Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

Uncategorized

  • Thoreau’s Straw Hat and Deliberate Living

    Hats are both a fashion statement and an expression of identity. Women of the British elite are known for their hats. Appearing hatless at the Kentucky Derby is taboo for American women—fashion matters. A hat is a persona, revealing either… Continue reading

  • When Grief Becomes Rage

    Going to the White House was always a big deal for Daniel Patrick Moynihan.  He was 36 years old when he was working for the Kennedy Administration as the Assistant Secretary of Labor. On the afternoon of 22 November 1963,… Continue reading

  • Chuck Wiser, Hot Dogs, Booms, Change,and a Question

    One of my pleasures on Fridays is reading Chuck Wiser’s column, “Wiser’s Wramblings” in The Wellsville Sun. Chuck summarizes his column, “I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels.” Chuck’s column is a reminder… Continue reading

  • ENOUGH!

    You could have been on any college campus or any place where students hung out. He generated excitement, an excitement also felt by the middle-aged and the elderly. There was excitement from the streets of Manchester, New Hampshire, to Manhattan,… Continue reading

  • Sweltering Parade Days

    As with most summer days, the sun beat down on the tree-lined street. People were gathered on the sidewalk, some brought lawn chairs. Children raced playfully across shaded lawns. Buntings and a flag decorated the viewing stand. A cluster of… Continue reading

  • Violence and the Social Contract

    There are times when a mystery novel appeals as a source of entertainment. The appeal of a mystery novel is the neatness. Facts are laid out like bread crumbs. We follow the trail, piecing together the evidence from the scene… Continue reading

  • Katrina: Memory of “We”

    Friday, 29 August, marks a dark anniversary. Ghost-like memories rise of the people and places of New Orleans, Houston, Beaumont, San Antonio, and places in between. There is no “I” in these recollections. There is only “We.” There are odors… Continue reading

  • The “Beloved Community”

    Donald Trump made two statements on Tuesday, August 19th that should give us pause. The first is a social media post. “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was,… Continue reading

  • The Old Time Jim Crow Religion Revival Meeting

    The decision was made. There was a lesson to be learned. The suitcases were packed, and placed in the car. In the early hours of a July morning, my father backed the car out of the garage. We were going… Continue reading

  • Sometimes You Just Have to Breathe

    Fred and Louise Haisch invited us over to dinner. Terri and I decided to walk. The late afternoon sun wove through the overhanging tree branches, weaving an intricate quilt pattern of shadows and light across the dirt road. There was… Continue reading