Pork.....

.... today I was given a tombstone as a "surprise" present at a 4th of July party that I attended way back in the hinterlands of McMinn County.....

... my 'gift' was quite a sight to see..... the tombstone had originally been placed way back in 1914....... and long it had stood beside a wife and brother-in-law in a hilltop cemetery near Philadelphia, Tennessee......

..... the original recipient of the stone has seen it replaced (figuratively speaking) with a brand spanking new US Military issue tombstone two weeks ago.... and as for the old, nearly 100-year old monument?...... well, it is now resting in my garage...... propped up by a redhead in the concrete just below two crossed swords that my Father made....

... it should make for an interesting talking point during billiards matches, I suspect...... but either way, it is a strange and interesting artifact, that's for sure....... oh, and the inscription?.... here you go.....

..... "Co. I, 5th Tennessee Infantry".......

.... I'd put the name down as well, but I don't want long lost relatives googling the internet and then breaking down my garage door to claim a Bit of History..... it would be a shame to shoot kin in the chest whilst thinking them burglars....

.... so, I hope that you all have had a wonderful Independence Day..... mine has been quite surreal so far..... and hey, the fireworks haven't even begun yet!......

.... I will say this, though - and this is a mark twain of 4th's of July as far as I am concerned - it is 9:05pm, and so far I have consumed at least (as far as I can recollect) 3lbs of pulled-pork bbq...... that fact on its own has to stand for something....

... God Bless America!.....