{"id":1601,"date":"2015-10-29T22:56:56","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T22:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=1601"},"modified":"2023-03-04T18:58:43","modified_gmt":"2023-03-04T18:58:43","slug":"introduction-to-ashley-wilkes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=1601","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to “Ashley Wilkes”"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

GWTW<\/a><\/b><\/em>\u00a0– Good for local business\u00a0and<\/strong> a “tourist boon for Atlanta…” \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

I just published a collection of posts from this blog.\u00a0 The title comes from the one I did on September 1, The mysterious death of Ashley Wilkes<\/a>.\u00a0 The sub-title:\u00a0 “And other tales from the ‘Georgia Wasp.'”\u00a0 Which is another way of saying that I’m a firm believer in\u00a0kismet<\/a>. In one sense it means your lot in life.<\/em>\u00a0 (Or the alternative,\u00a0your fate<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

But in another sense it means a situation “when you encounter something by chance that seems like it was meant to be.” \u00a0(Sometimes called a sign from God<\/a>.\u00a0 On which see Isaiah 7:11<\/a><\/em>.)\u00a0That explains why – in my new book of posts – the Mid-summer Travelogs<\/a> are out of order.\u00a0 (Part II<\/a> comes before Part I<\/a>.)\u00a0 There’s more on that later, but first an explanation. I live in the ATL<\/a><\/b><\/em> – “God’s Country” – and that’s the birthplace of Gone with the Wind<\/a>.\u00a0 In turn, “GWTW<\/a>” has been both good for local business<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>and a “tourist boon for Atlanta<\/a>.”\u00a0 (See for example\u00a0GWTW trail: the top 10 sights in Atlanta<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\"LeslieSo after I posted Ashley Wilkes<\/a> – seen at right, as played by Leslie Howard – I sensed a definite marketing opportunity<\/a>. Like most people my age – 64 – I sat through the full 220 minutes of the film some time in the 1960s.\u00a0 (At a periodic re-release<\/a> in theaters.\u00a0 That’s almost four hours of running time<\/em>.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And I saw it all the way through another time or two, with my parents, at home, on TV.\u00a0 (Complete with what seemed to be more hours<\/em> of commercials.)<\/p>\n

Since then I’ve seen parts of\u00a0GWTW<\/a> dozens of times, in the process of channel surfing<\/a>.\u00a0 (A side note: Eugene Polley<\/a>, who invented the first wireless remote control, died in 2012 at age 96.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

And finally – just last summer – I once again watched the entire<\/em> movie, all the way through.\u00a0 (My brother and I were traveling back from Astoria<\/a> on “unfinished canoe-trip business.”)<\/p>\n

\"BundesarchivBut it was also<\/em><\/strong> only then – after getting home from Astoria – that I learned about Leslie Howard dying so mysteriously.<\/p>\n

It happened during the early years of World War II, over the Bay of Biscay off the French coast.\u00a0 In June 1942, a commercial airliner carried Howard and 16 other passengers and crew from Lisbon to London.\u00a0 It got shot down by eight\u00a0Luftwaffe<\/a><\/i> Junkers Ju 88C6<\/a>\u00a0fighter aircraft, like the one above left.<\/p>\n

You can see the full story at Mysterious death<\/a>, the first chapter of this new book.\u00a0 On that note, some called the shoot down<\/a> an accident of war.\u00a0 But others said top Nazis ordered<\/em> the attack deliberately.\u00a0 According to this theory, the Germans considered Howard as either a British spy, or as “Britain\u2019s most dangerous propagandist,” or both.<\/p>\n

\"\"Personally I found this new information fascinating, and wondered why I’d never heard it before.\u00a0 (Including the part about Conchita Montenegro<\/a>, seen at right<\/em>.)\u00a0 In turn I figured the people of Atlanta would be equally fascinated.\u00a0 So<\/em>, I decided to do something about it.<\/p>\n

Thus was born The mysterious death of Ashley Wilkes (and other tales from the \u201cGeorgia Wasp\u201d)<\/em><\/strong>, now available in E-book<\/a> and paperback.<\/p>\n

Which brings us back to kismet<\/a>…<\/p>\n

To get the book ready to publish, I had to copy-and-paste the first chapter – Mysterious Death<\/a> – onto a flash drive.\u00a0 But for some reason, the resulting copy-and-paste<\/a> resulted in a bunch<\/em><\/strong> of posts being transferred.\u00a0 Some 14 posts in all – including drafts – all the way down to\u00a0Canoeing 12 miles offshore<\/a>.\u00a0 (I posted that on May 23,<\/em> while I posted Ashley Wilkes<\/a> on September 1st.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

But rather than get upset, I figured it was\u00a0kismet<\/a>.\u00a0 (Either that or a sign from God<\/a>…<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Which means that a happy accident<\/a> shaped at least the first draft of the book.\u00a0 Later I did some tweaking, adding some posts, editing others and deleting some. \u00a0But basically the order of chapter-posts in the book came from that initial C&P bit of “kismet.”<\/p>\n

There’s more on the other chapters later, but first I wanted to do another bit of homage<\/a> <\/em>to Harry Golden<\/a>.\u00a0 He’s the guy who inspired me to start this second blog.<\/p>\n

Some years ago I bought a second-hand paperback copy of Harry’s book, Only in America<\/a>.\u00a0 (Not to be confused with the 2001 Brooks and Dunn<\/a> song of the same name, or the 2011 “reality television<\/a> series” featuring Larry the Cable Guy<\/a><\/em>.)<\/p>\n

I admired the way he wrote about topics that interested him<\/em>, yet still managed to find an audience for his ramblings.\u00a0 I also admired the way he wove stories that became “a wonderful look into a different time.”\u00a0 And I admired the way he overcame the obstacles in his life, like serving five years in prison for mail fraud.\u00a0 (See \u201cWasp<\/a>.”)<\/p>\n

\"OnlyBut despite it all, Harry still liked to “accentuate the positive<\/a><\/em>.”\u00a0 And that alone made him both unique and well worth emulating<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’m pretty sure he too would be fascinated by the mysterious death of Ashley Wilkes.\u00a0 And<\/em> I’d like to think he’d enjoy the rest of the book as well.<\/p>\n

For example, the second chapter is \u201cJohnny YUMA was a rebel\u2026<\/a>”\u00a0 It’s about The Rebel (TV series)<\/a>, that ran from 1959 to 1961.\u00a0 (And Harry himself was a bit of rebel.\u00a0 Facing down intolerance, distrust and greed, and standing up “for the weak and downtrodden.”)\u00a0<\/em> But once again there was a death under mysterious circumstances. \u00a0The series’ star \u2013 Nick Adams<\/a> \u2013 died at age 36, in 1968.\u00a0 (A mere seven years after the show ended.)<\/p>\n

The third chapter is “When adultery was proof of loyalty<\/a>.”\u00a0 That post was inspired directly<\/em> by Harry Golden, who wrote a column of the same name.\u00a0 I did it as a “book review plus<\/em><\/strong>:”<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, in Harry\u2019s delightfully retro<\/a><\/em> format \u2013 an old-timey newspaper or newsletter \u2013 he couldn\u2019t use the full-color pictures, flashy graphics and built-in links that we can use in today\u2019s blogs<\/a>.\u00a0 So, this bit of a<\/em> book review will be more<\/em><\/strong> than a bit of an update. (E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Other chapters include\u00a0On Oscar Wilde and \u201cgross indecencies<\/a>.” It talks about the rise and fall of both Oscar Wilde and “computer scientist<\/a> Alan Turing<\/a>.”\u00a0 (As told in the 2014 film,\u00a0The Imitation Game<\/a><\/em>.)\u00a0 The lesson? \u00a0It pays to remember our past history<\/em><\/strong><\/strong>.\u00a0 Which is something Harry would believe in. Then there was a chapter\u00a0On leaving a legacy<\/a>. It talks about something that should be near and dear to all<\/em>\u00a0of us aging Baby Boomers<\/a>: \u00a0Putting your stamp on the future, giving some meaning to your existence, or both.<\/p>\n

And speaking of positive mental health advantages… \u00a0That’s one of many<\/em> things that I got – and get<\/em> – from reading and re-reading Harry Golden’s old books full of columns, observations and essays.\u00a0 (Books like\u00a0Only in America<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0For 2 Cents Plain<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

One reviewer noted above said that Harry’s essays were “at once insightful, thought provoking and in some instances just plain funny.”\u00a0 Another noted his special brand “of wit and whimsy, and<\/em><\/strong> a love of people and learning.”\u00a0 A third said that Harry’s\u00a0Carolina Israelite<\/a><\/em> was “the most quoted newspaper of personal journalism of them all.”<\/p>\n

In closing, someone once observed that “a man is known by his dreams<\/a>.”\u00a0 Assuming that is so, it is my sincere hope – and dream – that I can carry on the good work done by Harry Golden.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0Gone With Wind\u00a0–\u00a0Image\u00a0Results<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: positive outlook on life and\/or \u201caccentuating the positive.\u201d \u00a0Referring to\u00a0\u201cAc-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,\u201d the\u00a01944 song written by Harold Arlen<\/a>\u00a0with lyrics by Johnny Mercer<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

See also\u00a0<\/em>curveball<\/a><\/em>, defined in part as a \u201cparticularly difficult issue, obstacle, or problem.\u201d \u00a0The point being that life seems to have a habit of \u201cthrowing<\/strong> us curveballs.\u201d \u00a0See also the alternate definition of dinosaur<\/a><\/em>, as<\/em> \u201csomeone who resists change or is old-fashioned.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: “The\u00a0ATL<\/a><\/em>.”\u00a0 The link in the text goes to the Wikipedia article on the\u00a0Atlanta metropolitan area<\/a><\/em><\/em>.\u00a0 But “ATL” or “the<\/strong> ATL” is a common acronym or abbrevation for the same area, if not Atlanta proper.\u00a0 (Possibly or partly based on the airport code for Hartsfield\u2013Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Wikipedia<\/a>.\u00a0 See ATL – Acronyms and Abbreviations – The Free Dictionary<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

The\u00a0“tourist boon for Atlanta<\/a>”\u00a0quote is from\u00a0“A Tough Little Patch of History:” \u00a0Atlanta’s Marketplace for Gone With The Wind Memory<\/a>. \u00a0That was the 2007 history dissertation by\u00a0Jennifer Word Dickey<\/a><\/em>, presently an\u00a0Assistant Professor of History at Kennesaw State University:<\/em><\/p>\n

She has a master\u2019s degree in heritage preservation and a Ph.D. in public history from Georgia State University. \u00a0Her research focuses on the cultural impact of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind<\/strong>, a subject upon which Dr. Dickey has delivered public programs in the United States and in Vietnam.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Re: “periodic re-release<\/a> in theaters.”\u00a0 See for example ‘Jaws’ Re-Release:\u00a0 Film to Hit Theaters for 40th Anniversary<\/a>:\u00a0 “On June 21, [2015,] nearly 500 theaters nationwide will show the thriller for its anniversary, presented by Fathom Events<\/a>, Turner Classic Movies and Universal Pictures.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"899931_80902243\"Re: “happy accident.”\u00a0 Also known as Serendipity<\/a>, originally a term coined by Horace Walpole<\/a> in 1754 and meaning a “fortunate happenstance” or a “pleasant surprise.”\u00a0 See Wikipedia<\/a>, and also Embracing Creative Failure (II): Cultivating Happy Accidents<\/a>.\u00a0 The latter web-article discusses happy accidents in the process of creating works of art – as seen at left – and added this:<\/em><\/p>\n

Where would we be without serendipity<\/a>…\u00a0 Without the \u201cX Factor\u201d that unexpected results bring, who knows how long it would have taken scientists to discover oxygen, electric current, photography or the vulcanization of rubber<\/a>.\u00a0 And who knows if such vital medical breakthroughs as the discovery of penicillin [or], the development of chemotherapy as a cancer treatment … would have happened at all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The view of lower Manhattan is courtesy of oneworldobservatory.com\/experience<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: “a man is known by his dreams.” \u00a0That thought was attributed to Plato<\/a>, in the third paragraph down of the web article,\u00a0The Dreams and their Interpretation<\/a>.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The lower image was featured in\u00a0Was Moses the first to say \u201cit\u2019s only weird if it doesn\u2019t work<\/a>?”\u00a0 In turn it was courtesy of<\/em>\u00a0Rephidim \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a>, with the caption:\u00a0 \u201cMoses <\/a>holding up his arms during the Battle of Rephidim, assisted by Hur<\/a> and Aaron<\/a>, in John Everett Millais <\/a>\u2018Victory O Lord!<\/a> (1871).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

In addition to\u00a0Gone With The Wind Trail: top 10 sights in Atlanta<\/a><\/em>\u00a0– vis-a-vis the film being good for local business and tourism – see also Gone with The Wind|\u00a0Atlanta\u00a0History Center<\/a>,\u00a0Visit the Margaret Mitchell House |\u00a0AtlantaHistory Center<\/a>, and\/or Gone With The Wind- Roadside Georgia<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GWTW\u00a0– Good for local business\u00a0and a “tourist boon for Atlanta…” \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * I just published a collection of posts from this blog.\u00a0 The title comes from the one I did on September 1, The mysterious death of Ashley Wilkes.\u00a0 The sub-title:\u00a0 “And other tales from the ‘Georgia Wasp.’”\u00a0 Which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1601"}],"version-history":[{"count":197,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14374,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601\/revisions\/14374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}