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Celebrating June 16th
The date of June 16th presents two literary events and one personal event that has significantly impacted my life, and I would like to acknowledge that, and thank the Lord for them, here:
in the very early morning hours---around 2am, so it has been speculated---a nineteen year old girl from England, then vacationing in Geneva Switzerland with her boyfriend---awoke in ghastly terror from a kind of dream that had visited her as she hovered on that tenuous edge between wakefulness and slumber. Her name was Mary Godwin. We are more familiar with her name in its married version, Mary Shelley, and the dream she experienced became the foundation of a short story that, while it was in first draft, she expanded into her first, and most famous, novel, Frankenstein.
On June 16th, 1906---according to James Joyce's fascinating novel, Ulysses, the novel's main character, Leopold Bloom, visited various sites and locations in the city of Dublin, Ireland, and his day's journey was shaped, by Joyce;s narrative, to be a reflection of the epic journey of Odysseus in Homer'e epic poem, The Odyssey.
And on June 16th, 1958, in Dayton, Ohio, an adolescent girl, whose name, in its affectionate form, was (and is still) Jackie, began to experience the labor pains that, around 7am the next day, would deliver her first child, a son, who would be given up for adoption almost immediately: a child she named for his father, her boyfriend, Jerry . . . me.
Starward
Sending belated birthday
Sending belated birthday wishes that this year brings you the fulfilment of all your hopes and dreams.
It's clear by that June 16 is related to significant events in the world of literature, so, like a statesman being born on the fourth of July, it only seems fitting that you would make your grand entrance into the world on a day that the world's collection of great writing took a huge leap forward.
To those who have been touched by your luminous pen and generous encouragement, every day is a celebration.
Ever closer to the stars, you shine now and forever.
This choked me up so much, I
This choked me up so much, I am not able to respond to it adequately. I need to go offsite for just a while to collect myself. Thank you for the constant and consistent blessing of your friendship.
Starward