On Memorial Day, I’ll be performing songs at Kiroli Park for the Blue Star Mothers, their friends and family.  I’m working on my song list now and I hope the ones I choose will inspire and comfort the families who attend. The Blue Star Mothers are mothers of military service men and women. You can read more of this organization here:

Not surprisingly, the custom of Memorial Day may have began in the South, during the War Between the States. An article at a Memorial Day site says: Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).  However, the author (David Merchant?) later says, “Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.”

You can read about the history and meaning of Memorial Day here:

About Confederate soldier graves: In addition to the “pits” where multiple slain soldiers were buried together in large numbers, the most common markers I’ve seen are one of these two designs–a Maltese Cross and the pointed slab (The legend is that these were designed so Yankee soldiers wouldn’t sit on them).

Today, I marched in the Pilgrimage Day Parade with the Confederates and  played my guitar the rest of the afternoon at Kathy Patrick’s Hair Salon.  At about 2:00 pm, I packed up and went to the battlefield on Tuscumbia Plantation. I was a Confederate soldier today. This was a well choreographed battle with live explosions on the battlefield. After the battle, I went for a burger at Auntie Skinner’s Tavern in Jefferson. It was there I met these three of Wheat’s Louisiana Tiger Zouaves–Larry Auld, Josh Taylor, and Jim Marrs.

Here is a photo of me while I was performing at Kathy Patrick’s Hair Salon.  The weather was perfect today. Actually, the morning began very cool!

Here are two photos of plaques mounted in front of a historical building in Jefferson.  Jefferson has so much history!

It’s hard to believe that 3 days have passed by so quickly.  Tomorrow, I’ll return to Monroe and attend the Northeast Louisiana Celtic Society at 2:00 pm. This society is  off to a great start! If you’re in the Monroe area, and if you have any Celtic ancestors or interest in Celtic things, you should be a member!

 I’m in Jefferson, Texas for the city’s annual Pilgrimage Weekend.  The weather (rainy and stormy) has definitely slowed down things, but according to weather reports, tomorrow (the most important day for this writer) is going to have perfect weather.  I spent a good bit of the day talking to some sutlers and reenactors and playing some music.  I passed this statue, a memorial of the Confederate soldiers who came from this area and decided to post a photo of it.  The inscription reads: “Erected by Dick Taylor Camp, UCV, Lest we forget. In memory of our dead 1861-1865.”  I think a great coffee table book would be one of all the Confederate memorials.

I’m using the slow time for writing, handling the endless tasks that are part of the writing business, and for polishing up my music for my programs. I’m also  meeting people and networking.

A quotation to make you think about Reconstruction:

There are few good things to be said of the North’s Reconstruction of the South. To illustrate the distress and victimization of the South after the War, I chose a quotation of Robert E. Lee. He had surrendered his army in hope of healing, hope, and peace for the South. Instead, the South received the punitive and wicked policies of Reconstruction.  Mr. Lee said:

“Governor, if I had foreseen the use those people designed to make of their victory, there would have been no surrender at Appomattox Courthouse; no sir, not by me. Had I foreseen these results of subjugation, I would have preferred to die at Appomattox with my brave men, my sword in this right hand.”
General Robert E. Lee,
August 1870 to
Governor Stockdale of Texas

Jed Marum’s newest CD is Lone Star Stout. The CD cover says it is a collection of Irish favorites with a Texas/Louisiana twist. The songs are mostly traditional, featuring Jed on guitars, banjo, banjola, and vocals, and his son Jaime on the octave mandolin. The CD was engineered by Travis Ener and Nolan Brett, mastering.

This is currently my favorite of Jed Marum’s CD, the quality of sound is excellent, and the songs moving and fascinating.  Here are some of the pieces I especially enjoyed:

“Back Home in Derry”  Jed’s version of this song is the best I’ve heard. It was written by Bobby Sands (IRA soldier who died on hunger strike) for his comrades from Derry who were in the H-Blocks. He performed this song at the nightly concerts they used to have in the Blocks, singing it out through the keyhole.

There are some traditional pieces such as “Risin of the Moon,” “Grace,” a ballad I plan on devoting a whole entry to in the future; “Foggy Dew,” “Black Velvet Band,” “Wild Colonial Boy,” “Spancil Hill,” and “Goodbye Mick.”  These songs are sure to stir the blood of any Irish patriot or rebel.

Jed takes us into New Orleans with his rendition of “St. James Infirmary,” and then to East Texas with his version of “Red River Valley” that ties Ireland to Texas and Louisiana.

Jed’s singing and guitar work on this CD are superb. If you ever get a chance to hear Jed in a live performance, you will not be disappointed. He is a musician you can appreciate, and if you’re a musician yourself, one you can emulate. You can find out more about him, his busy schedule, and his music here: http://www.jedmarum.com/

I just read a very thoughtful article by Jacob Sullum on the Reason Online website. The article is entitled, Latter-Day Taint: Who will rescue the children of Yearning for Zion Ranch from their rescuers? The author articulated some of the concerns I’ve felt ever since I heard the news of our government taking all the children away from the parents of this religious group. And it’s not because I like to watch Big Love on HBO. I was encouraged that so many lawyers perceived there was a problem and offered their services to the group for free. Regardless of whether one agrees with the group’s practices, polygamy does have a Biblical precedent. However, if you believe Big Brother Government can do no wrong or that the Church of Big Government has a right to determine societal mores, then you probably shouldn’t bother reading the article because you won’t like it. Here’s the link: http://www.reason.com/news/show/126240.html

Young Author’s Event:

In just a few minutes, I’ll be driving to Alexandria, Louisiana to speak and perform music for the winners of the Northeast Louisiana Young Authors’ Contest. Entries are judged at the school level in grades K-8 (regular ed. & special ed.) and in three categories – poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. This year the district is honoring 77 district winners at a reception. I want to encourage young authors of any age. That’s why part of my program always involve telling them how to write and submit and answering any questions they have about writing. Here is some advice I’d give any young author today.

A. You must write every day. The first rule of writing is to sit your butt down and write. The 2nd rule is edit your work. (This must be done constantly and ruthlessly)
B. Read voraciously. Good writers are good readers. You be the bookworm, the one who finds a corner during recess and reads or writes in your little notebook/journal.
C. Build your library and network. Develop your people skills. Read the biographies of writers you admire. You’ll get ideas and inspiration.
D. Enter every contest you can. The right contest can be a good break for your career. There are hundreds of contests that award money, prizes and publication. You have a much better chance of publication by entering contests than you would by blindly sending it into the slush pile of a publishing company or agent.
Pittman Road:

I’m going to start collecting place names with “Pittman.” Here is the first one that a friend just sent me.

Sometimes, in this brutal mad-house writer’s life I’ve chosen, I need motivation.  I happened upon some motivating notes today, notes I took during a phone call with my best male friend, Michael Senn, who is one of the most creative and driven people I know. He has successfully created and initiated at least three businesses. Yes, I take notes when I’m on the phone, and in this case I’m glad I did. The phone call took place about a year ago just as I was thinking of cutting loose from teaching and plunging into the writing business I’m in now. Here are a few of the thoughts  and words of my friend that I wrote down. I think he found these ideas in a book by Jim Britt, entitled, Do This, Get Rich. My friend’s words are in italics:

1. Do a road map of your life, a money biography, looking especially at your last 12 years as a teacher. What has it done for you and what is it likely to do? Trying harder, working more is not the answer. You only have so much time and energy.  This was a jolt. All teaching had done was get me more in debt and NOTHING would change if I stayed the way I was. I learned that nothing changed unless I did.

2. Get ready for a wild ride. If it’s not scary, it’s not a challenge.  Boy, has this proved true!

3.  Conventional methods don’t work. It’s time to take massive action to change. However, know your mission of you will be spending time on what doesn’t matter.

4. Don’t be discouraged. Everything looks like a failure in the middle of it.

5. Imagine you had plenty of money. How would your day be different? 

6.  The person you become determines what you are handed next. Shape the plan of your life and create order out of the chaos.

You can see an interview of me taken at the Texas Library Association Conference in Dallas at this address: www.youtube.com/pelicanpublishing

In the interview I talk of my published books and of my upcoming Scottish Alphabet Book (children’s picture book) coming out next August or September.  Here is the book’s cover:

If you’d like to pre-order this book, drop me a note at rickeyp@bayou.com and I’ll give you the details.

I finished up my two days at Prairie Vista Middle School with my Civil War Program. I’ve started a scrapbook on my school programs, and the comments of the students who signed it are so funny and so encouraging. I actually feel like I’m doing something good with these programs.  The school Librarian, Tanya Plocica, is really a first rate librarian  who is doing so much for the school there. As soon as she gets me the photos of our event, I’ll post them.

After I packed up there, I went on to the Grapevine Public Library for the children’s program there.  These were little ones, so I did a story time using my Jim Limber Book and played several kid’s songs. The parents were there with them and were very pleased. It  was encouraging for me to see parents spending so much time with their little ones at the library, taking them home with their arms full of books.

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the Sundance Barnes & Noble in Downtown Fort Worth. I’ve also got some projects I’ve got to wrap up for my sponsors. Saturday, I’ll be at the Hasting’s Bookstore in Mount Pleasant in the morning, then Paris, Texas Hastings Bookstore in the afternoon. From there I’ll drive to Oklahoma.

I’m learning so much from my book-signing and program adventures.

I just finished Atonement (2001) by Ian McEwan. I had read Cement Garden earlier and enjoyed it (must also see that movie), and now I must see the widely touted movie  based on the novel. Wickpedia has a very good article on the novel if you’d like quick information. Here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_(novel)

In addition to the metafiction and psychological realism techniques the novel incorporates, I found the novel mesmerizing, the themes deeply touching. Like Kite Runner, Atonement deals with a character haunted  by personal failure.  There are several points of view presented, but the most interesting is that of Briony’s.

To learn more of McEwan and his writings, go to http://www.ianmcewan.com/

Once again, I have a busy week ahead of me. This afternoon I’m off to Lafayette, for L.J. Alleman Middle School’s Parent Night. From there, I’ll drive (long night ahead) to the Forth Worth area for two days at Prarie Vista Middle School, then a signing Friday at the downtown Barnes & Noble, then Hastings Bookstores Saturday in Mount Pleasant and Paris. I’ll spend Sat. night with my parents in Kemp, Oklahoma and return to Monroe sometime Monday. I’ll make posts as I can with the exception of Sunday as my parents do not have Internet.

Some TLA Photos: Here are just a few of the librarians and folks I met in Dallas at TLA. I had a grand time there.

Here are Amy and Courtney. They both attend Texas Woman’s University and Courtney is an assistant librarian in Dublin, Texas. They are both part of the part of the PELSC Cohort program.

Here are two Little Elm, Texas librarians, Leslie & Deanna

Here are Marti & David Chrisp. Marti is a writer herself with a children’s book that is sure to soon find a publisher!