The Age of Washington, Summer Seminar: Part 1

As much as I have enjoyed the recent week, by far, I enjoyed getting back to the Southwest. No, we have more brown soil and dry air here than back east. I had a bloody nose the 1st night back, as is usually the case. Why the photo then of a hot dog stand in Albuquerque? It reminds me of happy times: my son, when he was young, even a teen, and I loved to go to this place to eat. My wife and daughters opted for a place nearby, but this was the place we two liked. I miss that little boy. All 3 of my kids grew up way too fast.

For a second time I applied for, and was awarded, a type of mini-fellowship, this time at a fine Eastern university, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Noted historian Gordon S. Wood from Brown, and M.I.T. professor Pauline Maier as guest professor, were very, very good. 2 years ago in Philadelphia (see past posts in this blog history) Carol Berkin taught. I sat in these lecture halls, noted libraries of ancient texts and documents, getting to handle some of them, reading actual letters written by Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, and Constitutional leaders, on the campuses of eastern U.S. Ivy League schools, and I find myself very fortunate. For the past decade I've seen these historians on PBS "American Experience" episodes, History Channel documentaries, etc., and so getting to sit less than 10 feet from these aging historians of reknown, as one of 30 participants, mostly college professors and high school teachers, is a thrill for me. To better understand the extreme disharmony between Jefferson and Hamilton, and then to wonder how President Washington managed to get done all that he did in those first two Presidential terms.....it's all very interesting to me. If you've not done so already, the documentary to see is the very recent PBS American Experience presentation: "Alexander Hamilton". It was a time of dirty, nasty politics. Most libraries have a copy. Irish actor Brian O'Bryan portrays Hamilton. I saw him in New York City in the recent past in the lead of the Broadway play "Doubt" prior to his filming this. He was nominated for a Tony Award for that. He does equally well in his portrayal of Alexander Hamilton in this piece of historical work.

As far as Providence itself goes, there are some wonderful things I love about this city. Like all eastern cities, Au Bon Pain bakeries can be found, so too, lots of Ben and Jerry Ice Cream Shoppes. I can't eat there like I once could, but it's fun to be back and have at least a taste. If I had known about it as a youth, I think I would very much like to have attended the Rhode Island School of Design. Illustrator Chris Van Allsburg did his undergraduate work there. I simply did not know anyone with a degree in design, much less that such a degree even existed. The same can be said of Landscape Architecture and Design. I think I might have been very good at it, but I never knew it existed. But I do love fine, landscaped spaces. As such, I'm fond of Providence's River Walkways and boardwalks where I ran daily, often on cobblestone, up to their State Capital where I ran up and down those 60 granite steps time and time again. "Waterfire" is a unique architectural revitalization aspect of downtown, where for over a mile, within the Providence River, are large wire baskets wherein wood is burned on selected nights, creating reflection of light in the night water. Google "Providence Waterfire" and then click "image" to see some of these night views. Some of these wire baskets have been altered to grow amazing floral displays in the summer. This Riverwalk area is a wonderful place to run. It's hot and humid there, but I feel good while running within their city, up and down steep hills.
Be well, do good...