Folks,

Dux:

Thank goodness you are OK. Lost our taste for lard have we?

It is noble of you to take that defeat so well. At least it was all in the family. To set the record straight, Georgie was very busy with a little French colonel at the time and a bit pressed for manpower. Let's be fair, Washington did not accomplish the triumph alone. He had a few good American lads along with him when he clenched his wooden teeth and put his good English boot print on the seat of Lord Cornwallis' white trousers. And the French fleet helped a little too. It provided a few stout gun boats at a strategic moment making the redcoats spend far more time at Yorktown than was good for their health.

Oh, yes, indeed. Pray, leave us not pass up any available opportunity for a happy booze up. Remember the last sentence of the 12-page official HWH invocation. "If a generous Providence provides the drink we promise to provide the thirst."

Thank you, dear Dux, for remembering the anniversary of the father of our country. From what we've personally observed, and from all those anonymous cards you receive every Father's Day, it appears you've fathered a whole country yourself.

Our President's Day is Monday, Feb. 18th. That is the singular date in the calendar year that we patriotic Americans solemnly and reverently celebrate both Washington's and Linclon's birthday by rushing out to all the malls and stores to charge what we do not have in order to buy what we do not need. The two esteemed gentleman would be so proud.

Washington's home, Mount Vernon, is well restored. When you finally manage your visit to the colonies I highly recommend it to you. Robert E. Lee's home at Arlington is worth seeing as well. It was appropriated by the North after what my great grandmother called the un-Civil War. Many national heroes rest there in long rows of snow white crosses. The grounds of Lee's home became our national cemetery. Jefferson's home Monticello in Virginia is a real treat to visit. He was a Renaissance man if ever there was one. We've already discussed Jamestown and Yorktown. I know of your interest in those historic locations.