All right. For your Satidday affernoon —
If you could go back in American history to experience Christmas dinner and conversation with a typical family of that day, which of the following years would you want to go back to and why?’
a. 1620, the year the Mayflower arrived
b. 1787, the year the Constitution was signed
c. 1863, midway through the American Civil War
d. 1899, the turn of the century
Dang – this is a toughie.
I’m going to have to go with 1899 – the Reform movement was gaining strength, a new century was on the horizon with the promise of more progress. Whether that promise was fulfilled can be argued in the negative – given the bloody horrors that permeated the 20th century -but at that moment, they were still in the future.
My second choice would have been 1863.
Sal — Good points. For myself, I’m rather torn between b and c. I’m leaning perhaps towards c, though, but only if I could cheat and have a dinner in the North and a dinner in the South. Such a galvanizing time, unlike anything else our country’s seen. It’d be interesting to talk to both sides and hear what the average Northerner and Southerner thought at the time.
And could I please, please, PLEASE meet Abe Lincoln, too?
I’d go with 1863. Hard to imagine a more depressing time in America, yet life continued. They must have known little something about perseverance, huh?
I’ll take door #1 Alex! The first winter was a tough one for the Pilgrims. I’m curious to experience firsthand the kind of intestinal fortitude it took to keep their hopes up and persevere through the cold. Would I be able to tell them about the great things this new country would accomplish? Could I thank them for their courage?