When someone remarks:  “Tom, you’re quite a character,” it can be good or not so good. That phrase falls under the 10th usage of the word ‘character’ in the Webster’s Dictionary. Used that way it conveys to the mind that such a person is one who attracts attention because he is different.

George Washington did attract attention because he WAS different. In addition, George Washington was a “man of character.”  Meaning he had moral strength. Most of his strengths were developed by him because of his self control. He worked at becoming a man of character. read more

I was asked to give a presentatio about our Founding Fathers to an advanced placement Senior High School Government class just a few years ago. It was only a couple of weeks before their school calendar showed a vacation day called Presidents Day.

So I asked the class “What is Presidents Day all about?”

The most common response from the students was “just another reason to have a holiday–a three day weekend.” When I persisted in wanting to know which President to honor the most common response was “it doesn’t matter. Choose your favorite President, or honor all of them.” These are honor students now. read more

Christmas with George Washington

When you are visited by someone as admired and revered as George Washington, you tend to get speechless, reserved and a little discomfited. That’s how we were when George came for Christmas.

We were saved because we knew George and Martha were good hosts, and so were very likely to be good guests as well. We prepared a customary Christmas dinner to be served in our dining room. So there was turkey, ham, roast beef brisket, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, salad, and Kari’s famous orange rolls. Then, for dessert, Linda’s mouth watering Christmas cheesecake. read more