Fifty Julys ago

Let's set the Wayback Machine for July, 1961 and join the Kennedys for one of their earliest official entertainments. It isn't being held in the White House because the First Couple wants to highlight America's pride in our history. Instead the location is Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.

Pakistani President Mohammed Ayeb Khan and his daughter, Begum Nasir Akhtar Aurangzeb, join the President and First Lady for a revolutionary war re-enactment,* followed by mint juleps on the lawn. Then they all retired inside for the state dinner, which is a good thing, as the mosquitoes were particularly tenacious that humid summer night.

PS Just to be clear, this was a formal state dinner, with the re-enactment treated as entertainment, just as when the Kennedys invited Pablo Casals to play or the Obamas presented an all-star jazz combo. The top photo and the one on the right are the military demonstration. The other two photos are of the two couples posing for official photos and waiting for their pre-dinner mint juleps on the lawn.

I think this idea completely rocked, I don't know why no First Couple has done it before or since, and it's an elegant way to honor George Washington on the 4th of July.


*The soldiers fired blanks not at "the red coats" but at the Washington press corps., who thought it was funny. The media let JFK get away with things his successors could only dream of.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Faceless 4th of July Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. Last movie you saw in a theater? Bad Teacher. It dragged at times but still, it was pretty funny.

2. What book are you reading? My Spanish text book. It's slow going.

3. Favorite board game? Monopoly.

4. Favorite magazine? Allure.

5. Favorite smells? Apples and cinnamon

6. Favorite sounds? A cat's purr, the crack of the bat

7. Worst feeling in the world? Helplessness

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up? "Do I have to go to work today?"

9. Favorite fast food place? Five Guys

10. What’s under your bed? The Boogie Man

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….? Go to Wrigley Field whenever weather permits

12. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? No, but I generally have this one sleeping nearby

13. Storms – cool or scary? Neither. Don't care much either way.
14. Favorite drink? Coke

15. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would….”? Get more sleep

16. If you had to dye your hair another color, what would be your choice? I used Nice & Easy #107 for years

17. Favorite place to relax? My sofa

18. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in? There are just two, which makes it a boring list. I'll spare ya.

19. Favorite sports to watch? Cubs baseball, of course!

20. Would you like to be born as yourself again? Maybe I could do better next time.