Braddock's Defeat

Today, July 9th, marks the 260th anniversary of the Battle of the Monongahela (Braddock's Defeat). A statue of a young George Washington stands guard near the Braddock Carnegie Library where he earned quite the reputation for being brave as one of only a few officers to escape unharmed, despite bullet holes in his uniform.

It will be a quiet day in Braddock. For many, the day will pass without a thought of what happened in this region 260 years ago. Before 2011, only a few historic markers existed that alluded to Braddock's Defeat. But how could something so significant be one of the area's best kept secrets?

"It's not a local problem. It's a western Pennsylvania problem," explains Robert Messner, who opened Braddock's Battlefield History Center four years ago. "This area was so rich in natural resources, in industry, that we never had to think about tourism as an industry."

Messner said part of his motivation to open the center was knowing that people were being turned away when they would inquire about any existing battle sites.

"I thought for a community that is flat on its tail because of the decline of the basic steel industry turning away potential tourism, what a waste."

Tourism is the number two industry in the state but Messner says most of the dollars are made in the eastern section of the state near Gettysburg and Hershey. Messner says what our half of Pennsylvania has to offer, between Fort Necessity, Fort Pitt, Braddock's Field and Bushy Run, is a historical gold mine.

"We've got the father of our country running around here as a young man and he's making mistakes all over the place in his earlier years before this battle [of Monongahela.]"

This battle was a turning point for Officer Washington who decided to give a military career one last chance before resigning to a life of farming. He heard that the British general Edward Braddock was coming to throw the French out of Fort Duquesne and thought he could learn something from this well respected figurehead. Braddock wanted Washington on his side due to his valuable knowledge of the terrain, so he made Washington a member of his personal staff to resolve any rank issues between British and colonial troops.

"This was his last major engagement that Washington fights in before he shows up 20 years later in Philadelphia at the Continental Congress wearing his French and Indian War uniform from this battle campaigning to lead the Continental Army in the American Revolution."

Messner says Washington was chosen largely due to the reputation he built during Braddock's Defeat when he pleaded with Braddock to allow the troops to fire from cover like their opponents. This battle was considered an Indian victory and those fighting under Braddock, who survived, were disgraced - everyone except Washington, who many historians say was the indispensable person in American history.

"If it had not been for what happened here, if he had not come on the expedition, if he had not been so brave here, and if people did not spread that truth, God knows what would have happened."

Photo courtesy of Braddock's Battlefield History Center

How The Life Goes On

I have seen enough nature shows to know occasionally things go bad.

You've probably seen a few too. For example, when the orca whale slides onshore and grabs a cute, unassuming baby leopard seal. Or when the lion grabs an impala who strayed a bit too far from the pack.

Nature has been a little rough closer to home as well.  We typically get to experience the joys of spring when a robin's nest in our cherry tree is filled with fuzzy babies. Last year, one fell out of the nest, before it was ready to fly, and it did not survive. It was pathetic to see and hard to explain to an 8-year-old who was staring at a lifeless bird.

Fast forward to this past Thursday. We were about to begin our quest to tackle the day when the now nine-year-old ran into the house with an urgent message.

"There is a dead rabbit in our yard!"

Here's the backstory. We have been enthralled these past couple of weeks by our own little nature show involving a couple of baby bunnies. The little guys were usually not far from their mom's watchful eye and boy are they ever cute. Hopping around and really getting some good air as their little legs lift off of the ground. It is almost as if they have a little trampoline underneath them.

We picked up on their hiding spots; one beside our shed and the other in what looks like a poison ivy patch to the right of our house.  It was worrisome when a day would go by and we wouldn't see them but then the next day we would notice a small tuft of white and a sweet little tail bouncing about.

When alerted by my son's news my first response was, "It's not one of the babies is it?" But even though they were spared, the revelation that it was the mother was probably even a worse outcome. How would the little ones survive?

Everything I had to do that morning took a backseat because, you see, the story is a little more complicated than just a dead animal in the yard. The dead animal was tangled in my son's baseball backstop net. The net system is on loan and the cost to replace it - around $100. It appears the rabbit was probably being chased in the night and didn't see the netting. Her head got caught and she couldn't get free. She died from strangulation.

My first call was to animal control. I was worried about the babies and wanted to know if someone would have to come pick them up to ensure their survival. Luckily, because we have seen them out in the grass eating, the man I spoke with said they could fend for themselves. During the conversation, I did not reveal how the mother had died. I felt guilty.

My next couple calls were to men I knew that could help me remove the lifeless mass. My husband was at work and I did not want him coming home after a long day to deal with carcass removal especially at the start of his birthday weekend. But my options were limited and I wasn't having much luck. I wanted to be strong and "man up" but this was going to be unlike anything I've done before. Heck, I can't even remove mice when they get caught in a trap. How was I supposed to take care of an adult rabbit?

But then that "Bishop Determination" I've inherited kicked in and there was no other option but to get the job done. The job took all the courage a girl could muster and time, lots and lots of time. I had to prepare myself both physically and mentally for the task at hand. It would have been so easy just to make one cut of the net to release the lifeless rabbit but knowing what that would cost, I was reluctant to do it. 

I basically used my gloved hands to free the rabbit's head with the care and delicateness of a surgeon. It was the ears that gave me trouble, I'm sure you can understand, but once I had tucked them through the net, the rest was easy. Obviously, my children made themselves scarce for this procedure with my youngest expressing concern every couple of minutes, "Mom, please don't do this. You don't have to do this!"

The relief I felt when I slid the rabbit out from the net triggered an instant emotional response. My little guy put his arms around me and we cried together. He was sad because he felt responsible for the mama bunny's death. My tears were a combination of winning a victory for not needing a man to rescue me and secondly for having the death net in our yard in the first place.

This morning, as I waited for my coffee to brew, I looked out of my kitchen window. I saw the brother bunnies chasing each other and hopping around. I felt a sense of relief knowing they are doing ok and that they have each other.  According to bunnylady.com, rabbits don't have emotions the way people do but when they are bouncing with energy it means they are happy. And speaking as a mom, that is all you can ask for your kids.

Brother bunny 1 - photo credit Nolan Keleschenyi

Not Ready For This

The day is here. 

The day I have dreaded for 17 years. Can you believe it? No? Well, put yourself in my shoes. In a few short hours I may have a licensed teen driver in my house.

Now many have you have been through this before. You are probably shaking your head in solidarity. But I am on the precipice of sheer madness and there is nothing I can do to stop it. 

Luckily, for me, this journey took a lot longer than it should have. My son got his driver's permit 19 months ago. We've had to renew it once. But let's face it. He really wasn't ready. His father and I weren't really ready. Our journey unfolded at our own snail-like pace. 

There was much talk between my son and his sister last summer about getting his license so he could drive them both to school for his senior year. There was also much talk about stopping at Dunkin' Donuts every day and getting frappatinos and mochalottos, which neither of them had the budget for. All the "talk" came mostly from the younger member of the duo. But that ship came and went due mostly to lack of motivation on his part and lack of sheer interest on my part. 

Here is the reality. My son is smart; super smart, but lacks some common sense. I've seen him get in the car and wonder why it isn't moving. Yes, he forgot the keys. I have seen my son run through a stop sign and then say, "Oh, I didn't see that." (But hey, haven't we all done that?)

But I've also seen him flawlessly pull into a parking spot I never would have attempted. I've seen him merge perfectly when I didn't think he had checked his mirrors. He has assured me - "Mom, I've got this."

At this point I cannot hold him back any longer. I have to encourage my little bird to fly and the best way to fly is to start up the car and hit the gas. I know from my experience I wasn't a good driver at first. In fact, I failed my first driver's test because I didn't use my turn signals once. But in my defense, the test was in a parking lot. Why did I need to signal in an empty parking lot? (Can you tell I am still bitter?)

Heck, I couldn't even parallel park until months after I had my license when a friend's father saw me struggling one day and patiently walked me through it. Without Mr. Jones, I would not be the amazing parallel princess I am today. 

So, looking back on experience, I know I need to let go. As luck would have it, when we went online to schedule the test, the first available opening, surprisingly, was today. I skipped past that date and went right to the next available option - July 23 and of course ol' hawk eyes spots the 2nd and says, "What about that day?" 

And I say, "It's booked."

"No, no," he says, "See, there is a spot for 3:45 p.m." (You cannot put anything past this kid except maybe a stop sign.)

I say, "Do you want to do it that soon?"

"YES!" He says, emphatically.

So here we are. I know this is the right thing to do and the next step we must take. Due to the new covid-19 driving text regulations, I'll be the licensed driver in the car with him while the examiner, who will remain outside of the vehicle, administers the test. I was there when the kid came into the world. It is only fitting I'll be there when the open road becomes his. 

Practice makes perfect and yes, we'll start off slow - driving to work, driving to the post office, driving me to the Fine Wine and Spirits outlet. Hopefully, with experience his confidence will grow and my anxiety level will decrease. I know I'll never stop worrying but maybe once I can send him out to get the groceries, I'll look at things in a different light. 

Until then, keep me in your thoughts. Who knows, Independence Day might have a little more meaning this year for one almost 18-year-old.  Yet, I hold this truth to be self-evident, I was not cut out for this. 

Nick, age 7 months, in my Dad's work truck.