's reactions are worth watching the show- especially, when he finds out his breakfast contained a 10% tax, which he goes ballistic about.

Okay, now I'm not trying to talk you into watching a show which I am viewing.  I find it sad to change the story so much. I am a huge Washington Irving fan and believe that the books should be made into movies or such just the way they are written.  However, I am thrilled to see this program for it might catch people's interest and they two will read Irving's wonderful ghost story, enjoying it as much as I do.  So, here you are; Sleepy Hollow...ghosts, evil, witches, good, covens, headless horsemen, the Bible, and victims....Whether you watch the show or not; read the story, with some friends and family...some apple cider, popcorn, cinnamon donuts, and a bonfire.....You will love it.  What can be more American than Sleepy Hollow? Enjoy!  Oh, and hang on to your head...........

Photo Credits

Sleepy Hollow

Fox TV

Executive Producers

• Alex Kurtzman
• Roberto Orci
• Len Wiseman
• Heather Kadin
• 2013

Cincinnatus

Everyone begins their journey at birth.  For me, it began and grew in a small farming community called, Cincinnatus.  Cincinnatus, New York to be exact.  It's an interesting little town, surrounded by the rolling hills of Central New York and nestled in the Otselic River Valley. Forests filled with deer and game birds and a river full of fish.  It must have seemed like a haven to its first settlers, the Oneida tribe and when it was named one of 28 townships in the Central New York Military Tract, the Revolutionary War soldiers who claimed it's land saw a golden future within it's fertile soil.

Cincinnatus was settled in 1795 by Ezra and Thadeus Rockwell of Lenox, Massachusettes.  Soon others arrived with the first marriage being between Dr.  John McWhorter and Katy Young.  The town grew with more and settlers and soon stores, churches, and schools were built.  For the first few years, The Oneidas would visit and it was recorded "they killed forty-two bears" (history.rays-place.com/ny/cincinnatus-ny)  It was a peaceful visit visit and both people were friendly to one another for this was the new wilderness.  An area filled with wild animals and dangers needed friendships and allies in order to grow and expand; which it did.

Yes, my hometown was a part of the American expansion and the Military Tract.  Now the Central New York Military Tract was created by the United States Congress which allotted 100 acres to the soldiers of the Revolution.  Cincinnatus was one of the townships created from this tract.  The 28 townships were given Roman and Greek names which has been attributed to Robert Harpur, a clerk in the New York Surveyor General office, whose love of classical literature is noted in the naming of this region. Cincinnatus was named for Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman, general, and aristocrat who lived from 519 BC to 430 BC.

Now, Lucius was considered a hero to Romans and for the people of the American Revolution he was an inspiration as were other Roman and Greek heroes.  There is one difference about Lucius though, his name became a nickname for one of the American Founding Fathers.  Not Thomas Jefferson.  Not Benjamin Franklin.  Not John Adams.  No, not any of those. This man was and still is considered the greatest hero.  George Washington.  Yes, Cincinnatus became the nickname of George Washington due to the uncanny attributes noted in both men.  The characters and personalities were similar, the proven leadership abilities, the desire for farming and military shrewdness were equal.

Yes, they were indeed alike and by giving this township the name, Cincinnatus was more than just a tribute to the Roman.  It was a homage to George Washington as well.  The hero of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.  The town I grew up in.  The small community who grew and became home to over 2000 people.  A place which still maintains a central school and independence from other communities.  Still a small town, but filled with people who love it and the surrounding areas.  A home with traditions and values.  Beautiful and tranquil.  My hometown.  Find and explore it.  You will fall in love.

White Owl Flies Into and Out of Field by Mary Oliver

    “White Owl Flies Into and Out of the Field”

“Coming down out of the freezing sky

with its depths of light,

like an angel, or a Buddha with wings,

it was beautiful, and accurate,

striking the snow and whatever was there

with a force that left the imprint

of the tips of its wings - five feet apart -

and the grabbing thrust of its feet,

and the indentation of what had been running

through the white valleys of the snow -

and then it rose, gracefully,

and flew back to the frozen marshes

to lurk there, like a little lighthouse,

in the blue shadows -

so I thought:

maybe death isn't darkness, after all,

but so much light wrapping itself around us -

as soft as feathers -

that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking,

and shut our eyes, not without amazement,

and let ourselves be carried,

as through the translucence of mica,

to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow,

that is nothing but light - scalding, aortal light -

in which we are washed and washed

out of our bones.”

- Mary Oliver

Autumn: The Beautiful Glory

Autumn.  Beautiful, colorful, gorgeous autumn.  Today is the first day of Autumn; the Autumnal Equinox. Twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night.  A perfectly halved day. There is more to this day though. More than just astronomical, much, much more.  Indeed, Autumn has been treated throughout history in many different ways.

One of these ways is in celebration of the harvest.  What better way to celebrate the gathering of crops which would supply the people with food through the long winter months, than with a festival?  Harvest festivals were important to the people of the past for it meant that life would be sustained, when the land would lie fallow and rest under a blanket of snow.  It was a time of celebration and joy.  Suppliants to the gods were made and the people grew in superstition and faith which we still adhere to today.  Oh, we pretend that we are just having fun and at times ridiculing those in the past, but in truth we too, pray to our gods for a good harvest and we celebrate the blessings we have received through the year.  Giving thanks for all we have and at the same time, following through with superstitious actions in order to ward off evil.

Another autumnal diversion is the pilgrimage to view the changing colors of leaves and the beauty this season brings.  The oranges, reds, and yellows of tree leaves fill the countrysides with people exploring the majesty of nature.  In turn, the highways and byways are loaded with opportunities to catch the blazing glory in a photograph which can then be boasted of and devoured by the multitude who are unable to see nature's changing wardrobe in person.

Then if catching nature's colorful display isn't enough to fill one's autumn love, there are the various odes, poems, edicts, and other literature which try to capture the emotional and mental aspects of this season.  Yet, while the harvest  and changing colors are celebrated, writers often focus on a more sorrowful view of autumn.  The thoughts of the coming of winter with it's association with death are found woven through the writings concerned with autumn.  This brings an  amplitude of sorrow and premonitions of death which symbolizes the ageing process of humanity and the limited life span we have.

Yes, these three divergent ways of contemplating autumn are highly symbolic with all life cycles on this planet.  Humanity finds itself afraid of the aspects of autumn, for it has meant the "middle age" of life, closing in on winter or old age.   Now me, I don't look at autumn in this last thought.  Autumn means to be a time of beauty, glory, and majesty.  It is a time of change and growth.  Yes, growth!  Autumn isn't just about the onset of death and sorrow.  No, that is one reflection of humanity.  Autumn is about celebration! Nature, itself is making merry and enjoying a revelry based upon growth and change.  The summer is over, the harvest is in, and the cooler weather brings a rush of relief from the long hot summer days.

Melancholy?  No!  Spending time together is easier to do.  Being outside, feeling the cool air,  and enjoying a walk in a park is a release from the heat which summer produced.  The air, the colors, the delicious produce fill the days and nights with fun and dreams of the festivities to come!  Autumn!  The middle age?  Maybe, but more exactly it is a season and symbol of life, of festivals, of laughter, of togetherness, and of hope.  Autumn, the Beautiful Glory of Life and Seasons!

The Time is Nigh!

You know it feels great when you make a decision and realize that it is the right one.  Others may say no and constantly beret you about it; but the reality is, it's your life and you are the one who must live it.  After all, did you tell them how to live their lives? Or did you say:  "Go for it!" Work toward your dream".  This latter view is the one I hope I convey to those who tell me their dreams.  If we were to follow what everyone else said we must do, then there would be no actors/actresses, writers, artists, photographers, landscapers, poets, astronauts, archaeologists, anthropologists, scientists, historians, environmentalists; shall I continue?  We all have dreams and desires which we wish to follow, but so many have been beaten down by "others" who can only see dollar signs and/or what they perceive as "normal".

If all the people in the world listened to these naysayers, we would be surrounded by medical or business people. Sounds like fun, huh?  Now, don't get me wrong. If you are in the medical or business fields for this was your dream then I say "Go for it and enjoy!", but that is not what I want.  Nope, been in the business/ financial world and I discovered I could not stand it!  I know, I know, I was good at it; could have made a great career our of it.  There was one thing missing.... I hated it!  I always want to help or teach people.  In business it's cut throat.  There is only one goal to achieve which is power.  By power I mean financial and social status.  This type of power is the aspiration of the business world.  Profit is everything!  Meaningful isn't it?  For some it is, for those whose ideals are like mine, no, it isn't.  It's discouraging and counter to one's own self image.

So, here we stand.  the business world with it's somewhat indication of power vs the dream.  Guess what?  I'm going after the dream.  I might not attain it, but I have to go for it!  It's going to be rough with a great deal of hard work.  It means suffering and struggling, but it can be accomplished!  It means going against the norm; but I've done that all my life.  I guess I never did like the norm which felt boring to me.  Yes, the time is nigh!  The die is cast!  The goal is within reach to those who work for it.  My favorite saying:  "Seize the day"! is now in place.  Time to go down the path "less traveled by" (Frost, The Road Not Taken) and break from the naysayers and join those who never look back.  Instead, time for forward motion and live the dream!  The time is nigh!

Football!!!!!

It's the time of year where minds fill with images of the season:  fall leaves, apples, cider, cooler weather, and of course the major impact of the autumn, FOOTBALL!  Yes, football!  Admit it!  It grabs you, focuses you on the field of competition, and turns you into screaming maniacs when your team scores or groans of agony when they lose!  Football, the one sport in America which pulls so many into watching it, cheering it, and playing it!  Armchair quarterbacks are at full attention.  Fantasy football teams flourish.  Pick up games in the yard or a park occur with increasing frequency!

Oh yeah!  Football; the United States answer to the Roman gladiator games.  Yes, the players are our gladiators.  Think about how football players are looked over during the combine.  Sort of like prize animals in one respect.  The teams' scouts watch how the players run, jump, leap, catch, push, shove, and primp.  I'm surprised they don't check their teeth and genitals the way prize animals are touched when competing.  Oh wait, they just might think that would be a good idea.  Yet, it is rather similar to the way Romans picked the gladiators.

Football, a game we love to watch and play!  Football, a business focused on profit.  That's right, profit.  Hey, your injured, no problem, get a shot and get back out there!  Hit 'em hard and knock them out of the game!  You wan the position, fight for it!  Show us why you should have it.  Injured?  You want the position, get back out there....Yeah, profit....football players, rulers of the sports.  Our gladiators....how many have been paralyzed?  How many young have died in practices due to competition and the corporations profits are more important than the men?

Football, I love it!  But I wonder, how far will they go?  Yeah, football!  See ya, Pats and Bills are playing!  Great teams and great game!  Time for some nachos!

Duane Hansom sculpture.  Football Vignette, 1969