Me on Monday

Last week, my friend, Diane brought me a gift from another friend, Lyn. When I opened it, I found this:

Well, if you know me, I’m highly excitable—especially when I get a new toy! I just had to delve in to the book right away. 

It was a vintage book--I love vintage books! But, I have quit buying books since I already have a library full. To have one gifted to me was a really special surprise. 

I have always loved books. Getting them as gifts at a young age were always my favorites. Plus, English literature has always been my favorite too. That started when my favorite Aunt Marie gave me Silas Marner and Jane Eyre at 8 years old! Yes, you read that right! They were a little beyond me then, but I did read them in the 5th grade! Next it was Agatha Christie and I never looked back! In fact, Wuthering Heights is my all time favorite book! "Oh Heathcliff..." sigh!

In this new (old) book--a diary of Charles Dickens trip---I found the section on St. Louis and had to laugh at how “spot on” it was!

In 1832, Charles Dickens was traveling by the Mississippi river through the mid-west which he found incredibly flat and boring (he actually said "uninteresting")! That’s funny because every time I go “home” I notice how flat and boring it is! When that’s where you grow up, you don’t know any difference until you leave and come back.

St. Louis was settled by the French (hence, St. Louis), so CD reported of the big French influence everywhere—especially all of the Catholics and churches. He stayed at a place called The Planter’s House that was "built like an English hospital." I don’t really know what that means--I hope it's not that the beds are divided by curtains! 

As I always do, I had to research it--the hotel  no longer exists. Eventually—long after CD would have been there, the cocktail, Planter’s Punch was invented at that hotel bar.

Although CD was impressed at St. Louis’ three "free" schools in 1832, he found St. Louis, hot, swampy, full of mosquitoes and not particularly interesting. 

I have to admit that I mostly agree with Charles. He was far too early to have experienced just about the BEST Italian food in America! I know that’s quite a statement, but I stand by it!

Lyn, thanks again for this interesting book. It’s going to make a nice addition to my Dickens table at Christmas—not to mention a great conversation starter as now I know something new that ties Charles and me together!! 

I’m happy to celebrate him every year. In 2024, we raised a glass of the bubbly to him with my toast: “I wonder if Charles Dickens could ever dream that there would be a group of ladies from Nashville, Tennessee celebrating him 180+ years after the publication of A Christmas Carol. Here’s to you Chuck!”

Thanks to Lyn for the book and to Diane for delivering it to me!