When in Suffolk - striking a chord
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
(Walk)
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Digg! this story.
I just returned from a coast-to-coast work trip that landed me in Suffolk, Virginia. I ended up power-walking for exercise as schedules (and time zones) had me off kilter. That said, I’m grateful! There was so much to see and learn. I was raised in Canada so I’m still learning the history of the US - and how it impacts so much of what we feel and do today.
One of the sights I took time to visit was ‘Riddick’s Folly’ - a beautiful home built in 1837. It has been turned into a museum - a labor of love - for one man named Lee, his wife, and their community. They have spent their energy and money finding original furniture and decor from the Riddick family - supplementing it with other period and regional pieces from the era. Oh my gosh, it was fantastic!
And - it wasn’t the furniture or the artwork that struck a cord… it was the history.
As Lee lovingly showed me around, he shared what the house had seen. He shared the letters that have been found from the Riddick sons who went off to fight in the Civil War, and the stories of the family left behind.
One letter particularly struck a chord… it was a letter written to his wife by one of the Riddick boys on the day before he died in battle. As he was reciting the story, my tour guide Lee was so moved he choked up. In his letter describing brothers fighting brothers, families fighting families, Young Riddick wrote, ‘our country is bleeding’.
I am so grateful for my tour guide Lee - and his passion for keeping this house alive for us to share. I am grateful that Lee is willing to keep telling the stories. I do not consider myself political - I’m a Canadian so I can’t even vote in this country. And, my wish is that we keep telling these stories so that we all can learn from them. No matter where we live. My wish is that one day we’ll learn enough from the past - that we will stop repeating it.
So - If you ever make it to Suffolk, call on Lee. As I mentioned, this post is no political statement… It’s just a random thought, no, a gut-feeling that Lee’s ties to the past are perhaps something we need to build a strong future. www.riddicksfolly.org
Workout:
- Type: Walk
- Date: 03/23/2008
- Time: 15:20:37
- Total Time: 2:00:00.00
- Distance: 7.8 miles
- Average Pace: 15:23.08/mile
