Oh, brother!

Edwin Thomas Booth

I’m not sure why, but Edwin Booth (1833 – 1893) came to mind this evening. Edwin was, almost without argument, the greatest Shakespearean actor of the 19th Century. His portrayal of Hamlet is still lauded as legendary.

Unfortunately, Edwin’s legacy is shadowed by his brother, John Wilkes Booth (1838 – 1865) who is infamous as Abraham Lincoln’s assassin.

Both boys were the illegitimate children of renowned actor Junius Brutus Booth and his mistress Mary Ann Holmes; both sons were born in Maryland and both were actors. Edwin was a Unionist, John, a Confederate sympathizer. John was also a respected actor as was a third brother, Junius Brutus Booth Jr.

John’s actions that April evening in 1865 at Ford’s Theater caused Edwin to put his career on hold and withdraw from the public eye. Eventually, Edwin founded the Booth Theater in New York and, despite the critical acclaim of its productions, it was closed within five years.

John Wilkes Booth

One fun little parallel I’ve learned is that Edwin had his own interaction with the Lincoln family shortly before the assassination. Edwin saved Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert, before John shot the President.

Documented in John Goff’s book Robert Todd Lincoln: A Man in his Own Right (Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1968), Robert Lincoln reported Edwin’s role in saving his life in a 1909 letter to Richard Watson Gilder, editor of The Century Magazine:

The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.

I am not entirely sure why this is of interest. Perhaps it is a simple as a reminder that there is always more to most stories.



Helpful sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Booth#cite_note-5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Booth

http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Todd-Lincoln-Man-Right/dp/B0006BUL3Y

God Bless America

Wow.

Two-hundred thirty-six years old. The Republic of the United States of America is still around and doing fine despite ourselves. There is debate, and I’m not absolutely sure, but the longest reports of the existence of the Roman Republic were about 400 years – the shortest around 250 years. I invite my more learned friends to weigh their thoughts.

At one point, our Constitution allowed us to count some citizens as 3/5 of a person; we added an amendment to outlaw alcohol; it took a while to allow women to vote. Yep, we sure screwed a few things up.

I, for one, am very willing to forgive these boneheaded decisions as long as we’re committed to learn from them. I’m confident that some current decisions we’re making may also need forgiveness.

But, here’s my point. We live in the greatest nation in the known history of our planet. Yes, we do. Tomorrow, July 4, 2012 is the birthday of our nation. That we can so adamantly disagree, that we can publish our distemper and opposition, that we can vote – these are the things we should celebrate. I have no naiveté that things are not perfect but nor are they that screwed up. . . I truly believe that through constructive debate we’ll continue to prosper.

God bless America.

American Flag art courtesy of:

http://karenswhimsy.com/american-flag-clipart.shtm

Kate Smith video from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r26_CSzk3Xw

Overthinking

I woke up today to find this in an email:

I look for lessons in lives well lived, and of course, that is, itself, the lesson. Live well. Follow your dreams. Make of your life a blessing — and not because there are any guarantees, but because there aren't.

You live a good life with lots of people who love you and you're making a difference in people's lives.

Just thought about you this am.

I also got to enjoy some thirty-plus year friends on Friday and Saturday with a visit to their home. Friday’s dinner gathering included two of their daughters with their husbands and a menu my hostess hadn’t ever served the family. One daughter, enjoying the shrimp, couscous, cheesy bread and other fixins’ asked her mother why they hadn’t had it before. The answer was: “Peter was coming, I had to do something special.”

Later that night, well into a session of solving the world’s problems, I asked my host, “Why am I here? Why does your family like me?” He smiled, paused a bit, and then said, “We love you.”

This is one of those times I shouldn’t think too much, nor take a thing for granted. But, as many know, that isn’t how I usually roll!

Is it hard to accept kindness and love? I know that the sentiments I mention above (and have received from others – not the least of which is a photo I include with this post from students I had the privilege to mentor) are sincere, heartfelt and made with no base motives. I hear these words while being severely aware of all my skeletons, foibles and failings and it’s hard to wrap my head around the affection. Is it common to define oneself only through the harsh prism of self-doubt?

I really am not trying to be melodramatic, but does anyone else feel this way? Do some? Do most?

I’ve often said that if anyone hears me whining about life, they have my permission to smack me upside the head – I’m blessed in so many ways and am very grateful.

It's time to take a deep breath, and realize that it's okay to accept love and appreciation.