A Lifetime of History

My dad, Jack Shepherd, turned 84 on July 17. Wow!!! 84 years old!! Daddy is part of the Greatest Generation and served in the Navy during World War II on Guadalcanal. Here's some historical things that have occurred during his lifetime:

• In 1925, Maurice Jackson Shepherd was born on July 17 to Pauline McNabb Shepherd and Voodhies Granville Shepherd.
• In 1927, Charles Lindbergh makes the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight.
• In 1929, stock market prices plummet (Nov.-Dec.). U.S. securities lose $26 billion, marking the first financial disaster of the Great Depression.
• In 1931, the Star Spangled Banner officially becomes national anthem.
• In 1932, Charles A. Lindbergh 's baby son kidnapped, killed.
• In 1933, Hitler becomes German chancellor (Jan. 30) and Roosevelt inaugurated ("the only thing we have to fear is fear itself").
• In 1937, the dirigible "Hindenburg" explodes at Lakehurst, N.J., killing 36 (May 6).
• In 1938, Orson Welles broadcasts his adaptation of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds, creating a nationwide panic as listeners believe that aliens have landed in New Jersey (Oct. 30).
• In 1939, World War II begins.
• In 1940, the first Social Security benefit checks are paid out (Jan 30).
• In 1941, Japanese surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor brings U.S. into World War II; U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan.
• In 1942, Nazi leaders attend the Wannsee Conference to coordinate the "final solution to the Jewish question," the systematic genocide of Jews known as the Holocaust.
• In 1943, Jack Shepherd graduated from North High School in Nashville, TN.
• In 1944, Jack Shepherd and Billie Jean Shearon were married on March 4 and he leaves the next day for World War II not to return for 18 months; the Allies invade Normandy on D-Day (June 6).
• In 1945, FDR dies (April 12) and Harry S. Truman becomes president; Hitler commits suicide (April 30); Germany surrenders (May 7); May 8 is declared V-E Day; Japan signs official surrender on V-J Day (Sept. 2). World War II ends!!
• In 1947, Jack and Billie's first child, Sharon Lea Shepherd (Sherrie), was born on March 20.
• In 1949, Jack and Billie's second child, Gary Stephen Shepherd (Steve), was born on March 14.
• In 1950, the Korean War begins when North Korean Communist forces invade South Korea.
• In 1955, Jack and Billie's third child, David Scott Shepherd (Scott), was born on September 25.
• In 1957, Russia launches Sputnik I, first earth-orbiting satellite; the Space Age begins (Oct. 4).
• In 1959, Cuban President Batista resigns and flees (Jan. 1). Fidel Castro assumes power (Feb. 16) and Alaska (Jan. 3) and Hawaii (Aug. 21) become the 49th and 50th states.
• In 1961, East Germany erects the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin to halt flood of refugees (Aug. 13)
• In 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR to build missile bases in Cuba; Kennedy orders Cuban blockade, lifts blockade after Russia backs down (Aug.-Nov.).
• In 1963, President Kennedy shot and killed in Dallas, Tex. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President same day (Nov. 22).
• In 1965, the first US combat troops arrive in Vietnam. By the end of the year, 190,000 American soldiers are in Vietnam.
• In 1966, Medicare begins (July 1).
• In 1968, Jack and Billie's first grandchild, Angela Sharon Haglund (Angela) is born on May 2.
• In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts—Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., —take first walk on the Moon (July 20).
• 1972, five men are apprehended by police in attempt to bug Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.'s Watergate complex�start of the Watergate scandal (June 17).
• In 1974, Richard M. Nixon announces he will resign, the first President to do so (Aug. 8).
• In 1975, the city of Saigon is surrendered and remaining Americans are evacuated, ending the Vietnam War (April 30).
• In 1979, Jack and Billie's second and third grandchildren, Matt Stephen Shepherd (Matt - July 5) and Katherine Elizabeth Shepherd (Katie -Dec. 12) are born.
• In 1982, Jack and Billie's fourth grandchild, Mary Lauren (Lauren) Shepherd is born on August 10.
• In 1984, Jack and Billie's fifth grandchild, Andrew Hartman Shepherd is born on May 24.
• In 1986. space shuttle Challenger explodes after launch at Cape Canaveral, Fla., killing all seven aboard (Jan. 28).
• In 1988, Jack Shepherd retires from Cumberland Swan.
• In 1989, after 28 years, Berlin Wall is open to West (Nov. 11).
• In 1990, Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, setting off the Persian Gulf War (Aug. 2).
• In 1991, cease-fire ends Persian Gulf War (April 3); UN forces are victorious.
• In 1993, five arrested, sixth sought in bombing of World Trade Center in New York (March 29).
• In 2001, Jack and Billie's first great-grandchild, Maeve Virginia Graham is born on April 5; terrorists attack United States. Hijackers ram jetliners into twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane crashes 80 mi outside of Pittsburgh (Sept. 11).
  In 2003. Jack and Billie's second great-grandchild, Jackson Truman Graham is born on May 2, his mother's birthday.
• In 2003, U.S. and Britain launch war against Iraq (March 19).
• In 2005, Hurricane Katrina wreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf coast; more than 1,000 die and millions are left homeless. (Aug. 25-30).
• In 2006, Jack and Billie's third great-grandchild, Elizabeth Lauren Parks (Ellie)is born on January 16.
• In 2008, Jack and Billie's fourth and fifth great-grandchildren, Emma Kate Shepherd on February 21, and Brody James Parks on December 29 are born.
• In 2009, Jack Shepherd turned 84 years old on July 17.

A lot has happened in the world and our nation in my dad's lifetime. Fifteen presidents have served in office in the United States since he was born. He has seen the invention of television and computers; has witnessed space travel and men walking on the moon; has experienced the civil rights movement and numerous wars. But all of these pale in comparison to the most significant dates in his life - the day he married my mom and the days his children and grandchildren were born.

Daddy only attended college for a couple of years. However, education was not as important as his ability to relate to people. As kids, we would go out to dinner, and invariably, Daddy would see someone he knew. He never met a stranger. After numerous jobs in sales, he ended his career as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cumberland Swan. This is when he and mom actually started enjoying life. They have traveled all over the world - to Scandinavia and the Baltic, to the Mediterranean, to the British Isles, to the Holy Land twice, to the Far East, to Australia and New Zealand, to Alaska and Hawaii, to Canada and New England, and all over the Caribbean. They have truly enjoyed their retirement years.

Dad was the minister of music at Woodbine Baptist Church for a number of years and loved his time directing our youth choirs and the Christmas programs we always had. We could always depend on Dad to attend any school activity in which any of us were involved, whether it was Scott acting in numerous plays at the Nashville Children's Theater, or Steve playing football, basketball or baseball, or me as a cheerleader or in an All-State Chorus concert.

In the past couple of years, Dad's memory has been waning, but he can still sing every song in the old Baptist Hymnal, and remember his time serving in World War II like it was yesterday. He may ask us the same question four times in thirty minutes, but he can tell us stories of growing up in North Nashville and attending North High School all day long. Recently I was with Mom and Dad when they had their annual physicals. Their doctor did a memory test on Daddy. He asked him to write a complete sentence. My dad wrote, "I love my wife." I think that about sums up how my dad feels about his wife and family. He loves each of us unashamedly.

Not only is he a member of the Greatest Generation, he is the greatest dad to all of us. By the way, the picture is of my mom and dad in 1967 at a Valentine banquet at their church. So, to Daddy I say good health and long life!!! Happy Birthday, Gran! We love you.

The Tudors & London

I admit it. I'm addicted to HBO and Showtime series. It started with The Sopranos, migrated to Six Feet Under, then to Deadwood, and now to Nurse Jackie and The Tudors.

A couple of years ago nine of us took a British Isles cruise. Out of the nine, I was the only one whe had never been to London, so I absolutely had to take in all the sights I had read about.

London is located on the Thames River in southeast England, and, as we found out on our double-decker step-on, step-off tour bus, has suffered many trials over the centuries: it has been burned, sacked, invaded from the ground and bombed from the air, yet it still stands in all her grandeur. The city may seem overwhelming at first. However the Tube (train) is easy to use to get around the city. We stayed out in Kensington, and just a short walk down the street from our hotel was a Tube stop. It made it easy to go into London for one of those necessary shopping trips to Harrod's, where there is absolutely nothing that you can't buy. This was one shopping experience that could have taken days to take in every department there.

You can spend days visiting the historic sites of London. The Tower of London was built in 1066 and draws large crowds during the summer. We were there in August, and there were lines and people everywhere.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a gorgeous old church, designed by Christopher Wren, that offers tours. This is also the cathedral where Charles and Diana were married. You can also visit Westminster Abby (where royalty are crowned), and Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. The Queen and royal family were at Balmoral while we were there, and 20 of state rooms in Buckingham Palace were open and we actually got to tour them. We saw the throne room and state dining room. It was all very impressive, but surprisingly smaller than I had envisioned. By the way, the picture of Charlie and me is outside Buckingham Palace. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside this beautiful structure.

London has many beautiful parks that are great get-aways from the busy city. Hyde Park Corner, Green Park and St. James’ Park are all connected by a 7-mile path called The Princess Diana Memorial Walk. The journey passes by Kensington Palace, Horse Guards, and Buckingham Palace.

London began to develop in the 11th century, when Edward the Confessor commissioned Westminster Abbey. In 1066, William the Conqueror seized the English throne and built the Tower of London as his fortress. And, this, my friends is where The Tudors comes into play. I'm sure sets have been built for this series, but they truly capture the reality of how these places looked in their day. To walk into Westminster Abbey, and know this is where Henry VIII mourned for his Jane Seymour and married many of his wives, or to recognize the very place that Princess Diana's funeral was held was awe-inspiring. At the Tower of London, it was a chilling experience to see where Anne Boleyn was beheaded because Henry had tired of her and was moving on to his third wife.

Pubs are on every corner in London. Even if you don’t drink, you should stop by a pub during your visit just for the experience. You’ll find plenty of beer, pie, music and roaring fireplaces set among old architecture and culture. And, because the English aren't particularly well known for their cuisine, "Pub Grub" became our staple fare - fish and chips (with mushy peas), shepherd's pie, and bangers and squee were all typical menu items.

After our visit to London, when The Tudors came on Showtime, I was drawn watching this series. To see the history in the places we visited has kept me coming back to this series. Now, I just want to know if the series will continue after we go through all of Henry's wives. Will we get to see what transpires with Elizabeth and Mary, Henry's daughters? Or, will there be a series on the Windsors to follow? Showtime, I need answers!!

Ooh, La, La!!! Paris, the City of Light

A few years ago we took a river cruise through Burgundy and Provence in France with four of our best friends. Before we began our river cruise, we spent three days in Paris. What an incredible city with so much to see!

This is a city that is perhaps one of the most filmed and photographed cities in the world. The "City of Light" is inundated with romance, intrigue and elegance. Recently I found out that the nickname, "City of Light", has nothing to do with the city's actual light. Instead, the name refers to intellects and artists who came to the city, making it a place of "enlightment".

There are enough museums in Paris that you could easily spend your entire visit admiring the art of artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, and collections from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Etruscan history. Some of the museums in the link have free admission. Of course, the main museum is the Louvre. If you saw or read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you know a little about the Louvre. Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is probably the most famous of all the paintings that hang in the Louvre. I was shocked when we saw it because it is really a very small painting, maybe no larger than 11" x 14". Like the Smithsonian here in the U.S., you could literally spend days in the Louvre.

You'll definitely want to take time to relax at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the French cuisine. There was a little mini-mall across the street from our hotel that had a coffee shop, a bakery, a cheese shop, a wine shop - all the necessities for making a trip to Paris enjoyable.

The Eiffel Tower was unveiled in 1889 at the Paris Exhibition, despite many protests. Today, more than 2 million people climb the tower's stairs each year to take in the breathtaking panoramic view of the city. There is an elevator (that we rode) for those who don't want to walk up the 747 steps to the top. You can even have lunch or dinner at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.

Although our friend, Jim, was disappointed that he didn't see Knute Rockne's statue at Notre Dame, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a "don't miss" on a trip to Paris. Of course, Jim had his Notre Dames confused. It took over 180 years to complete Notre Dame Cathedral. The bulding was cleaned in the 1990s with lasers that burned off the grime. Parisian officials decided to leave a portion of the cathedral dirty to remind people what it used to look like.

The Champs Elysees is the most famous avenue in Paris. Stretching from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, this street is known around the world for its chic stores. We were fortunate to find a little restaurant on a side street off the Champs Elysees where we had one of our favorite meals during our stay in Paris.

As one of the most popular destinations in the world, Paris has over 45 million tourists a year. Sixty percent of the visitors live outside France. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, you'll find magnificent buildings and monuments which provide a beautiful setting for sightseeing, shopping or relaxing at quaint Parisian bistros. But, don't go looking for Knute Rockne. That statue is in Indiana!!!

Visiting Scotland

A couple of years ago, we took a British Isles cruise. My only requirement was to visit Scotland. Scotland is, after all, my heritage – my roots. My dad’s family was from the McNabb clan, and my mother’s family were Nicholsons. I felt drawn to Scotland, and seeing it for the first time, I understood why so many Scottish families settled in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Our terrain is much like Scotland, except much hotter in the summertime. The rolling hills of Middle Tennessee look so much like the highlands in Scotland. It was paradise. Traveling to Scotland is traveling to a land of mountains and hills, of poets and warriors, where a drive to remain free from domination by others never failed its people. Even our bluegrass music and “clogging” are similar to that we heard and saw in Scotland.

It’s kilts and clans, bagpipes and Braveheart. You go to the United Kingdom the first time for England, but then return for Scotland. More than two-thirds of Scotland is mountainous and the Highlands remain a rural setting for unspoiled lakes and valleys.

Scotland’s national drink, whiskey, is uisge beatha, meaning “water of life” in Gaelic. Distilleries abound, and one which we visited reminded us of the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg.

Homecoming Scotland is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland in 2009.

For the golfers, we can’t forget the national sport of Scotland. Even if you don’t get to play St. Andrews, a visit there is worth the time. Golf courses are everywhere, but must be booked in advance.

The freshwater lakes in Scotland, or “lochs” as they are known, are major attractions scattered throughout the country, with ancient castles overlooking the mysterious deeps. You will definitely want to search for the “Nessie”, the monster, at Loch Ness.

You can walk Edinburgh’s fashionable Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, the royal family’s residence in Scotland. The Royal Yacht Britannia is there as well.
Throughout the summer season, the Highland Games take place. Historic and modern track and field events, piping and Highland dancing competitions are the major attractions for visitors from around the world.

There are five times more people of Scottish descent in other countries than there are in Scotland itself. Genealogy is one of the most often cited reasons for travel to Scotland. You can learn more at Ancestral Scotland

By the way, the picture is of Holyrood House, Queen Elizabeth's residence in Edinburgh. So, crank up the bagpipes, put on your kilt and head on over to Scotland. But, tell them to keep the haggis.