Nostalgia and enlightenment . . .

My Saturday and Sunday spent at the lovely Post Oak Lodge in Osage County, just NW of downtown Tulsa to attend the fab annual gathering of The Oklahoma Symposium. Logo titled All the Vino, most of the Veritas, the 250-300 attendees represented diverse fields of progressive politicians, artists, poets, musicians, philosophers, thinkers, and journalists. Sessions, like the original Greek Symposium, featured outstanding discussion sessions, presentations, much vino and equal veritas, along with superb dining. If that seems like something you might be interested in, drop me a note and I'll make sure you get on the invite list for next April 14-16.

Today is the 127th anniversary of Thornton Wilder's birth. The multiple Pulitzer honoree was born on this date in 1897 Madison, Wisconsin. He gave us the novel The Bridge of San Lius Ray, and the play Our Town.

While you're at it, check out Iris Dement's nostalgic rendition of her song (Sun's Settin' Down On) Our Town, with Emmy Lou Harris joining in harmony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikZwgj89HI

You might want a Kleenex handy.

Speaking of Kleenex worthy experiences, Today is also the 138th anniversary of Isak Dinesen's birth. Born Karen Blixen on a rural estate called Rungsted near 1885 Copenhagen, Denmark, she gave us Out of Africa, and Babette's Feast. “Babette” is the #1 film in my library of 300.

Catching up on the weekend mail:

On Friday the 14th in 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Washington, D.C.

and 88 years ago in 1935, “Black Sunday,” the Great Plains region experienced one of the largest dust storms in American history. Oklahoma was particularly hard-hit. While time has passed and few survivors of the event remain, it is still a topic of conversation as the memories continue to be handed down. To this day it is difficult to overstate the event and its impact.

Below, an edited narrative from Garrison Keillor provides a “pretty good” perspective:

Cars were shorted out, and animals were smothered on the spot — countless birds, mice, jackrabbits. Cattle’s stomachs were later found to be filled with several inches of dirt, their eyes cemented shut by a mixture of tears and dust. . .Thousands fled to California during the Dust Bowl, overwhelming the state’s resources. Others suffered health and respiratory problems from the constant presence of dust. Homes and farm equipment were buried in great dunes of sandy dirt. The multiyear tragedy led to the federal government’s passing of the Soil Conservation Act in 1936.

Hope your weekend was as interesting, profound and fulfilling as mine . . . seize yas, tomorrow … jb