Red Room Where the Writers Are

Every Shut Eye Isn't Asleep

Boston was developed by immigrants.  The Native Peoples were already there and had their own history, society in tact.  So forget the baloney of the Pilgrims landing at the Plimouth [British spelling] Rock.  They brought the deadly diseases to the Massachusetts Colony, as they called the area.

In the City of today, on can walk the Freedom Trail unguided and visit my childhood playground.  It was safe there for us little girls to go on adventures without a care and without extended family worrying.

Stand in one spot on the Boston Common and just slowly take in the beauty.  First, to keep the Common "public" property, forever cows must graze.  This is usually done the first week of June. 

See the Capitol Building of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with it's beautiful gold dome glistening and casting brightness all over the area.  Massachusetts is a Commonwealth, not a STATE! 

I was still roaming the City even in high school.  I discovered in the Capitol, that the last hand-cranked telephone in the USA was there.  One of the staffers, rang the operator for us girls to show how it worked.  Ahhh, memories.

Across from the Capitol Building on the Common is a monument to Crispus Attucks, the first person to fall in the Revolutionary War, a Man of Color; Negro; African American; Black.  Take your pick based on your upbringing.

The movie, Glory was based on the Massachusetts Regiment.  My childhood community center was named after the leader of the 54th, Robert Gould Shaw.

Many movies are made in the Boston area.  I love seeing "home" via the DVDs.

View the Park Street Church.  That is where "America, My Country 'tis of Thee" was first sung in 1831.  The Church was anti-slavery.

The Granary Burying Ground holds the remains of President John Adams and President John Quincy Adams.

In moments one can view all of this and not move more than five feet in any direction.

From the Common go in any direction walking and you to will fall in love with Boston.  You will see nothing but American history, good, bad and ugly. 

Kahil Gibran lived on Shawmut Avenue, years before any of us were born.  I'd pass that house on occasion and it meant nothing to me until my late husband would recite the entire "Prophet".  Darling awed me and caused me to wish I'd not been so cavalier about my meanderings.

We learned at seventeen years of age Benjamin Franklin was so randy, he was chased from Boston and found his fame in Philadelphia.  I never heard anyone say, "I wish Ben Franklin had stayed in Boston" .

Symphony Hall on the corner of Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue was also a favorite place.  It was cheaper to go to the symphony than to see a first run movie.   Two of my favorite concerts were Pete Fountain and having the best seats in the house to see Ella Fitzgerald, front row center and getting to chat with her back stage.  My "sister" Michele and I will never forget that.  We were kids.  That was the first time we were allowed out after dark witout chaperones.  We were dressed for the occasion and used our best manners.

The main church of the Christian Science religion can be seen from the corner.  Look to the northwest and see the dome of their building.

I'll stop giving the tour of Boston now.  Things have change daily and have too since I was home in May, 2008.  Yes, I was home when my chatting pal, Teddy Kennedy took ill. 

 [In death we'll still be near each other.  I know where my spot in Arlington National Cemetery is.   I'll be yards away from the President and his brothers.]

Should I list all the neighbors we had during my life in Boston, it would read as a "Who's Who".  Believe me, neighbors are neighbors without the hoopla of their positions in life.  Yes, the famous puts the trash containers out for pick-up.  They also return their containers to their yards.

Knowing so many have jaded me to so called "famous people".

See America first and begin with Boston!