As I stood in line to get that pierced parcel post package the other day, I couldn’t help noticing some promotion the post office was doing. There was a huge poster right next to me with this picture. I’m talking about a gigantic and overpowering image!

I found that quite distracting! Whoot! Until I realized that it was Paul Giamatti. I don’t remember Paul Giamatti as being much of a looker, but this picture makes him look handsome! It’s amazing what the right camera angle and some makeup will do. Don’t look at the images of him on-line, especially not this one, or you will be disappointed.

You went and looked, didn’t you!!?? When are you going to learn to listen to me?

Giamatti is playing John Adams in an HBO miniseries that USPS is sponsoring, but I don’t think he looks anything at all like John Adams in that photo. If you follow the link to the promotion page, there are other photos from the movie. Some of those shots show Giamatti looking much more like the real deal.

That miniseries The Power Of The Letter premiers on Sunday, March 16th, and it looks like it will be enthralling. As one of America’s Founding Fathers, John Adams (October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826) was George Washington’s Vice President, before being elected the second President of the United States. Without question, his was one of the most powerful voices of American Independence.

The man was a prolific letter writer. He wrote loving letters to his wife, Abigail, as well as letters to his contemporaries (particularly his friend, and rival, Thomas Jefferson) chronicling the birth of our Nation. Many of these precious missives have survived the years. Fortunately, he didn’t have e-mail, or it might have all gotten deleted or sent to the spam box!

This miniseries looks at American History through the story of John Adams. It should be quite interesting, because John Adams was a truly admirable man. What’s not to admire about a man who was a devoted husband, a learned scholar, and who risked everything in the cause of independence? His efforts ensured that you and I have freedom two hundred years later.

Now, I realize that USPS is using this series as self-promotion. Of course, they want to glorify letter writing. They want us to send letters and buy stamps. Yet, I still think it’s admirable that they would sponsor this Tom Hanks produced series. The postal service doesn’t have to work hard to convince me to send letters. I much prefer a handwritten letter over e-mail, as long as I don’t have to stand in line to send it.

Yes, an e-mail can provide instant gratification; just as it demands urgent action! An e-mail also isn’t much of a “keepsake.” A hand written letter is almost a visceral connection to the past; a treasure to cherish. It’s hard to cherish an e-mail.

The Power Of The Letter, based on John Adams’ written correspondence, has potential. I hope it lives up to its hype. I wish I got HBO on my television! Y’all will have to just tell me about it.

There are folks who claim that we Texans are prone to bragging a bit. That, my friends, is an understatement. Any Texan worth her salt can expound until the cow’s come home about the virtues of The Lone Star State. You ain’t even gonna believe this, but I, myself, am quite capable of this. I am not above “embroidering” the facts just a bit if the situation calls for it. I will also tell you the plain truth when necessary.

Now, I’m a little leery about telling you this, because it could be considered a “traitorous” act. It could get me tarred and feathered and run out of town. I’m going to tell you a little secret, but don’t you tell anyone I told you. One of the main conceits of any Native Born Texan is that our state was once a Nation Unto It’s Own: The Republic of Texas. That is quite true. However, that distinction pales in comparison to a tiny town that was a nation. Texas has no bragging rights here, for that town was in California.

In 1849, a mining company from Wisconsin came to an area in California north of San Francisco to establish a gold mine. The company was named after General Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States. Taylor was nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready.” The Rough and Ready Mining Company gave their name to the settlement that sprang up around their mine.
Now the gold mining town of Rough and Ready was aptly named. By 1850, the town’s size swelled to 3,000 citizens who were diamonds in the rough, so to speak. Well, alright, there probably wasn’t a gem among them. In truth, they were a scabrous bunch of rowdy miners, feisty “painted ladies” and deadly gunslingers crowded into that tiny town. You can imagine that this was a volatile mix.

There was a general air of lawlessness, with wild parties and fracases in the street each night. Those independent minded folks began to feel a growing resentment toward the United States government. This came to a head when those idiotic lawmakers back in Washington, D.C. (3,000 miles away) had the gall to go and impose a Mining Tax on all mining claims. A tax?

Well now that didn’t set well at all in Rough and Ready. So, the citizenry called a town meeting on April 7th 1850 and seceded from the Union, proclaiming themselves “The Great Republic of Rough and Ready.”

Now, that sounds grand and noble. But there are rumors about why they really might have wanted to secede. Some say that a dirty rotten scoundrel had defrauded one of the townsfolk, so people wanted to be able to create their own laws and hang the son of a gun.

Be that as it may, The Great Republic of Rough and Ready only existed until the folks started preparing for their favorite annual shindig. It was the biggest, grandest, most humongous celebration of the year: the 4th of July Celebration. Independence Day for the U.S. of A.

Uh, oh. Being as how they were no longer a part of the United States, the good folks realized there was no reason to celebrate! No problem. They just called a meeting and rejoined the Union. The Republic of Rough and Ready fizzled out without lasting three months—but, their fireworks that year were astounding.

These days, Rough and Ready is a sleepy little town without much to recommend it, from what I can gather over the internet. The population has dwindled to only about 1500 people, and only 500 or so live within the city limits. Its name is pretty much lost to history. But, every year, they celebrate their heritage with a Secession Days Celebration, complete with a reenactment, fireworks, and music by a local band called The Fruit Jar Pickers. Doesn’t that make you want to book your trip?

Well, you may be wondering why a Native Daughter of Texas would go and spill the beans about something like this. It’s all about guilt, people. Texans don’t have to go bragging about our status as a former Republic (which lasted longer than three piddly months, and don’t you forget it). Our state has tons of other things to brag about. After all, we gave y’all Fritos, Dr. Pepper, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Technorati Tags: Rough and Ready, history, Secession Days Celebration, Texas

Somehow I missed this story when it was breaking news. In 1994, Susan Montgomery Williams set a world record. Now, don’t you know her Mama’s proud of her? Susan won the bubble-gum-blowing championship with a bubble that was 23 inches in diameter. I have no idea how many sticks of gum she popped into her mouth to accomplish that feat, but I bet she looked like a cow chewing its cud. Bless her heart; I hope that wasn’t the biggest accomplishment of Susan’s lifetime.

I don’t chew gum much anymore, but I might start again now that I know it’s tied to a prominent figure in Texas history. Granted, the connection to Texas is a bit roundabout, but that gum you chomp has a history that leads to my home state. People, I’m a storyteller so I can make all roads lead to Texas, if you give me enough time.

If you aren’t from Texas, it’s doubtful that you know much Texas history. You wouldn’t remember the Alamo if John Wayne hadn’t made a movie about it in 1960. If you aren’t from Texas, where our schools cram the glorious history of the Lone Star State down the throats of our students, that battle long ago means nothing to you. But, to Texans the battle of The Alamo is a symbol of freedom.

To refresh your memory, Texas was once a part of Mexico, but the “Texians” wanted to be independent (you have to excuse us for that, it’s obviously our heritage). The Texas Revolution began, and brave defenders of freedom, including Jim Bowie and Davie Crockett, came from all over the United States to help the Texians in their cause. On March 6, 1836, a heinous fiend named General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led an enormous Mexican Army in battle against 183 brave Texians who were trapped in a little known Mission called the Alamo, in San Antonio. In brutal hand to hand combat, all of the Texians were slain and their bodies burned. The battle cry “Remember the Alamo,” helped the Texians rally to defend the cause and eventually freedom from Mexico was won.

You’re thinking, “What does that have to do with chewing gum?” Bear with me; that fellow Santa Anna is the connection. Santa Anna was a one-legged opportunist who loved battle as much as he desired power. He fought on both sides of every battle of his day, trying to come out a winner. This Master of Macho became the dictator of Mexico, but was overthrown and was exiled. Santa Anna stayed for a time with an entrepreneur named Thomas Adams in Staten Island, New York.

Rubber for tires and toys and boots was big business in that part of the 1800’s, but it was expensive. Santa Anna told Adams about a sticky substance called “chicle,” which was the sap of the sapodilla tree from South America. The people of Mexico chewed that sap, but making chewing gum wasn’t the plan. Adams wanted to mix chicle with rubber to make a less expensive product. Santa Anna wanted to raise money to re-take Mexico, so he arranged for a shipment of a ton of chicle to Adams.

Neither plan worked. Santa Anna later died penniless and powerless in 1876. Adams experimented with mixing chicle and rubber but they wouldn’t bond together. He planned on dumping the chicle in the river, but fate intervened.

At a general store, Adams noticed a little girl buying wax to chew. He remembered Santa Anna saying that people of Mexico chewed the chicle and a great idea was born. Adams began selling the chicle packaged as gum, which eventually changed into the brand called Chiclets.

Now, if this has inspired you to slap a wad of gum in your mouth to replicate Susan’s great achievement, you should check out this website first. There is an art to blowing a big bubble. Whatever you do, don’t try blowing big bubbles outside, or you will have to find out how to get gum out of your hair. Wouldn’t you know it, Susan sells a product that will get chewing gum out of anything, and the above website will tell you how to contact her.

When you chew that gum, remember not to get a bovine expression on your face, there just isn’t anything less appealing than that blank gum-chewing expression. Also remember that in pre-Colombian Aztec society, the prostitutes popped their gum to advertise their trade. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Momma proud.