Sadly the show (Idol, that is) was a bore. Anyway I'll post my interview with Marky in the next few days. Now for a trip farther back in time...
On Easter afternoon my mother and I went to Lincoln's Cottage down in D.C. I'd taken both my parents to this little-known gem about 7 years ago, before it was spruced up and opened to the public. And a gem it is.
The Gothic Revival home, on the grounds of what was formerly known as the Soldiers' Home (initially for poor, displaced German and Irish veterans of the Mexican-American and Civil Wars) is where Lincoln spent a total of thirteen months, a full quarter of his presidency. For our greatest president it was an escape from the office seekers that would line up for him daily -- and other time-sucking trivial obligations that came with his office. (I need a cottage to escape email.) Plus, sitting at the third-highest spot in Washington, it was a respite from the heat.
It was here that Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation.
Readers of this blog know that my three favorite people are Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Loretta Lynn. (I also love Pope John Paul II, Billie Jean King and educator Marva Collins. The 1981 TV movie based on Collins' life in the Chicago Public School system moved me deeply.) Well seventh place belongs not to an individual, but to a whole class of people: Docents.
I love docents. Trained museum (also walking tour) guides are wonderful people who've certainly enriched my life. In these uncertain times, we're all grasping for connection with our national past. We want to know what it means to be American. Time (and population growth) is working against us in certain respects: Soon we will no longer be the world's economic superpower. Not long afterward we will lose our distinction as the world's unrivaled military power. If we're not the moral superpower, the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world, well then we might as well be The Netherlands. Just some upscale-ish, medium-sized country with a manageable underclass and a bunch of fancy shops.
Luckily docents are committed to guiding us through our past and reminding us of what our forebears did for us and the world. Docents are interpreters (often their preferred title).
Our docent today was the incomparable Shira L. Gladstone. My blackberry camera photos from the day are frustratingly blurry so I'll do my best to describe the scene. Shira's look was updated Lisa Loeb: sexy glasses with neat medium length brown hair. (Overall she had a very healthy sheen.) Her camel-colored toggle coat was a perfect fit over her ecru turtleneck. A student at GWU, Shira could have gone the slovenly route, using her Foggy Bottom late nights as an excuse to look like crap. Instead she gave us all the sense that she respected us and, more importantly, Lincoln. (Come to think of it, she was more Diana Prince than Lisa Loeb.)
She approached the subject matter with energy and appropriate earnestness. A couple more interesting points from the tour:
- The cottage, three miles from the White House, was a thirty minute drive by carriage. The route was rural back then, and the drive was extremely dangerous, what with so many people trying to knock off Abe. (A shot even penetrated his stovepipe hat on one ride.)
- Washington was ringed with forts throughout the war. At Fort Stevens, only a mile and a half from the cottage, Lincoln came under fire - the only president in our history to come under fire during wartime.
It was a memorable and moving visit, thanks largely to Shira. (The reason I've never forgiven Bill Richardson is that years ago I wrote him a letter commending the docent from Santa Fe's Palace of Governors/New Mexico History Museum. But I never received any acknowledgment from his office for my letter.)
Do you like docents, too? Have you had any great docent experiences lately?
My mother standing in front of the Gothic Revival Lincoln Cottage.
Shira with our group inside the cottage. (I don't know what that man is looking at.)
Most of what's in the cottage is a reproduction or period piece, rather than original Lincoln artifact. But the banister is original. Lincoln touched this!
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 4)
16. Though i am always hesitant to bust out this adjective, the word to describe this whole post was "cute." Excitement over history! Day out with Mom! Lisa Loeb-looking docents! (can I hear a what-what from the girls with glasses, btw?) Your avidity regarding this outing is charming, Mo. I am "aww"-inspired.
On the subject of docents, my great-uncle was a docent at Greenfield Village, the more engaging branch of the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit with all the old buildings (Edison's Lab, Ford Motor Co. buildings, Wright Bros. Cycle Shop, plus homes of Noah Webster, Robert Frost, and many others) and recreations of farm life and craftworks. It's always been my secret dream job.
~Shannon
Shannon at 5:44PM on Mar 28th 2008
17. smart boys make passes
at girls who wear glasses
Or so I've been told.
mo-NEEK-a at 7:22PM on Mar 28th 2008
18.
My dearest Mo,
I have been deemed a decent docent at several places.
I already wrote about the Monarchs of Europe exhibit-I got to mend the costume worn by Richard Burton in "Anne of all those days-maybe more than 75 but certainly less than 1200" (I THINK that was the title) I touched all the clothes including George VI actual coronation cape and costumes worn by Vanessa Redgrave and Sir Laurence Olivier to name a few-can you blame me? Yet, I had to tell "ordinary citizens" to stay behind the velvet ropes.
In high school I had a summer job as a tour guide at Minnetonka cave-I loves me some caves and I loves me some Velvet- two fun jobs!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnetonka_Cave
I was also a tour guide at the capitol building in Boise my senior year. ( Mo-NEEK-a, you would have liked my tour group! And JG-I wore my Girl Scout uniform...)
The then-Govs son was a notorious pain in the ass-skate boarding inside etc. He locked me in an elevator once and threatened me with "deportation" to California if I told anyone--fast forward to the campaign trail and The Gov spoke at my High school to get all the new voters on his side-Of COURSE I stated WHY I wasn't going to vote for this guy-he lost that year
Who is laughing NOW s8ter boi????
Docents rule!
Andrea-may I show you something other tours don't get to see? at 9:12PM on Mar 28th 2008
19. Well done Mo
As a tour guide and historian I appreciate the nod. I give private tours of New York. We have to study anything from immegration, to food to fashion and general history. A well dressed apropriate guide is better respected. Your comment was well placed. tell your Mom wein NYC say hi. We will leave out the food tour I think.
Best
Kevingerarrd
A Friend in New York
kevingerarrd at 10:39PM on Mar 28th 2008
20. If you're ever in Detroit, don't miss visiting the Motown (as in the recording company) Museum. Located in its original building on West Grand Blvd the docents are often people who were actually there when Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, etc were recording. An outstanding experience and great fun as the tour group kept having spontaneous outbursts of Motown hits.
Rita at 11:00PM on Mar 28th 2008
21. Ugh...
My first job out of HS while in college..I was a guide at one of the facilities at Ft. Necessity National Battlefield here in SW PA. It was fun. I got to teach kids about yarn, too! Good times. As much as I miss it, I don't miss the never ending cycle of 3rd graders giving me colds, germs, flu, and the sneezes.
As far as being a sweet tour guide at the Mo Museum, Id totally be up for the challenge- ill be signing autographs at the end of the voyage. Just bring a copy of this picture and $5.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/grahamsbeeotch/IMG_2383.jpg
Jacqueline (Foxy Lady) at 11:13PM on Mar 28th 2008
22. Aw Mo,
I just got off the phone with Kramer.
He suggested a Docent Museum.
You know, a museum dedicated entirely to docents.
(and yes, Andrea, I am wearing my Star Trek uniform.)
JG^^
John Giza at 11:19PM on Mar 28th 2008
23. I just read an article this morning about the auction at Sotheby's. The MOjo strikes again.
Rita:
One of these days I'll have to get to the MOtown Museum. I love MOtown music! Especially, a certain Four Tops song!
Jacqueline:
Thank you. That picture is adorable.
giftedgirl at 11:35PM on Mar 28th 2008
24. One more thing. Whenever the Roccats get around to writing Mo's theme song, I think it would only be appropriate that the song be written to a MOtown tune.
giftedgirl at 11:42PM on Mar 28th 2008
25. Crafty Sings Lionel Richie's Greatest Hits!
I've been alone up here on this cold shelf.
Mo was here, now he's not. What the hell?
I wish he'd come and take me back home.
Hello? Mo pick up your damn phone.
Okay, I'm done for the night. Sweet dreams, all.
giftedgirl at 12:22AM on Mar 29th 2008
26. Clem, if you get to be the spooky groundskeeper at the Mo Rocca Museum can I be either the "zany" carpenter or the "psychic" cook - a la Scatman Crothers in The Shining?
Gabrielle at 9:04AM on Mar 29th 2008
27. In my book, "Homes and Libraries of the Presidents," third edition, McDOnald and Woodward 2008, I recognize docents..."The host personnel, whether park rangers, museum curators, teenaged volunteers or senior citizen docents, are friendly, knowledgeable, and anxious to enhance every visitor's enjoyment of their facilities. Dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of presidential homes and related sites, these sometimes unrecognized and unappreciated legions are, in effect, protecting and perpetuating the legacies associated with the properties they maintain, study, and interpret. It has been my privilege to meet and benefit from these fine stewards of our history, and I thank and salute them."
william clotworthy at 9:50AM on Mar 29th 2008
28. Aw Mo,
This is all starting to come together.
The exhibit could be called
"Great Moments with Mo Rocca"
a la "Lincoln."
Eventually, Disney make pick this up and create the "Hall of Bloggers."
Mo would continue to play a Lincolnesque figure, a "rail-splitter" if you will, between, say, Dinesh D'Souza and The Young Turks.
Definitely going to need a few groundskeepers.
JG^^
John Giza at 10:06AM on Mar 29th 2008
29. Dear Mr. Rocca:
I am writing to you to say that I love you just the way you are.
Please do not grow a beard.
The Little Girl at 10:14AM on Mar 29th 2008
30. The Little Girl is right. However, your razor stubble is always sexy. (Even when you have the flu!)
And also, please never dye your hair.
Thanks, babe, for a lovely post about one of our most amazing Presidents. I was in a silly mood last night (Y'all know I love Fridays!), and didn't mean to diminish the seriousness of your post.
Smooches.
giftedgirl at 10:47AM on Mar 29th 2008