From: Carolyn Potts
Subject: 1936 plague
Floydie came out in chicken"pops" while we were recrossing the Atlantic. Dr. Lewis Flynn and Uncle E met the boat wherever and swore that we were going directly home, at which point I guess we debarked and boarded a B&O train to Mitchell, where GranPop was seriously ill. We spent the next year, or most of it, in Mitchell, and then we all, including Bego and GranPop, went back to W'ton. I remember being quaratined at Market Street for whooping cough, but I thought only Floydie had it. Did you? Then, when Floydie was boarding at the Ursuline she caught the measles. A few years later, when we were in Stamford, I caught the measles and was miserably ill because "I was too busy to be sick " and refused to break out. Eventually I did, and then you caught them, then David, who was about two then, just when we were moving back to Wilmington, got a really bad case. Poor little bugger even had them on the soles of his feet. You can understand that Mommy was not a happy housewife.
From: Ennalls
Wow! What a thrilling life! And what year was it? Floydie was two so it must have been '36. The measles...I was in 9th, you were in 7th grades, what ever year that was.
I'm WONDERING WHETHER YOU YOUNGSTERS MAY BE TAKING UNNECESSARY RISKS WITH THESE ILLNESSES. People AND CHILDREN INCLUDED, SOMETIMES DIED FROM THESE PLAGUES WHEN I WAS A TOT. That's WHY QUARANTINES WERE ESTABLISHED.
Since THE DISEASES ARE NOW CONTROLLED, YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING ABOUT DEATHS AND SOMETIMES DISFIGURATIONS THAT OCCURRED IN THE OLD DAYS. you MAY RECALL FROM READINGS THAT THOUSANDS DIED IN 1917 FROM A SEVERE FLU.
Well, I know nothing of antibodies. All my life I have gotten the flu and been quite ill every year. I don't know why the ants didn't help me. I've now been taking shots every year and have not had a recurrence of flu since I began the shots.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Quarantined
My experience with shots has been excellent over the decades, and I've had many, many , shots. Have never had a reaction from any of them. But as a child, prior to the invention of preventative shots , I had every thing that came down the pike except Polio. so did my sisters.
The big double front doors at the Market st. family headquarters were posted once or twice a year with red placards, "Quarantined" do not enter".. We were the plague palace with everything from mumps to measles with chicken pox and whooping cough in between. {Side benefit: the bums stopped knocking at the door for a handout--at least one or 2 a day--it was the Depression, people were hungry and broke, and staff was busy.}
In fact , in 1936 when we returned from France with some kind of plague, it took the influence and legal-logical persuasion of Ennalls the Great to get us off the quarantined ship at all . Otherwise, it would have been, "Parlez vous" forever.
Perhaps it's just my lucky Superman genes, but just maybe, just possibly, all those shots have kept me free from everything from Polio [which was a real and frightful plague in the 40's and 50's] to wine Flu!
The ridiculous occurred in the Army, when, as I watched him very carefully, the huge man in our outfit keeled over upon the floor after his shot. Nobody dared laugh, but I found it classically funny!
Since then, I have never missed the "shot of the month"---Next year, I'll be 80 and they'll have to get rid of me with a different kind of shot..
Love and luck to all!
Ennalls [never took a shot that wasn't tasty!]
p.s. with these fabulous new needles, shot can barely be felt at all.
Shameless promotion from Chris: Avoid the Plague! Buy hand dryers
The big double front doors at the Market st. family headquarters were posted once or twice a year with red placards, "Quarantined" do not enter".. We were the plague palace with everything from mumps to measles with chicken pox and whooping cough in between. {Side benefit: the bums stopped knocking at the door for a handout--at least one or 2 a day--it was the Depression, people were hungry and broke, and staff was busy.}
In fact , in 1936 when we returned from France with some kind of plague, it took the influence and legal-logical persuasion of Ennalls the Great to get us off the quarantined ship at all . Otherwise, it would have been, "Parlez vous" forever.
Perhaps it's just my lucky Superman genes, but just maybe, just possibly, all those shots have kept me free from everything from Polio [which was a real and frightful plague in the 40's and 50's] to wine Flu!
The ridiculous occurred in the Army, when, as I watched him very carefully, the huge man in our outfit keeled over upon the floor after his shot. Nobody dared laugh, but I found it classically funny!
Since then, I have never missed the "shot of the month"---Next year, I'll be 80 and they'll have to get rid of me with a different kind of shot..
Love and luck to all!
Ennalls [never took a shot that wasn't tasty!]
p.s. with these fabulous new needles, shot can barely be felt at all.
Shameless promotion from Chris: Avoid the Plague! Buy hand dryers
Go Berl Girls!
Future wireless, paper thin, roll up TV broadcast:
"I hear the thwack of the ball, the twang of the strings, and well in the background, the increasing chant, "Berl Girl, Berl Girl, Berl Girl!"
Later: Team Birl Girls have the ball on the jump as tall Charlotte taps to speedy, acrobatic Wilder who hands off to Allaire in the air for two!
These remarkable and stylish young ladies, all on scholarships, represent Princeton's finest scholar-athletes!
Berl Girls! Berl Girls! Berl Girls!
Pity about the parents. Laid to rest last week. Autopsies confirm: They expired from sheer and utter exhaustion.
NY Times Telenews
"I hear the thwack of the ball, the twang of the strings, and well in the background, the increasing chant, "Berl Girl, Berl Girl, Berl Girl!"
Later: Team Birl Girls have the ball on the jump as tall Charlotte taps to speedy, acrobatic Wilder who hands off to Allaire in the air for two!
These remarkable and stylish young ladies, all on scholarships, represent Princeton's finest scholar-athletes!
Berl Girls! Berl Girls! Berl Girls!
Pity about the parents. Laid to rest last week. Autopsies confirm: They expired from sheer and utter exhaustion.
NY Times Telenews
Grandparents
December 3, 2009
...and I suppose together that there may be no other explanation than that inexplicable love for grandfather.
I had one. Never any grand mothers. Well, Pop's mother and Aunt came to live with us in their dotage, but I was rarely around and found no interest in those nice, quiet, frail old biddies. fact is, I found them unattractive. but not so Dr. Kelly.
Grandfather Kelly [Mom's father] lived with us for perhaps a year at Market St. I don't know why, but I had great love for him though he rarely spoke. I was prob 6 and along with my sisters, stole his candy sticks regularly. I would walk three blocks with him to the Post Office regularly.
Silent Dr. john Kelly--died at 81 from cancer of the throat.
Uncle? well he was a great lecturer, teacher and to me, a moralizer though he never demanded much except that I go to school which I felt was generally a waste of time. even with friends he didn't speak of anything much except classics. and he would speak a great deal in French. I suppose it was his first language! And he was affectionate toward me as a tyke. It was widely known that he favored me a great deal and I suppose it was because I was his beloved little brother's fatherless son, and bore his name.
Well that's a lot of history you never asked for. I do find that as we get older we tend to think more about family relationships.
Big hug for you!
Shamelss hand dryer commercial: Commercial Restroom Accessories
...and I suppose together that there may be no other explanation than that inexplicable love for grandfather.
I had one. Never any grand mothers. Well, Pop's mother and Aunt came to live with us in their dotage, but I was rarely around and found no interest in those nice, quiet, frail old biddies. fact is, I found them unattractive. but not so Dr. Kelly.
Grandfather Kelly [Mom's father] lived with us for perhaps a year at Market St. I don't know why, but I had great love for him though he rarely spoke. I was prob 6 and along with my sisters, stole his candy sticks regularly. I would walk three blocks with him to the Post Office regularly.
Silent Dr. john Kelly--died at 81 from cancer of the throat.
Uncle? well he was a great lecturer, teacher and to me, a moralizer though he never demanded much except that I go to school which I felt was generally a waste of time. even with friends he didn't speak of anything much except classics. and he would speak a great deal in French. I suppose it was his first language! And he was affectionate toward me as a tyke. It was widely known that he favored me a great deal and I suppose it was because I was his beloved little brother's fatherless son, and bore his name.
Well that's a lot of history you never asked for. I do find that as we get older we tend to think more about family relationships.
Big hug for you!
Shamelss hand dryer commercial: Commercial Restroom Accessories
EEBs health prescriptions
November 16, 2009
So I get plenty of exercise as you do working on you r boats, but I have always drunk a lot of skim milk. still do. About a 1 1/4 gallons per week.
And Dr.s all prescribe a multivitamin tablet every day. . Uncle Bill lived into his nineties. Uncle Ennalls died from stroke at age 65 due to alcohol. Uncle Wag died at about age 60 from stroke or heart attack. And some people are just lucky. on you rmother's side, great uncles, three brothers died from profligacy, but otherwise would have done well, all this should include you ! given your regimen.
Of course Granny Cado died at what 86 due to no exercise and drinking. Her brothers [2], died relatively young. I think in their late 60's.or 70's, but their father--your great grandfather-lived healthily to be 83 and died from cancer of the throat which wouldn't happen today.
So you and the kids have long and healthy lives to look forward to. and on your mother's side: pretty much the same pict. Muz lived well into her 80's. And your mother has had some pretty severe setbacks, including the latest and suffers from good health.
It's a very strong background. Oh yes, your grandfather Floyd was top athlete with a magnetic personality, but had contracted bad heart as result of some sickness which would not occur today.
Love and Luck!
So I get plenty of exercise as you do working on you r boats, but I have always drunk a lot of skim milk. still do. About a 1 1/4 gallons per week.
And Dr.s all prescribe a multivitamin tablet every day. . Uncle Bill lived into his nineties. Uncle Ennalls died from stroke at age 65 due to alcohol. Uncle Wag died at about age 60 from stroke or heart attack. And some people are just lucky. on you rmother's side, great uncles, three brothers died from profligacy, but otherwise would have done well, all this should include you ! given your regimen.
Of course Granny Cado died at what 86 due to no exercise and drinking. Her brothers [2], died relatively young. I think in their late 60's.or 70's, but their father--your great grandfather-lived healthily to be 83 and died from cancer of the throat which wouldn't happen today.
So you and the kids have long and healthy lives to look forward to. and on your mother's side: pretty much the same pict. Muz lived well into her 80's. And your mother has had some pretty severe setbacks, including the latest and suffers from good health.
It's a very strong background. Oh yes, your grandfather Floyd was top athlete with a magnetic personality, but had contracted bad heart as result of some sickness which would not occur today.
Love and Luck!
Dad
Shameless commercial plug from son Chris: Which hand dryer should I buy?
Booze & Pops
October 15, 2009
Some of you have worried about my consumption of booze over the years.
a friend put me on to the AA internet Test for Alcoholism site.
you will be surprised to know that I flunked. Damn! I do not qualify, and some of the nicest people I've ever known were alcoholics. In fact my mother, Granny Cado was a highly qualified alcoholic. She didn't drink a lot. she just sipped on a glass of bourbon and water from about 2 in the afternoon until cocktail time when she would have one of Pop's excellent Martinis. Then a little carefully selected wine with dinner. and finally a couple of additional bourbon and waters just to make her sleep better.
And sleep she could! I returned from Korea and unexpectedly arrived at the front door at about 1:00AM. I knocked on the door. I thumped the door knocker loudly. banged and banged. threw rocks at their windows, yelled and called out.
I'm sure everybody in the neighborhood new that Ennalls is home. but not the parents. Just as I was about to curlup on the front steps, the door opened and there stood my parents! ."So you're home." said Pop quietly, shook hands and went back upstairs. Mom sobbed a few times and trundled off after him.
So much for my surprise reunion.
Now, they would have passed AA's dinky little test with flying colors, but I just couldn't hack it!
Try it! I want to know whether you can uphold long standing family tradition or whether you're going to wimp out like your pathetic Father!
go to:
AlcoholScreening.org
and for Hand Dryers, go to RestroomDirect.com
Some of you have worried about my consumption of booze over the years.
a friend put me on to the AA internet Test for Alcoholism site.
you will be surprised to know that I flunked. Damn! I do not qualify, and some of the nicest people I've ever known were alcoholics. In fact my mother, Granny Cado was a highly qualified alcoholic. She didn't drink a lot. she just sipped on a glass of bourbon and water from about 2 in the afternoon until cocktail time when she would have one of Pop's excellent Martinis. Then a little carefully selected wine with dinner. and finally a couple of additional bourbon and waters just to make her sleep better.
And sleep she could! I returned from Korea and unexpectedly arrived at the front door at about 1:00AM. I knocked on the door. I thumped the door knocker loudly. banged and banged. threw rocks at their windows, yelled and called out.
I'm sure everybody in the neighborhood new that Ennalls is home. but not the parents. Just as I was about to curlup on the front steps, the door opened and there stood my parents! ."So you're home." said Pop quietly, shook hands and went back upstairs. Mom sobbed a few times and trundled off after him.
So much for my surprise reunion.
Now, they would have passed AA's dinky little test with flying colors, but I just couldn't hack it!
Try it! I want to know whether you can uphold long standing family tradition or whether you're going to wimp out like your pathetic Father!
go to:
AlcoholScreening.org
and for Hand Dryers, go to RestroomDirect.com
Uncle Bill Berl
October 15, 2009
This morn I was thinking about Uncle Bill as I walked into the post office. [Once Post Master of Wilmington.]
Primarily an arrogant tough guy soldier hero, , he spent his life following his brother's lead which was a pretty good profession because his brother was a genius.
He seemed to have a good bit of money. It was said, never verified, that he had a fortune--probably his wife's. Aunt Marie was suppose to be descended from General Motors. Everyone realized that Uncle Ennalls was a genius and did whatever he said which was usually right. so, Uncle Bill gave copiously to the Party [Democrat, of course] and became the General of the dela. National Guard which wasn't too much of a stretch because he could read. Besides he loved being a soldier and endlessly talked about the "Mexican Campaign" and "Outside Dejon in my sidecar-- that was a motor cycle. And on and on ad infinitum.
The brother was, of course Ennalls the Great, my father's brother, a lawyer statesman and practical politician of whcih there are a hundred stories. I simply can't write fast enough to telll half of them. sometime, when I'm an old man, like now, I'll break down and buy a recorder and talk on and on for posterity, boring the hell out of every one. This will add to the family archives of boring family historical biographies. The latest being my mother's hisotry of the Kelly clan which she thoroughly researched between drinks.
I just can't type well enough or nearly fast enough to tell these stories as they come clanging into me memory.. there are a million--mostly funny and I'd love to give them to y'all. If you'd really like to have them, find me an easy to use and very good recorder and I'll dictate 'til I drop--I'll even go halfers with you becasue these chronicles should probably go down through the ages and give our clan members a sense of where they came from, why they're so smart, and how they can get over it. besides, I think I'm funny and love to keep trying..
Love,
Your Dad, poor fellow.
This post brought to you by The Xlerator Hand Dryer
This morn I was thinking about Uncle Bill as I walked into the post office. [Once Post Master of Wilmington.]
Primarily an arrogant tough guy soldier hero, , he spent his life following his brother's lead which was a pretty good profession because his brother was a genius.
He seemed to have a good bit of money. It was said, never verified, that he had a fortune--probably his wife's. Aunt Marie was suppose to be descended from General Motors. Everyone realized that Uncle Ennalls was a genius and did whatever he said which was usually right. so, Uncle Bill gave copiously to the Party [Democrat, of course] and became the General of the dela. National Guard which wasn't too much of a stretch because he could read. Besides he loved being a soldier and endlessly talked about the "Mexican Campaign" and "Outside Dejon in my sidecar-- that was a motor cycle. And on and on ad infinitum.
The brother was, of course Ennalls the Great, my father's brother, a lawyer statesman and practical politician of whcih there are a hundred stories. I simply can't write fast enough to telll half of them. sometime, when I'm an old man, like now, I'll break down and buy a recorder and talk on and on for posterity, boring the hell out of every one. This will add to the family archives of boring family historical biographies. The latest being my mother's hisotry of the Kelly clan which she thoroughly researched between drinks.
I just can't type well enough or nearly fast enough to tell these stories as they come clanging into me memory.. there are a million--mostly funny and I'd love to give them to y'all. If you'd really like to have them, find me an easy to use and very good recorder and I'll dictate 'til I drop--I'll even go halfers with you becasue these chronicles should probably go down through the ages and give our clan members a sense of where they came from, why they're so smart, and how they can get over it. besides, I think I'm funny and love to keep trying..
Love,
Your Dad, poor fellow.
This post brought to you by The Xlerator Hand Dryer
Uncle Bill Berl Oops - posted twice
This morn I was thinking about Uncle Bill as I walked into the post office. [Once Post Master of Wilmington.]
Primarily an arrogant tough guy soldier hero, , he spent his life following his brother's lead which was a pretty good profession because his brother was a genius.
He seemed to have a good bit of money. It was said, never verified, that he had a fortune--probably his wife's. Aunt Marie was suppose to be descended from General Motors. Everyone realized that Uncle Ennalls was a genius and did whatever he said which was usually right. so, Uncle Bill gave copiously to the Party [Democrat, of course] and became the General of the dela. National Guard which wasn't too much of a stretch because he could read. Besides he loved being a soldier and endlessly talked about the "Mexican Campaign" and "Outside Dejon in my sidecar-- that was a motor cycle. And on and on ad infinitum.
The brother was, of course Ennalls the Great, my father's brother, a lawyer statesman and practical politician of whcih there are a hundred stories. I simply can't write fast enough to telll half of them. sometime, when I'm an old man, like now, I'll break down and buy a recorder and talk on and on for posterity, boring the hell out of every one. This will add to the family archives of boring family historical biographies. The latest being my mother's hisotry of the Kelly clan which she thoroughly researched between drinks.
I just can't type well enough or nearly fast enough to tell these stories as they come clanging into me memory.. there are a million--mostly funny and I'd love to give them to y'all. If you'd really like to have them, find me an easy to use and very good recorder and I'll dictate 'til I drop--I'll even go halfers with you becasue these chronicles should probably go down through the ages and give our clan members a sense of where they came from, why they're so smart, and how they can get over it. besides, I think I'm funny and love to keep trying..
Love,
Your Dad, poor fellow.
This post brought to you by The Xlerator Hand Dryer
Primarily an arrogant tough guy soldier hero, , he spent his life following his brother's lead which was a pretty good profession because his brother was a genius.
He seemed to have a good bit of money. It was said, never verified, that he had a fortune--probably his wife's. Aunt Marie was suppose to be descended from General Motors. Everyone realized that Uncle Ennalls was a genius and did whatever he said which was usually right. so, Uncle Bill gave copiously to the Party [Democrat, of course] and became the General of the dela. National Guard which wasn't too much of a stretch because he could read. Besides he loved being a soldier and endlessly talked about the "Mexican Campaign" and "Outside Dejon in my sidecar-- that was a motor cycle. And on and on ad infinitum.
The brother was, of course Ennalls the Great, my father's brother, a lawyer statesman and practical politician of whcih there are a hundred stories. I simply can't write fast enough to telll half of them. sometime, when I'm an old man, like now, I'll break down and buy a recorder and talk on and on for posterity, boring the hell out of every one. This will add to the family archives of boring family historical biographies. The latest being my mother's hisotry of the Kelly clan which she thoroughly researched between drinks.
I just can't type well enough or nearly fast enough to tell these stories as they come clanging into me memory.. there are a million--mostly funny and I'd love to give them to y'all. If you'd really like to have them, find me an easy to use and very good recorder and I'll dictate 'til I drop--I'll even go halfers with you becasue these chronicles should probably go down through the ages and give our clan members a sense of where they came from, why they're so smart, and how they can get over it. besides, I think I'm funny and love to keep trying..
Love,
Your Dad, poor fellow.
This post brought to you by The Xlerator Hand Dryer
Mischief Night
Halloween, 2009
We really liked Mischief Night better than Haloween. We could, and only slightly illegally, upset trash cans, soap windows, break street lamps. Your sweet Aunt Floydie even threw a neighbors lawn furniture into their empty swimming pool. Seemed a bit extreme. Said she didn't know why she did it.
I upset a neighbors ash can spilling ashes all over the street, then lied to him about it. I guiltily peeked around the curtains to watch him clean it up.
Maybe Mischief Night didn't really contribute to our maturity. After all, we really never had parents. What do you expect?
Shameless commercial plug: World Dryer Hand Dryers!
We really liked Mischief Night better than Haloween. We could, and only slightly illegally, upset trash cans, soap windows, break street lamps. Your sweet Aunt Floydie even threw a neighbors lawn furniture into their empty swimming pool. Seemed a bit extreme. Said she didn't know why she did it.
I upset a neighbors ash can spilling ashes all over the street, then lied to him about it. I guiltily peeked around the curtains to watch him clean it up.
Maybe Mischief Night didn't really contribute to our maturity. After all, we really never had parents. What do you expect?
Shameless commercial plug: World Dryer Hand Dryers!
The Great Flood
September 21, 2009
Too bad y'all aren't here! Been raining off and on all the past week. Creek's muddy. creek's up. girls would have a blast. It's running fast, at the pace of a slow jog--maybe what? 2 mi/hr?
Nothing like the great flood of 1916. Ah yes, well do I remember! Trees in the river. houses sliding off into muddy rapids. Buildings, riverbank warehouses,even an entire train were swept down stream. People ran for the hill tops. People climbed trees. People died.
Industries were swept away and never revived. It was a terrible time. The time by which every major storm is now measured.
It started with a hurricane which came swirling north from the Gulf of Mexico.
That major stormed converged with another hurricane which came west from Charleston. And it lasted for days.
Goodbye Asheville.
Now your assignment, Doctor.
Beg, borrow, or even buy Gladwell's "Outliers". Go to chapt. 8 "Rice Paddies and Math Tests", and you will find amazing revelation. It might change the way we think in numbers!
Looking forward mightily to Oct. 3!
love,
Dad
Brought to you by the best place to purchase automatic soap dispensers
Too bad y'all aren't here! Been raining off and on all the past week. Creek's muddy. creek's up. girls would have a blast. It's running fast, at the pace of a slow jog--maybe what? 2 mi/hr?
Nothing like the great flood of 1916. Ah yes, well do I remember! Trees in the river. houses sliding off into muddy rapids. Buildings, riverbank warehouses,even an entire train were swept down stream. People ran for the hill tops. People climbed trees. People died.
Industries were swept away and never revived. It was a terrible time. The time by which every major storm is now measured.
It started with a hurricane which came swirling north from the Gulf of Mexico.
That major stormed converged with another hurricane which came west from Charleston. And it lasted for days.
Goodbye Asheville.
Now your assignment, Doctor.
Beg, borrow, or even buy Gladwell's "Outliers". Go to chapt. 8 "Rice Paddies and Math Tests", and you will find amazing revelation. It might change the way we think in numbers!
Looking forward mightily to Oct. 3!
love,
Dad
Brought to you by the best place to purchase automatic soap dispensers
A reply to a joshing letter from a duaghter
October 11, 2009
My Dear Daughter,
OK, let's use your enthusiasm to do something constructive!
Let it be the beginning of an organization to force Congress into "Campaign Finance Reform"!
The "SINE QUA NONS"! That's Latin for "Without Which, Nothing"
Nobody has been able to stop the wholesale bribery of Congress by rich companies! Nobody! Never!
Some have tried. The Public yawns.
Organizations have existed, still exist, whose sole purpose has been to stop the bribery of Congress. Voters don't know. Don't care. Don't get behind them.
Congressmen use "Special Interest" Donations in the millions to get rich--and, by the way--pass legislation nicely favorable to those companies, but harmful to everyone else.
This is exactly why "Health Care Reform" has become so controversial.
So what are YOU; what are WE; what are ALL of US going to do about it???
Dad
E. Ennalls Berl II
Commercial notice: This post brought to you by the best place to buy hand dryers
My Dear Daughter,
OK, let's use your enthusiasm to do something constructive!
Let it be the beginning of an organization to force Congress into "Campaign Finance Reform"!
The "SINE QUA NONS"! That's Latin for "Without Which, Nothing"
Nobody has been able to stop the wholesale bribery of Congress by rich companies! Nobody! Never!
Some have tried. The Public yawns.
Organizations have existed, still exist, whose sole purpose has been to stop the bribery of Congress. Voters don't know. Don't care. Don't get behind them.
Congressmen use "Special Interest" Donations in the millions to get rich--and, by the way--pass legislation nicely favorable to those companies, but harmful to everyone else.
This is exactly why "Health Care Reform" has become so controversial.
So what are YOU; what are WE; what are ALL of US going to do about it???
Dad
E. Ennalls Berl II
Commercial notice: This post brought to you by the best place to buy hand dryers
The Generals
Asheville
Aug 22, ought 9
My dear Friend,
Gen. Robles’ letter started me thinking about the “generals I have known”.
The first was Robert E. Lee. I believe he was a fraternity brother. He should have staid in college—no disrespect to KA.
Then came all of Uncle Ennalls’ and Uncle Bill’s friends.
I think of WW I and Gen’l Wise, a Marine who wasn’t so wise and lost his entire regiment at Belleau Woods and never quite recovered from it. He would drive up Market St., park next to the old mounting stone, throw open the big front door and shout, “Pigtails, Pigtails!” And my sister at about age 3 would come running down the stairs yelling, “Gen’l Wise, Gen’l Wise!” And jump into his massive arms.
These recollections are quite recent because at Suzi’s family reunion in Detroit, the Hudson Car collectors association held an extraordinary rally and brought many many old Hudsons to our party. I rode in an ’08 model Hudson putt, putt of which the steering mechanism was a stick. And I saw an old Hudson rumble seat coupe with wooden spoked wheels exactly like the one in which Gen’l Wise would drive right up to the beautiful old Wilmington mansion. The year was 1935, not quite a hundred years ago. The place was 1303 Market St. Wilmington DE.
Gen. Jefferson Randolph Kane and his lovely wife, Cornelia, would also appear from time to time, but no Hudsons there. They would come by train from Washington.
He had been the head of the Army Medical Corp and is present in the history book picture portraying the finding of the pesky little mosquito responsible for Yellow Fever in Cuba.
.
He also had a limp which he explained to me resulted from a tomahawk to his knee during the last Indian campaign. Uncle Ennalls was quite amused with that one. Gen. Kane was, in fact, a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and was buried in the Jefferson grave yard at Monticello.
Genl. Kane could read French, but he couldn’t speak that abominable language. And this is how Uncle Ennalls managed to get to the front lines and win 3 Silver Stars in WW I ! And the French officers were delighted to find an American Captain who actually understood everything they said, so the French piled on decorations too.
That generation of Berls were brought up speaking French in New Orleans, so they spoke French “en avant d’anglais”, which is supposed to mean before they spoke English.
Then came WW II and my uncle, Gen. William Berl, once again very uncomfortably, sat out the war at a Washington desk job, while his unmilitary brother was all over Europe and was even one of the first to cross the Elbe and meet the Russians. An entire chest full of medals, including a giant Stalin era hammer and sickle award. Molotov liked him. The Russians had never seen an American who could match them vodka for vodka.
Every 5 years thereafter, Uncle’s Corp would hold a reunion, several times at 1303 Market St. And here I would get to know more generals and colonels including delightful 4 star Gen. Gillam who was just about 5 feet tall. Then there was Gen. Decker, head of JAG. He wanted to know if I would go to West Point! Ha! And Col. Father McDonough whom we visited in his peacetime roll, Chaplin in a tiny New Hampshire prison.
There were so many Col’s. that they are lost in the scuffle, or should I say, in the best martinis ever made. [Uncle had many talents.] There was even a French Major Andre [“accent aigu. Allons enfants…” ]
Of course, I can’t forget our next door neighbor Gen. Moore who actually shot down several Jap planes in the Pacific with the same 90mm long rifles that we used in training while I was in the Guard—that was just before I went to Korea, thank you very much for your encouragement, generals.
And to complete the caste, there was a general who was Dela. Natn’l Guard chief. The last time I saw him, he invited me to re-up in the Natn’l. Guard in memory of other family members, an invitation to which I made a rather strong reply in order to be heard through the dense fog of alcohol which accompanied him throughout his affairs of state.
Had you cared to, had you gone in that direction, you would have been the last General I have known. I’m dead certain of that! Because, old Friend, I bloody well would have shot you!
Ennalls
p.s. Now that our old friend Col. Billy Keen is no more, there is no one else to show this to which is just as well. I don’t mind sending it to you, but there are other Delawareans who might well be scandalized,
and I don’t want to spend the rest of my days fleeing from those yahoos.
Fondest regards.
Shameless commercial plug added by Chris: Buy Hand Dryers!
Aug 22, ought 9
My dear Friend,
Gen. Robles’ letter started me thinking about the “generals I have known”.
The first was Robert E. Lee. I believe he was a fraternity brother. He should have staid in college—no disrespect to KA.
Then came all of Uncle Ennalls’ and Uncle Bill’s friends.
I think of WW I and Gen’l Wise, a Marine who wasn’t so wise and lost his entire regiment at Belleau Woods and never quite recovered from it. He would drive up Market St., park next to the old mounting stone, throw open the big front door and shout, “Pigtails, Pigtails!” And my sister at about age 3 would come running down the stairs yelling, “Gen’l Wise, Gen’l Wise!” And jump into his massive arms.
These recollections are quite recent because at Suzi’s family reunion in Detroit, the Hudson Car collectors association held an extraordinary rally and brought many many old Hudsons to our party. I rode in an ’08 model Hudson putt, putt of which the steering mechanism was a stick. And I saw an old Hudson rumble seat coupe with wooden spoked wheels exactly like the one in which Gen’l Wise would drive right up to the beautiful old Wilmington mansion. The year was 1935, not quite a hundred years ago. The place was 1303 Market St. Wilmington DE.
Gen. Jefferson Randolph Kane and his lovely wife, Cornelia, would also appear from time to time, but no Hudsons there. They would come by train from Washington.
He had been the head of the Army Medical Corp and is present in the history book picture portraying the finding of the pesky little mosquito responsible for Yellow Fever in Cuba.
.
He also had a limp which he explained to me resulted from a tomahawk to his knee during the last Indian campaign. Uncle Ennalls was quite amused with that one. Gen. Kane was, in fact, a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and was buried in the Jefferson grave yard at Monticello.
Genl. Kane could read French, but he couldn’t speak that abominable language. And this is how Uncle Ennalls managed to get to the front lines and win 3 Silver Stars in WW I ! And the French officers were delighted to find an American Captain who actually understood everything they said, so the French piled on decorations too.
That generation of Berls were brought up speaking French in New Orleans, so they spoke French “en avant d’anglais”, which is supposed to mean before they spoke English.
Then came WW II and my uncle, Gen. William Berl, once again very uncomfortably, sat out the war at a Washington desk job, while his unmilitary brother was all over Europe and was even one of the first to cross the Elbe and meet the Russians. An entire chest full of medals, including a giant Stalin era hammer and sickle award. Molotov liked him. The Russians had never seen an American who could match them vodka for vodka.
Every 5 years thereafter, Uncle’s Corp would hold a reunion, several times at 1303 Market St. And here I would get to know more generals and colonels including delightful 4 star Gen. Gillam who was just about 5 feet tall. Then there was Gen. Decker, head of JAG. He wanted to know if I would go to West Point! Ha! And Col. Father McDonough whom we visited in his peacetime roll, Chaplin in a tiny New Hampshire prison.
There were so many Col’s. that they are lost in the scuffle, or should I say, in the best martinis ever made. [Uncle had many talents.] There was even a French Major Andre [“accent aigu. Allons enfants…” ]
Of course, I can’t forget our next door neighbor Gen. Moore who actually shot down several Jap planes in the Pacific with the same 90mm long rifles that we used in training while I was in the Guard—that was just before I went to Korea, thank you very much for your encouragement, generals.
And to complete the caste, there was a general who was Dela. Natn’l Guard chief. The last time I saw him, he invited me to re-up in the Natn’l. Guard in memory of other family members, an invitation to which I made a rather strong reply in order to be heard through the dense fog of alcohol which accompanied him throughout his affairs of state.
Had you cared to, had you gone in that direction, you would have been the last General I have known. I’m dead certain of that! Because, old Friend, I bloody well would have shot you!
Ennalls
p.s. Now that our old friend Col. Billy Keen is no more, there is no one else to show this to which is just as well. I don’t mind sending it to you, but there are other Delawareans who might well be scandalized,
and I don’t want to spend the rest of my days fleeing from those yahoos.
Fondest regards.
Shameless commercial plug added by Chris: Buy Hand Dryers!
Queen Mary
July 21, 2009
Everyone wants to know what the "Queen Mary II" is like.
Well, it's like a floating pleasure palace, or perhaps like a floating Dollywood only larger. Not exactly garish, but then not altogether refined, it was built to satisfy the panoply of American tastes and I would hazard that it succeeded.
It is unbelievably huge. I can't tell you whether we were at the bow or the stern because I could never figure out which way we were going. but we were at one end and to get to my bridge lessons at the other end, I would jog down the companion way at top speed allowing 13 minutes for the trip, all the while being careful not to cripple an unsuspecting old lady or a working steward.
This boat is so huge, it ties up at a Brooklyn pier made for an aircraft carrier! This boat is so huge that it never lists and only slightly rolls in a 20 knot gale in which the lowest portholes may be splashed while children [and I], frolic in one of the several rather small swimming pools.
It creates a tremendous wake that can be seen for miles and turns whales upside down. It really is a bridge from New York to Southampton across which travel 2000 passengers, and 1000 servants from all over the non English speaking globe. Passage requires about 15 minutes, but Cunard stretches it to 6 nights to maximize casino returns and let the passengers think they've sailed the ocean blue which is really green.
We followed the circle path of the Titanic to conserve fuel, but never passed an iceberg. If we had, we would have looked down upon it and had we collided, it would have been equal to running over an ice cube--of which countless were produced on board to help slake the unquenchable thirst of all of us alchoholics who populated the 7 bars and hundreds of dinner tables.
Yes , the tables were elegant and the fare excellent--including the wines. [All of France must be hard at work just to supply the demands of this queen!] The wait staff was excellent and all of them smiled--at least when they were meeting our individual requirements.
Our table mates were an Austrailian couple--both doctors--both very pleasant--both amended every statement with a series of "Yea, yea,yeas".
An exclusive 500 got to shake hands at the Captain's Dinner. He is a jolly, bleary eyed, white haired man who says amusing things over the loud speaker, voyage after voyage and gets paid who knows how much for looking the friendly Irish seaman. I travelled to the largest bridge of any ship ever built a number of times. Never was he seen there.
For Suzi, the highlight of the trip, perhaps of her life, was attending in Theatre 3, the musician James Taylor and entourage playing on and on, for a couple of hours.
[Chapt. 2 when I am next inspired--which may well be a long, long time]
"Ennalls II"
Posted by Chris. Buy hand dryers!
Everyone wants to know what the "Queen Mary II" is like.
Well, it's like a floating pleasure palace, or perhaps like a floating Dollywood only larger. Not exactly garish, but then not altogether refined, it was built to satisfy the panoply of American tastes and I would hazard that it succeeded.
It is unbelievably huge. I can't tell you whether we were at the bow or the stern because I could never figure out which way we were going. but we were at one end and to get to my bridge lessons at the other end, I would jog down the companion way at top speed allowing 13 minutes for the trip, all the while being careful not to cripple an unsuspecting old lady or a working steward.
This boat is so huge, it ties up at a Brooklyn pier made for an aircraft carrier! This boat is so huge that it never lists and only slightly rolls in a 20 knot gale in which the lowest portholes may be splashed while children [and I], frolic in one of the several rather small swimming pools.
It creates a tremendous wake that can be seen for miles and turns whales upside down. It really is a bridge from New York to Southampton across which travel 2000 passengers, and 1000 servants from all over the non English speaking globe. Passage requires about 15 minutes, but Cunard stretches it to 6 nights to maximize casino returns and let the passengers think they've sailed the ocean blue which is really green.
We followed the circle path of the Titanic to conserve fuel, but never passed an iceberg. If we had, we would have looked down upon it and had we collided, it would have been equal to running over an ice cube--of which countless were produced on board to help slake the unquenchable thirst of all of us alchoholics who populated the 7 bars and hundreds of dinner tables.
Yes , the tables were elegant and the fare excellent--including the wines. [All of France must be hard at work just to supply the demands of this queen!] The wait staff was excellent and all of them smiled--at least when they were meeting our individual requirements.
Our table mates were an Austrailian couple--both doctors--both very pleasant--both amended every statement with a series of "Yea, yea,yeas".
An exclusive 500 got to shake hands at the Captain's Dinner. He is a jolly, bleary eyed, white haired man who says amusing things over the loud speaker, voyage after voyage and gets paid who knows how much for looking the friendly Irish seaman. I travelled to the largest bridge of any ship ever built a number of times. Never was he seen there.
For Suzi, the highlight of the trip, perhaps of her life, was attending in Theatre 3, the musician James Taylor and entourage playing on and on, for a couple of hours.
[Chapt. 2 when I am next inspired--which may well be a long, long time]
"Ennalls II"
Posted by Chris. Buy hand dryers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
