I was at a bar this past weekend in Tempe, AZ watching the NCAA basketball tourney and the bartender (a pretty blonde who was paying her way through ASU) offered my buddy and I a “tester” of the new Sam Adams “Pale Ale” or something like that. First off, I didn’t really care for it; don’t remember the name and the bitter aftertaste left me unenthused, no doubt. Secondly, and why I remember the beer at all, I was telling my buddy that I was related to Sam Adams (3rd cousin, 8 times removed) when the bartender says, “what? Samuel Adams is an actual person?” “Uhhh, yes, I said, one of the signers of our Declaration of Independence and one of our Founding Fathers!” She was truly embarrassed and tried to pass it off as a “blonde” moment, but she wasn’t a “real” blonde and this wasn’t a joke or stupid bar trivia.
I wasn’t about to “educate” this University senior on American History, but I was a little saddened how quickly we forget our past and those who put their lives on the line to give us the freedom we so enjoy today. This young woman is a representative of the youth of America who will have a hand in carving out what our Country will be like for my senior years and my children’s future. I don’t want to rant, and I’m certainly in no position to judge, so I’ll just leave it at that. I’m a little sad when in an election year, a historic time in our lives, we so easily forget our short, 200+ year history and why we even have the right to vote for a person of our choosing in the first place.
Speaking of American History and the Adams family, anyone else getting the chance to see the remarkable adaption of the David McCullough book, John Adams? HBO is showing a 7-part mini-series and it is phenomenal. Paul Giamatti as John Adams (another 3rd cousin, 8 times removed, well this is a genealogy blog, right?), Laura Linney as Abigail Adams nee Smith (America’s first real feminist) have both been mesmerizing. McCullough’s book breathed new life into Adam’s and many more of our founding fathers. Giamatti’s portrayal is “spot on” and just another reason why he is one of America’s greatest actors. I highly recommend both, the book and the HBO mini-series!
I’ve had many reasons to write as of late but since I don’t get paid to do so, and it takes away deserved attention to my wife and family, you can see it’s been awhile. I’ll try to get back to my research and genealogical blurbs soon. I’ve got a couple of funny anecdotes in regards to my Ferguson side. Can’t wait to share, thanks for reading.
