Category Archives: History

The Million Dollar Tip

Posted on October 25, 2017 by vanbytheriver

He didn’t have change to tip the courier who brought a message to his Tokyo hotel room. So Albert Einstein wrote him a brief note on hotel stationery, telling him it might be of some value later. The 1922 message … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, History, News, Technology, Writing | Tagged , , | 61 Comments

The First Jeans

Posted on August 29, 2017 by vanbytheriver

We had to fight for our first pair of blue jeans. In the opinion of many 1960’s mothers, including mine, they were still “dungarees” and not appropriate attire for young ladies. They were meant for farmers, cowboys, factory workers, men. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Education, Entertainment, Family, History, News, Technology | Tagged , | 72 Comments

Alligator on Fridays

Posted on March 11, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Fish sticks, macaroni and cheese, with a side of stewed tomatoes. It was the meal of choice on Fridays in families who adhered to the Catholic tradition of meat abstinence. Where did this practice originate ? The information is not very … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Entertainment, Family, Food, History, Nature, News, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 124 Comments

Obvious Child

Posted on January 28, 2017 by vanbytheriver

“I’m accustomed to a smooth ride Or maybe I’m a dog who’s lost its bite I don’t expect to be treated like a fool no more I don’t expect to sleep through the night.” From Obvious Child, a 1990 song … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Entertainment, History, Humor, Movies, Music, News, Politics | Tagged , , , | 66 Comments

Library

Posted on January 18, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Our fathers were veterans of  WWII, so we baby boomers had toy guns. While others played “War” in the dense woods nearby, we played “Library.” Diane lived 2 doors down. She was the youngest of her family, and was surrounded … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Books, Entertainment, Family, History, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , | 56 Comments

The Island #Writephoto

Posted on June 30, 2016 by vanbytheriver

From John Donne, London, 1614. Meditation 17 Devotions upon Emergent Occasions ‘No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, History, Inspiration, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompt | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments

War Stories

Posted on June 13, 2016 by vanbytheriver

For the past two weekends, my community has been immersed in memorials. First, to commemorate D-Day, a WWII weekend hosted by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. Vintage aircraft, re-enactments, soldiers in uniform, and from those who remain, the stories. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, History, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments

I, Immigrant

Posted on December 10, 2015 by vanbytheriver

My mother’s family emigrated from Germany in the 1700’s, from Ireland in the 1800’s, landing in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. My father’s family were among those “huddled masses” of the early 1900’s, escaping eastern Europe for a better … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, History, News, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Kuchen

Posted on September 11, 2015 by vanbytheriver

Today, I will bake. I will remember, I will be sad, I will meditate. I will honor the tragic memory of  September 11, 2001. But I won’t write about it. Not today. Instead, I’ll share a memory, and a recipe. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Education, Food, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Mesmerized

Posted on August 7, 2015 by vanbytheriver

On a recent WP comment, I described a video as “mesmerizing”, one of my all time favorite words. It comes from an early form of hypnosis used by an Austrian physician named Franz Anton Mesmer. 1734-1815 He rejected the 18th … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, History, Mental Health, Writing | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments