The Last Dance of Summer 2011

I don't think I will ever grow out of it.


Every time the first week of August rolls around I get an overwhelming sense that Summer is dying.

Summer doesn't just fade like other seasons, it always has to go out like a long drawn out aching funeral procession. May was just yesterday and yet here I am viewing Summer like a old rusted kaleidoscope of memories, paying respect to the memory of another Summer in the books.

I find myself wanting to write about it. Yet it feels like a whirlpool of pointless emotions. I want to grasp at some closure just like when a real entity dies but I'm not sure what (if any) such thing as Summer closure exists.

I once saw a cartoon about the last days of Summer. The character found himself in a similar situation, trying to come to grips with the passing of the great season. With the help of his mother he gathered up all his summer memories and went on a nostalgic mental magic carpet ride through the Summer's activities all to come to a grand realization that it was a great summer and things were accomplished.

I could ride the same mental magic carpet and come to the same realization. It was a good Summer. I accomplished many of the things I sought to do. Yet I'm still stuck feeling like it happened so fast and now the only thing left is the cold hard final days when Summer is more like a patient on a deathbed, it exists in reality but outcome is finite, and everyone knows what is going to happen, except in this case, nobody is sensitive. It's like the final weeks don't count, they are only a stopgap between real Summer and school being back.

Part of me is excited to go back, and yet the other part of me feels like I'm dropping off a bridge named uncertainty.Finding out what the future brings seems so paramount to bringing my soul back to equilibrium, yet once again I'm stuck doing this last dance routine with Summer. Summer is the perfect dance partner too because the routine is always the same.

And maybe that's what makes the last dance / funeral procession so hard to passively accept. The end of summer is the end of the comfort of routine. August is the last call for a final drink of the blissful cocktail of certainty that defines the season.

For those who don't know the ending of this discomforting "last dance", the spoiler is that the funeral procession is actually roller-coaster nearing it's peak. It's not going to be the same after the drop but it will probably be a lot of fun.

Here's to a final dance with Summer, and the rush of a new school year.




Sam

For those of you who know me well, you are undoubtedly aware that I'm a big history geek, and that I'm particularly interested in Military History.

What you may not know is that one of my undying curiosity's is the old cemetery behind my parents house. Particularly that inside the cemetery are several headstones of Civil War soldiers.

It has never ceased to amaze me that several hundred yards away from the house I grew up in there are soldiers who (150 years ago!) participated in the bloodiest and perhaps most important American conflict.

Today all that remains of these men is their heavily weathered headstones in the Old Ossian Cemetery which has suffered much vandalism since its dedication in 1847.

I've always found myself pondering about those soldiers, who were they? what did they do? What was it like to leave the family or the farm and head off to a great adventurous unknown. Today these soldiers remain to us in scattered records and weathered headstones but in their time they were part of a legendary conflict that had the fate of the nation at stake. In a childlike wonderment I have always wished that these headstones could talk, what stories would they tell?

Perhaps my Indiana History course at IUPUI has renewed my vigor towards this topic, or maybe it is simply that I've always felt history is worth telling.

Today I trekked through the mud and rain to the old cemetery to write down the names. It has been many years since I searched the Internet for these soldiers, so I thought I would try it again since information has likely become more available and organized. Someday I would love to do a comprehensive search using many local sources but for now I thought I would at least get a start so that I have a benchmark as well as (maybe) a decent tidbit for others who are interested.

The first soldiers name was taken from a mossy and heavily weathered stone near the front gate of the cemetery.

W.m H Rankin - 153rd Indiana Infantry C.O.E.

The first thing that struck me about this soldier was the C.O.E. which in Military Terminolgy most likely stands for Army Core Of Engineers.

The following information about the 153rd Infantry was availble here http://www.civilwarindex.com/armyin/153rd_in_infantry.html

One-Year Regiments. — A call was made, Dec. 20, 1864, for eleven regiments for one year's service, and recruiting stations were established at the headquarters of each of the provost marshals, recruits being forwarded to Indianapolis. Subsequently five additional regiments were called for, and under these calls the following organizations were raised :

One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry. — Col., Oliver H. P. Carey; Lieut. -Col., Charles S. Ellis; Maj., James F. Wildman. This regiment came from the 11th Congressional district and was organized at Indianapolis in Feb., 1865. It was mustered in March 1, and left the state on the 5th, going to Louisville, from where it was sent to Russellville, Ky., detachments being sent to Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and other points. Cos. D. G and H were engaged in numerous skirmishes with guerrillas while in that section. Returning to Louisville on June 16, the regiment was assigned to duty at Taylor barracks in that city, until it was mustered out on Sept. 4, 1865. The original strength was 1,002; gain by recruits, 31 ; total, 1,033. Loss by death, 47; desertion, 79; unaccounted for, 2. Using

The same website has PDFs of the mustering rolls which lists all the officers and soldiers in the regiment.

William Rankin was a member of Company "E" which he was mustered out of in February of June 13th of 1865. The 153rd was of the last units of Infantry assembled in Indiana. Obviously given the date of formation in 1864 the War was nearing its end. As the information said, it seems that this unit was more to quell guerrillas and play out the end game rather than participate in major battles. Rankin was not in one of the companies that was listed as skirmishing with guerrillas but I suppose that was certainly possible? One interesting note about Company E is that the officers in charge of it were from both Ossian and Bluffton.

The Captain Benjamin Wiley was from Bluffton.
First Lieutenant- John Henry was from Ossian
Second Lieutenant- Marvin Bennet was from Ossian

It makes sense that the officers would also be from the area but I found Wiley to be of interest because it is the name of a major street in Bluffton. Coincidence? maybe not...

By this point in the war volunteers were hard to come by, the toll of war was being fully understood and it is not surprising that the majority of this regiment were draftees, which seemed to include Rankin.

The question that remains most pressing about William Rankin was the Engineer aspect, what was his particular job as an engineer in that unit?

In the next post I will discuss more of these intriguing soldiers.

Gratitude Sundae | Day 14 of 30thanks

Well I can't stay up to date very well, so I guess I'll just plug at my own pace.

Gratitude Sundae | Day 14 of 30thanks

10 Random things which I'm currently thankful for.

1. Sports in High Definition- Because that is the way they are meant to be watched.

2. Finally getting to play Ice Hockey- Not only something that will keep me in shape this winter (hopefully) but that it is also a lifelong dream

3. Winning $5 on a $2 scratch off this week- What can I say, I'm kinda lucky.

4. Going with my family to watch the Blackhawks in Chicago- It was absolutely awesome.

5. Finally getting to try Al's beef which my mother raved about many times- It was juicy, spicy, and every bit as tasty as I hoped.

6. My two cats, Baba and Elphie- Cats are awesome, and my two cats are fun because they are opposites. Baba is a playful ragdoll clown who always wants attention, and Elphie is more like the bitch cat that only wants attention on her terms. It's actually a good balance.

7. A lot of really good TV shows- The Office, Outsourced, Storm Chasers, GLEE, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, and Parenthood. Every day of the week I have something interesting to watch. Never before have I simultaneously been following this many quality shows.

8. Winter/Holiday Beers- As a self admitting beer lover for more than just warm feelings, I must say that I look forward to this season every year for the sheer quantity of quality beers that start showing up on the shelves. While I love a nice crisp wheat ale in the summer, or a rich Oktoberfest in the fall, nothing beats the dark, warming, full bodied, taste of a winter lager/ale.

9. Decaf coffee- For some reason I've always been fairly sensitive to caffeine. If I drink regular coffee past like 7pm I won't sleep. Yet I love the flavor of it, and so Decaf is a good low calorie drink for alleviating oral fixation and over-eating both of which I'm prone to.

10. Where's George? - I love being a crazy georger. Marking bills and watching them bounce around the globe is a fantastic time waster.

Getting up to Date (30 Thanks: Rapid Fire!)

Days 9-13


Thank an admin | Day 9 of 30thanks

Thank you to Clinic Administration at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. When I deliver pizza for Bluffton Pizza Hut, I very much enjoy going to Clinic Administration. Not only are they loyal and patient customers, but they always tip generously.

Thank A Parent & The Reason Behind the Gratitude Adventure | Day 10 of 30thanks

A hearty thank you to my biological parents for giving me a chance on this earth, and also to my real parents for giving me the life I have. I'm grateful to have been raised with with tender care and yet you let me figure out many things in life for myself. I know I can be a pain in the ass, but I love you both and thanks for continuing to put up with me.

Thank a Guardian | Day 11 of 30thanks

A couple weeks ago in my anthropology class the guy who sits behind me in class who's name is Terrence, went to the front of the room to do his show and tell presentation. The assignment was to explain something that represented our subculture, or ethnic culture.

The item he chose was an army combat helmet.

"This---he said, is a helmet... it protects your head." to which the class chuckled at his joke

He paused, and added "It is actually a replacement for my other one, which was damaged when we hit an I.E.D."

"I'm a medic...I wasn't even supposed to be the gunner that night, but my buddies had to sleep sometime too"

He paused and indicated he was finished.

There was an awkward silence that fell over the classroom as he walked back to his seat.

Up until that point I had no idea who Terrance was, just the guy who sits behind me..and I guess I still don't know him..

But at that moment, I was overcome with such a sense of gratitude for him. As I sat there I couldn't help but think that this person sitting next to me put his life on the line in some faraway country so I could have the opportunity to be in the anthropology class to begin with.

Thank you to Terrence, and every other person serving our country. sometimes I don't understand the reason our country fights, but there will never be enough said for those who take on that responsibility.

Counter a complaint with gratitude | Day 12 of 30thanks

Giving a lengthy segment of gratitude on this blog everyday is tough, especially when I'm lazy, but I'm grateful for this opportunity and to be a part of this interesting project.

Thank the last person who made you smile | Day 13 of 30thanks

That would be my dear roommate Kimberly, when I was pouring my coffee obnoxiously loud she said "Do you really have to do that"

To which I responded....

Why yes I DO!

We laughed


Sam

Thank someone who inspires you | Day 8 of 30thanks

Today I would like to thank several people for inspiring me and whom watching brings me great entertainment. I will call them collectively; the young guns of the National Hockey League.

For those who don't know me very well, I'm a pretty hardcore hockey fan, I watch hockey basically every night of the week as well as playing it myself.

In a previous post I mentioned that my love of hockey has been a bit of a rebirth for me, and part of that is the transformation of the game in recent years to an emphasis on speed a skill.

The newer generations of players have been a big part of that transformation. These 18-23 year old players are part of the reason I tune in every night, because to me they can be absolutely awe inspiring and just plain fun to watch.


So for the fun of it, here are my top ten inspiring "young guns"


1. Jonathan Toews. I'm a Blackhawks fan so this is no brainer. Jonathan Toews is the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks and he brings a seriousness and work ethic to the game every night that is unparalleled. He drives his teammates to be better, and hes a fantastic playmaker.



2. Patrick Kane. You can't mention Toews without his partner in crime Patrick Kane. He is the 2nd piece of the Chicago rebuild and although he gets himself in trouble every year for off ice shenanigans he is one of the best puck handlers in the league. Nicknamed Doctor Kane by his teammates because of his surgical precision with the puck.



3. Steven Stamkos. Speaking of rebuilding a franchise, Steven Stamkos is a big part of that for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is one of the most productive goal scorers in the league and hes only 20 years old. A threat to score every time hes on the ice.



4. P.K. Subban. Gotta show some love for a fantastic defensemen. Subban was called up from the AHL last season during the playoffs(talk about pressure!) and was a critical piece of the Canadians Cinderella run. I love his work ethic and attitude. definitely an inspiring player.



5.Evander Kane. Atlanta Thrashers winger Evander Kane is not only a fun scorer to watch, but he also knows how to throw down. Perhaps his greatest highlight last year was knocking Pittsburgh's tough guy Matt Cooke flat on his arse.



6. Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is one of those players that can absolutely dazzle. I've never been a big fan of the Penguins but its hard not to respect the talent of Malkin. When Malkin is hot he knows how to find a lot of twine.



7. Sidney Crosby. If I mention Malkin, I have to mention his teammate Crosby. Crosby is one of the faces of the NHL, hes one of the most well known players, and really was on the forefront of the youth movement. Hes scores, he fights, he passes, he rallies his team. A fantastic player and captain.



The next and final 3 guys are all rookies this year, and very likely going to be future stars.

8. Jordan Eberle. I watched Eberle's first NHL appearance live, and he was hard not to appreciate the talent, and by that I actually mean swoon like a schoolgirl. Eberle is going to be electrifying. Along with first round pick this year Taylor Hall, Edmonton is on their way to building a great team.



9. Taylor Hall. Edmonton had to choose between Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall for the first round pick this year and they went with Taylor Hall. I think they made the right choice. Hall has that poise and determination that will make him a great player. He has two goals this season and they aren't exactly highlight reel material but here is the first NHL goal for this future star.



10. Tyler Seguin. Just because Edmonton got the so called better pick, Boston got another young superstar with with second pick in Tyler Seguin. Seguin is a really fun guy to listen to in interviews because hes really at ease, and his play style is also fun to watch. Definitely looking forward to Tyler as much as Taylor.

Gratitude Mission, Day 6: Say thanks for (or put some) fun in the mail

I rarely get meaningful snail mail anymore. It's kind of like an antiquated relic of the olden days it seems. The only thing I get in the mail are advertisements, bills, and very occasionally something from a relative.

That is except for the package I got in the mail a couple weeks ago.

It was a smallish box from the postal service which initially I was dumbfounded by because I couldn't think of anything Kim or I had ordered online recently.

It turned out to be a care package from the womens group at the Lutheran Church which my family is part of. It was actually the second one I had received from them although this one really surprised me because I expected it to be a one time thing, in fact my address had changed so they even took the time to track down my new address to send me another one.

The box was absolutely loaded with candy, snacks, and school supplies. They really went all out to spoil me. Although I'm not sure who ate more of it, me or my
roommate!

Needless to say this was a very kind gesture, and I was grateful to receive it!


Thanks again, Ladies of the Luthern Church!

Thank someone who makes a loved one’s life better | Day 5 of 30Thanks

Perhaps I'll allow myself to cheat slightly with today's gratitude mission. Instead of thanking just one person I would like to thank several people.

Those several people are my parents neighbors, and even though I don't live with my parents anymore I still very much think of them as my neighbors too.

I think as my brother and I got older and eventually moved out it was really nice to know that our parents were in good company.

It is difficult for me to pretend I know every way that our neighbors effect my parents lives, but I know for sure that it is such a positive one.

The newest member of our neighborhood community is Diane, who rents the trailer behind my parents house. I know that Diane has been one of the best tenants my parents have ever dealt with. She does a wonderful job keeping her place nice and is always paying on time. Not to mention the most important thing which is that Diane opens her deck to friends once a week and I know my Mom really enjoys being invited and socializing with her "girls group" or whatever shes calling it.

Of course I can't forget our other neighbors Karen and Caleb and their little girl Mikayla which I probably butchered the spelling of. Karen and Caleb are a lot of fun and I know my parents just love having a little kid around again. They were always saying I grew up too fast.

And there is Les and Mary who live on the other side of us, who my parents have lived beside for a couple of decades if I'm not mistaken. Les and Mary are two of the most kind hearted people I've ever met. Mary and my Mom both have that love of taking care of animals that exceeds normal amounts of compassion. Mary takes care of the neighborhood stray cats by giving them food and water. Not to mention several of her own. Les on the other hand is handy-man extraordinaire. A locksmith by trade but really he can fix or build just about anything. I know my parents feel very grateful for his skills! And I should mention that I DO TOO!!

And there is Ilene across the street who despite having some health problems and losing her husband recently is always seeming to radiate that positive attitude and kindness which is such a great quality in a neighbor. I know my parents like having her next to them. Getting a wave and a smile from Ilene is one of those things that is just part of being home.

This assignment is a little difficult because I think it is sort of hard to speak for someone else, and unfortunately I probably missed a lot of important details about why our neighbors make my parents life better, but I'm certain that they mean a lot to my parents. I've heard my mom say on several occasions that she feels really great about the little community they have and I know what she means.

Being surrounded by our great neighbors is definitely one thing I miss about home.