A year ago today, I lost my beloved father, so he was on my mind all day today, as I explored Gettysburg with the tour group. The weather was slightly cooler than yesterday’s, so that was good.
Although all the other battlefields on this trip are new to me, I’ve been to Gettysburg before, years and years ago. I’m so glad I came back and refreshed my memory. As you will know if you have been to the battlefield of all battlefields, Gettysburg is an ironically peaceful place. It is hard to imagine the pain and bloodshed these green pastures have seen. It’s really one big cemetery; the mood is reverent.
On a more cheerful note, Doris and I had all kinds of fun raiding the gift shop. We all had lunch at a place called the Farnsworth House–it has bullet holes in the brick walls! I choked at dinner and Doris immediately jumped up to administer the Hemlich manuever–thank heaven, it turned out I was okay. Something just went down the wrong pipe, I guess.
I’m writing this at 11:42 pm, Eastern time, and I’m absolutely bushed, since we left at 7:30 am and didn’t get back until nearly 10. It takes at least an hour to settle down for sleep, though. I have to print out the day’s photos, label them, and tuck them into my special notebook.
It’s off to Antietam tomorrow morning. Friday we do First Manassas (if you’re a Reb, Bull Run if you’re a Yank) and that’s a shorter day. Most battlefields, it turns out, have two names–the Northern one, and the Southern one. Saturday, off to Chester, VA for a very short but much-anticipated visit with Jim and Gladys Lael. The Confederates tended to name battles for the nearest town, the Yankees for some creek or landmark.
And now for the 5 and 1/2 hours of sleep I’m being allotted on this trip!
Good night, sleep tight.
