Rain. Lots and lots of rain throughout Monday. Within fourteen hours, my backyard, which was presentable, looks way overgrown and untidy. The rain did reduce the humidity and allowed cooler breezes to move across the valley and this made for incredible sleeping Monday night.
Sunday, I was telling a private middle school student about the night I heard President Nixon resign the presidency in August 1974. “Thirty-nine years ago, when I was a little younger than you, I…” I paused. I addressed my math.
Forty-nine years ago?
Forty…
Nine…
Years.
It had been two weeks since vacationing with my grandparents where we visited Monticello, saw my Uncle Ron in Norfolk, toured Mount Vernon and Washington’s birthplace, and spent several days in Washington DC where I began my two-year modeling career for political literature. We walked across the US Capital complex to the Supreme Court to pay our respects to the late Chief Justice Earl Warren, after which, we along with Congressman Elwood “Bud” Hillis, met with the still new vice-president, Gerald Ford, who would be sworn in as president within a few weeks.
The evening of April 8th, I was down in the swimming pool at our motel in Myrtle Beach when Mother came to the second-floor rail outside our room and urged me to hurry upstairs. I couldn’t imagine why she was so commanding. It was unlike Mother.
Instead of having me change from my bathing suit to clothes, Mother wrapped me in towels and moved me to the foot of the bed to watch the television. President Nixon came on the screen, speaking from the Oval Office, announcing he would resign the following day.
The next morning, we had an early breakfast and delayed our beach time so that we could watch President Nixon’s farewell to his staff, his and Mrs. Nixon’s departure via helicopter from the South Lawn of The White House, and then the swearing-in of Gerald Ford.
Forty-nine years ago?
I vividly remember those few weeks in July and August 1974.
I may watch ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, today.
Forty-nine years…
Make it a great day!
The Haasienda on Shroyer... 