1917
In 1917, the Chicago White Sox won the World Series and the National Hockey League was formed. In 1917, the first Pulitzer Prize was awarded, and the Lion’s Club was created. In 1917, Woodrow Wilson began his second term as president of the United States. Ella Fitzgerald and John Fitzgerald Kennedy were born that year. So was Zsa Zsa Gabor, Desi Arnaz, and Weezie from “The Jeffersons” (Isabel Sanford).
On April 6, 1917 President Wilson declared war on Germany, sending the United States into World War I, just a week after the country purchased a group of islands in the West Indies from Denmark. I’m sure it was probably a big deal when the title for the Virgin Islands was transefered to the U.S. on March 31, 1917, but a bigger deal (at least in my opinion) was happening down in Georgia that same day.
It wasn’t that Georgia Tech won the the NCAA football national championship that year. It wasn’t even that a good chunk of Atlanta went up in flames during the city’s largest fire since the time that Sherman lit a big fat match during the Civil War (see “Gone With The Wind”). Nope. On March 31, 1917, a well-to-do Georgia couple welcomed their third and final daughter into the world.
Gone before I was born, I never knew the couple, so they never knew how their little blessed event would end up blessing my life in so many ways. So, here’s a toast to my great-grandparents who, thankfully, did not stop at number two. And three cheers, a salute, a tip of the hat, maybe a rebel yell, and an even bigger toast to my dear Granny who turns 89 today.
We’ll be having our traditional pound cake after supper tonight. It may appear to be like anybody else’s pound cake: a pound of sugar, a pound of butter, a pound of flour; but I make it with an important extra ingredient: a ton of love.
March 31st, 2006 at 7:27 am
Happy Birthday wishes to your Gran!
March 31st, 2006 at 8:14 am
Tony: YOU ROCK!!!!!! Your Grandmother is the luckiest Grandma in Tennesee because of you!
Keep on writing.
March 31st, 2006 at 9:08 am
Happy Birthday to Granny & to you. You are lucky to have each other. I celebrated my Grandma’s 90th birthday last week. I have to wonder if any of us will ever get that old.
March 31st, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Happy Bithday Granny! That extra something you taste in the pound cake?Just something Tony added.
March 31st, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Brian that was not right what you said about the extra something in the4 cake. I hope you were refering to the extra love that Tony put into making the Pound Cake for Granny.
Happy Birthday Granny!!!
March 31st, 2006 at 5:12 pm
That is so sweet! My husband and I always say the special ingredient is love! Tell your Granny Happy Birthday from us too!
March 31st, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Gran……ny. Happy Birthday to you. =)
March 31st, 2006 at 7:05 pm
I hope both you and your Granny enjoy that extra pound cake ingredient. It’s not easy to come by. You’re both lucky to have each other. Happy 89th to your Granny.
March 31st, 2006 at 9:29 pm
Awww, that was so nice. I miss my grandma.
April 1st, 2006 at 5:52 am
Happy birthday to your Grandma. I even remember saying that a year ago.
April 1st, 2006 at 4:46 pm
That was so awesomely sweet! Happy Birthday to her!!!! I miss my Nonna.
April 1st, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Aww. Happy Birthday, Granny!
April 2nd, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Happy Birthday to your granny, You know all my relatives are from Georgia, wonder if we’re related, lol. Great entry. I’m glad your great grandparents had more too and that you are here on this planet because of them.
April 3rd, 2006 at 8:21 am
Happy birthday to Granny!
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:01 am
Happy Belated Birthday to Granny. Like has been said already, Granny is lucky and blessed to have such as loving and caring grandson to care for her. I’m sure she has many attributes that have rubbed off on you, which makes you all the more special. It’s been a long time since I’ve written any comments but, even as time passes, you remain focused on giving Granny the love and devotion that she undoubtedly deserves. Keep up the good work Tony…it will all come back to you many times over.
April 5th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
You said rebel yell and and lip did that instinctive Billy Ido lip curl. LOL
Happy happy happy to your roots my dear. Deep roots and a strong mind and body are what you give to the universe. I’m thinking it only gets better from here
Mwah,
kb