Suburban Tranquility

Look out from the porch at the surrounding buildings
Hardly a light is visible from the other apartments
The sound of crickets still fill the air

A gentle lapping of the pool water against its concrete cell, trying to escape
A soft buzz of the streetlight is soothing

Not a star is visible, disguised behind the vibrant glow of the nearby city.

Thousands of strangers living together, unknown neighbors, sharing a common ground.

Saint Valentine Fact and Fiction

Although I've never posted about it before, one of the many things that interest me is the history and legacy of various holidays that are celebrated here in the United States. To that end, I've been doing some research on Saint Valentine and this day to celebrate love.

Of everything I found the most interesting was this.

"Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several martyred saints of
ancient Rome...Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is
known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome
on February 14."

Nothing is none about the Saint who's name has become synonymous with love and romance. As a matter of fact, up until 1969 the Catholic Church recognized not one, but eleven Valentine's days.

It is unknown with the Saint Valentine associated with February 14 was born or died. What is known is that the name Valentine was not mentioned in any ancient religious documents until 354 A.D. in a list of Roman martyrs. It wasn't for another 1,000 years before the name Valentine and love would come together. And for that we can give thanks to one of the world's greatest and most known poets, Geoffrey Chaucer.

Yes, Geofrrey Chaucer is much more than a character in the flick "A Knight's Tale" starring Health Ledger. Yes, he wrote much more than The Canterbury Tales. He also wrote a poem called Parlement of Foules in honor of the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. In this poem, Chaucer wrote:

For this was sent Valentine's Day
When every bird come to chose his mate

And even though it wasn't yet the holiday that we know today, it wasn't forgotten throughout the middle ages. The "High Court of Love" was established on Valentine's Day in Paris in the year 1400. Shakespeare even referenced Valentine's Day in Hamlet. Even then, it wasn't nearly as widespread as one might think.

So, how did we get to where we are? I like to think that is thanks is due to Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts. Esther received a Valentine's card from England in early 1847. From this it is clear that the giving of cards was popular in England first. Esther was also lucky enough to be the daughter of the operator of a book and stationary store. Inspired by her card received, Esther mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace. From then one, the holiday has ballooned to the "Hallmark Holiday" that it is today.

I'm not trying to make a point that Valentine's Day isn't a good day. It is a good day to celebrate with ones you love. I just want people to realize that it wasn't a Saint that made the day what it is, but a poet writing in honor of a marriage. Somehow it seems appropriate.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Samuel Huntington - our first President

As the election draws even closer many people, including myself, think back through the history of the United States and consider who might be the greatest President. Is it Lincoln during the Civil War? JFK with his inspiration? Could it be Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan? Or is it our first President?

You notice I didn't say Washington after our first President. That's because he wasn't the first President of the United States. Let us consider when the United States came into existence. Was it July 4, 1776? If that is the case, then the first President of the United States would be John Hancock and Washington would be the 14th President.

Or did the United States begin at the end of the American Revolution? In that case, the first President would have been after the Peace Treaty ending the revolution in 1783 and the President would be Elias Boudinot, a name nearly lost to history.

I believe that the United States became an official country with a federal government on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation. Up until this point, there was not central government and really there was no Country. With this in mind, I present to you the first President of the United States of America - Samuel Huntington.

Samuel Huntington was a revolutionary leader from Connecticut that served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Connecticut, and President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Huntington served as President of the Continental Congress starting on September 28, 1779 and remained in the office of President after the Articles of Confederation were ratified on March 1, 1781 until July 9, 1781 when ill health forced him to resign.

Huntington was not known for his extensive learning or brilliant speech. He was known for his hard work and dedication that kept the Congress moving forward and the country together during his time in office. So why he may not be the most famous, let us not forget all the patriots that helped to make this country what it is, including Samuel Huntington, the first President of the United States of America.