Meanwhile, Back in Lulawissie...

It has been awhile since I had shifted my day to day thoughts to one side and concentrated a little more on the good life here in this small town. It has been a busy weekend among the locals; they are celebrating the “Confederate Memorial Day”. This is the day that the southern folks have set aside to honor their long passed family members that made the ultimate sacrifice during the Civil War (or “The War of Northern Aggression” as they so sternly put it here). The town has been decorated with rebel flags hanging everywhere. There is a re-creation of the battle of Neenach down along the Neenach River bottoms (now the Lulawissie River), with the boys in blue on the east shore and the southern boys on the west. The re-enactment cannot take place in the exact original spot as it occurred back in 1863 as the new Lulawissie Nuclear Power plant now occupies that location right accross the road from the elementary school.

As history tells the story, the two sides spent the afternoon shooting at each other from across the river until the Neenach Queen, a sternwheeler, came through and was caught up in the crossfire. The Union soldiers fired a grappling hook from a cannon to the craft and pulled it to their side, thus commandeering the vessel. This infuriated the Southern boys so much that they themselves commandeered one of their own freight barges much in the same way and boarded the Neenach Queen as well.

Apparently, according to local lore, the Southern Army took control of the vessel without firing a shot and placed those members of the Union Army that were occupying the vessel under arrest for theft of their property. When the ship finally made it up river to Delston, the Union soldiers were carried off and taken into custody. The Southern Boys were immortalized as heroes.

Well, I think that is partially correct. It appears that the Southern Army soldiers were carried off as well, and they were also taken into custody. According to Dr. Milburn Foote, Professor of History at Lulawissie College, the vessel was carrying a rather large load of grain alcohol. By the time the rebs got onboard, the Union boys were pretty close to being passed out, and in no condition to fight, so Johnny Reb had nothing better to do but to join their adversaries. By the time the craft reached Delston, all of the participants were pretty well sozzled and were arrested for public drunkenness by the local constabulary. I just love history!

Anyway, the locals here are also excited about a new fast food restaurant that is opening up down in Clayton, the town 15 miles to the south. It appears that a BoDiddly’s Wing Joint is opening up this weekend, and the whole town is going to rush out and get in on the free fried chicken dinner giveaway during their grand opening. As for me, I have my own key to Fahy’s Pub. Somebody has to keep an eye on things while they're all gone, right?

The air has suddenly cooled down here, an unnatural phenomenon for being this late in April this far south. There is supposed to be a frost tonight and the farmers have gotten their smudge pots out and fired up to keep from losing their crops. A hard enough frost can ruin our chances for a productive harvest this summer and fall, especially for the Lulawissie Black Ball Watermelons.

But it is late, the wind is blowing and it is getting colder. Sammie is waiting for me to come to bed so she can keep her feet warm on my ankles. Looking out of my office window, I can see a wonderfully clear Southern sky with a bazillion stars twinkling in the cold night air. I love this kind of weather. There is something about the crisp cold and the clear skies that makes you happy to be alive. It is the perfect night to sit on the back porch and watch the reflections of the stars ripple on the quiet water of the lake.

Sheer peacefulness.

As always, my friends, I appreciate you coming by, even if it is just for a little while. Remember to always do a good deed for someone that you don’t know, stay healthy, work hard and give the Good Lord thanks for all things.

I bid you peace.

^{Copyright 2012 by Del Banks}