Rah, rah, sis-boom-bah

This post was planned for after we had attended a cheerleading competition of our oldest granddaughter's. However, illness and then our riverboat cruise happened, so it lingered in draft form. It's been reworked now that I'm recovered and we're home.

At the end of March, we attended the 18th Annual New England Interscholastic Spirit Championship held at Worcester State University, MA. This all-day event featured top high school teams from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The college gymnasium was packed with family and friends cheering the teams.

While our granddaughter's team performed very well, unfortunately they did not garner a top award. However, they made it through quite an elimination process of competing in prior events to win a spot at this event. This was our first time attendance at a cheerleading competition, and I wanted to learn more about the sport.

Many programs and organizations now use the term cheer teams or simply cheer instead of cheerleading teams to reflect a shift towards focusing on high-energy, technical performance, and competitive athletics. While the term cheerleading is common, especially for traditional sideline roles, modern competitive teams identify as competitive cheer.

Sideline cheerleading supports sports teams (football/basketball) and promotes school spirit and engaging crowds at games. It's more about community and entertainment. Performers are called cheerleaders. Cheerleading originated in Britain and spread to the U.S. where it remains most common. It has also become popular in Europe, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Asia.

Competitive cheer is a judged, technical sport focused on intense short routines of stunts, tumbling and dance against other teams. It's about athletic prowess and scoring with year-round training involving rigorous tumbling, complex stunting, pyramids and dance routines. All of which we saw at the March competition. The high school participants were amazing.

Cheerleading started on the idea  that cheering before spectators in the stands would boost school spirit and improve team performance. Since then, it has become an All-Star sport of its own. Cheer teams in middle and high schools, colleges, youth leagues and athletic associations enter annual competitions for prizes and trophies. There is professional and All-Star cheerleading with an estimated 3.5 million cheerleaders in the U.S. alone, not including dance team members, gymnasts and other affiliated participants raising that number to over 5 million. Who knew?

Background of Cheerleading

Cheerleading dates to the 1860s in Great Britain when students would chant in unison to support their favorite athletes. It migrated to the U.S. in the 1880s to university football games. Cheerleading started as an elite male activity at Ivy League schools where cheerleaders were known as “yell leaders" who led cheers from the sidelines to encourage spectators and as a form of crowd control. 

Princeton University male cheerleaders (Internet source)

In 1884, Princeton University in our home state of NJ, started the first known organized, rhythmic crowd cheers to boost school spirit at football games. This cheer known as the Locomotive Cheer is still used today at Princeton. It was used during the first intercollegiate football game against Rutgers on November 6, 1869. 

Ray, Ray, Ray!

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!

Sis, Sis, Sis!

Boom, Boom, Boom

Aaaaah! Princeton, Princeton, Princeton!

The phrase is echoic (repeating sounds/words heard) imitating the "sis" (hiss) of a rocket, the "boom" of a firework exploding, and the "bah" (or "aah") of the crowd’s reaction. The timeless, energetic cheer is still used in school sports, camp activities and popular culture to represent cheering on a team.

Johnny Campbell

A decade later, Princeton graduate and pep club member Thomas Peebles brought organized cheerleading to the University of Minnesota. 

On November 2, 1898, a University of Minnesota student, Johnny Campbell, led an organized cheer at a football game between Minnesota and  Northwestern University won by Minnesota 17-6. While the earlier Princeton cheers used Ray, Ray, Ray, the shift to Rah, Rah, Rah became the standard for yell leaders. 

The 1898 game was notable for being the very first instance of organized cheerleading, led by Campbell and is often cited as the birth of collegiate cheerleading. In 1903, the University of Minnesota organized the Gamma Sigma the first cheer fraternity of yell leaders as cheerleaders were called back then under the belief that louder shouts could help determine a game's outcome. Yell leaders usually used a megaphone. However, it wasn't until later that it became a popular accessory in cheerleading along with pom-poms.

Cheerleading Becomes Female-Dominated 

Cheerleading was male-dominated until the 1920s. The University of Minnesota was  the first to allow women a cheerleading squad in 1923. They wore ankle-length skirts and varsity sweaters. Minnesota continued to lead the sport of cheer into widespread popularity. Female cheer squads began to include gymnastics, dance and other showy stunts into routines. In the 1930s, cheers included the use of paper pom-poms (vinyl ones began inl 1965). By the1940s, mainly women were leading cheers.

In the 1920s, cheerleading was an extracurricular activity for boys in high schools, colleges, and communities across the country, related to but distinct from other spirit programs such as marching bands, drum corps and drill teams. As school and community ambassadors, cheerleaders were associated with character-building traits such as discipline, cooperation, leadership and sportsmanship. 

Many schools didn't have co-ed squads until the 1940’s, mostly due to the onset of WW II. As more males were being drafted, it  gave females to join the sport and they now dominate it.

Early University of Minnesota female cheerleaders (Internet source)

In 1948, Lawrence Herkimer, referred to as the grandfather of modern cheerleading, founded the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and led cheer workshops. The first one held that year had over 50 attendees and grew to 350 the following year. By the 1950s, most high schools had a cheerleading team. Herkimer began  teaching basic partner stunts, jumps, and crowd-leading techniques countrywide. Similar organizations started to conduct training camps regionally and nationally.

1972 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Smithsonian Museum)

By the 1960s, most U.S. high schools and colleges had cheerleaders. Around the same time, professional cheerleading was introduced in the National Football League. in 1954, the Baltimore (now Indiana) Colts created the first official NFL cheerleading team. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders debuted in the 1972-73 season and affectionately called America's Sweethearts they changed cheerleading as a profession.

The Universal Cheerleaders Association was created in 1974 to provide educational training for college and high school cheer squads. 

In the 1980s, modern cheerleading began with flashy dance routines and gymnastics stunts. By 1997, cheerleading was recognized as an independent sport attracting national attention. It wasn't until 1999 that the sport of cheerleading met with official approval. Routines became showier with more complex moves. Cheer squads did more than just encourage crowd participation, they were a sport all their own. 

Cheerleading organizations began to regulate moves and emphasize safety. In 2003, a national council was formed to offer safety workshops to cheerleading squads and their coaches, and today the National Collegiate Athletic Association mandates that college cheer coaches complete official safety courses.

Today, cheerleading is one of the most popular activities across the U.S. with over 3 million cheerleaders participating in youth, all star and school cheer. The sport has gone from simple cheers to include complex gymnastics, acrobatics and dance.

High school cheerleading competitions are judged based on a factors including difficulty, execution, and technique in stunts, pyramids, tumbling, jumps and dance, crowd appeal and showmanship usually within a 2-3 minute routine. Judges use a score sheet to award points for skills performed, separate deductions judges subtract points for rule violations, falls, or timing errors. Male and female high school cheerleaders participated in the competition we attended.

Four U.S. Presidents Cheered

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. President,  was a cheerleader for Harvard College from 1900 to 1903 and later attended Columbia Law School. 

The 34th U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, cheered for West Point Academy. Before being elected, he was a five-star general in the U.S. Army and served during WW I and II. 

These former U.S. Presidents were cherleaders

The 40th U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, was a cheerleader at Eureka College where he studied sociology and economics. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1937 to 1945.

George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President, was the head cheerleader at Phillips Academy his senior year of high school in the 1960s. Bush attended Yale from 1964-68, where he was also a cheerleader.

Celebrity Cheerleaders

Presidents weren't the only famous people who participated in high school or college cheerleading. A lot of other well known folks did as well.

Some celebrities who were former cheerleaders

Some of these have included Jimmy Stewart, Steve Martin, Sandra Bullock, Kelly Ripa, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Madonna Jessica Simpson, Steve Martin, Meryl Strep, Katie Couric, Chrissy Teigen, Samuel L. Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, Kirstie Alley, Paula Abdul, Miley Cyrus, Blake Lively, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Ray and Diane Sawyer.

The Technicolor 1947 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film, Good News was based on the 1927 stage production of the same name. It starred June Allyson, Peter Lawford and Mel Tormé. The screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green was directed by Charles Walters. The setting is 1927 at fictional Tait College, where football and cheerleading are the rage. The film was a box office disappointment, but featured some fun song and dance scenes.

Since then, there's been more films that feature cheerleaders ranging from competitive high school dramas to comedies and thrillers. The Bring It On franchise is the most prominent with films Bring It On (2000), Fired Up! (2009), Sugar & Spice (2001), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and All Cheerleaders Die (2001). None are on my viewing list.

Oldest granddaughter (third from left) with teammates

Granddaughter, mom and grandfather

Cheerleading is over for our granddaughter this year, but if she participates in competitions next year, we're planning to watch her and her teammates perform. 

Your Turn — Did you ever cheer on your high school or college school team ?

Organizing photos from a trip always takes time, so ones from our Mississippi River cruise are on temporary hold. We're going on a road trip for a graduation and to visit family and friends in RI, NJ and PA the end of this week. I hope to get a trip post done before then.

Friday Funnies

Bad parking habits apparently are not limited to drivers here in New England as this photo was taken in LA, that's the state, not the California city..

Perhaps those who drive luxury vehicles, like this Mercedes feel they have special parking privileges? However, I'm fairly certain that blocking a pedestrian walkway isn't one of these.

Thanks to everyone for your comments on my earlier post about damaged luggage and the loss of costly socks. There's been a good ending. Allianz, travel insurance company, covered the full cost of the luggage (always good to save receipts) and Darn Tough replaced the three pairs of lost socks at no cost. You can be assured this is one company that will always have my business in the future. However, Delta Airlines is definitely not on my favorites list. 

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

It's good to be home, despite the chilly and rainy weather forecast

Hope you will enjoy a nicer week ahead in your area

Only One Mishap

We're home from cruisin' on the Mississippi River and it was in a word, wonderful aside from one incident on the return home.

Hands down, this adventure is one of the best we've experienced in the U.S. without the need to do any driving or changing hotels. Granted this was not the fastest way to travel from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN, but it was the most relaxing. 

The American Melody riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines

We traveled on the American Melody riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines (ACL).  It holds up to 180 passengers, but there were only 157 on this trip. By the time we docked in TN, we had dined with most of these fellow travelers and knew them by their first names. On a small ship, you also quickly learn the names of the crew members.

The distance in land miles from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN, is about 395 miles. The total driving time is 5 hours, 42 minutes. Taking a bus or a train, this time would expand to about 8 hours and 45 minutes.

Buses identical to this one travel on roads following the riverboat route

Traveling on the river took 8 days to cover the distance, so this is definitely the slowest way to go between these cities. There were several in port days and one full day of just river cruisin' on the Mississippi. Land excursions were done on tour buses operated by ACL. At least 3 buses would travel by land and meet the boat at the port stops. We took many of the complimentary excursions, there were several to choose from in every port.

The weather was perfect which made up for the snowy start on April 7 when we left NH. We had rain-free days with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s and no rain except on embarkation day. Although the ship's crew covered passenger's luggage with tarps, it was definitely the worst weather for such a task.

There was a slight hiccup to the trip, unfortunately one which was all too familiar to me — damaged luggage. This happened in October 2024 trip after our Tuscany trip finding when we arrived at Logan Airport in Boston my suitcase had been being badly damaged (photo at left of the actual damage).

Fast forward a couple of years later to this trip with replacement soft-sided luggage an identical piece, different color, same brand, (American Tourister). But, this time, the damage wasn't different. There were security locks on three zippered compartments. The bottom (largest) largest one had both the lock and two side zippers missing. Unfortunately, this wide open compartment resulted in the loss of three pairs of recently-purchased, costly socks, the most valuable things stored there, aside from some other way-less-costly items. which did not go missing.

The arrows above indicate where the zippers were on each side of the luggage. These zippers had been locked at the top with a lock like the one below.

So how did the lock and both zippers go missing? That's a very good question and one which we still can't figure out. The lock was a TSA-approved one which means it could be unlocked without a forcible removal.

A word of advice here — if your luggage is damaged on a trip do not hesitate to file a baggage claim at the airport. Be insistent, no matter what you might be told by someone in baggage claim or how long it will take. It will save you a lot of time later if your luggage is damaged or items go missing. And, be sure to save receipts when and if you buy new luggage as proof or purchase will be needed when filing a claim. Saving airline receipts would also be helpful. 

I neglected to file a claim at the airport even though I showed the damage to baggage claim folks. They were not the least concerned with one telling me that the broken zipper wasn't the airlines responsibility.

It darn well is their responsibility and, while I inherently knew that, there's no good reason for my failure to insist action be taken. We were exhausted from a long trip home with an airport transfer and 30 minute gate delay, also a pickup driver was waiting. So at 10 pm, I was too tired to pursue the matter. That was a BIG mistake that won't be repeated if a similar incident happens on future travels (hopefully not).

Once you have left the airport, It's not possible to file a baggage claim report. At the time, I was unaware that the 3 pairs of socks had escaped from the unzippered compartment. I learned that sad fact when unpacking Sunday a.m.

Contacting Delta Airlines by texting with several representatives was a futile effort. Despite their empathy with my situation, it was made clear that in lieu of not having filed a claim at the airport, nothing else could be done from their end. I did mention the baggage claim folks attitudes and filed a complaint, but really do not expect anything more to happen.

Yes, we did have travel insurance with Allianz insurance and a claim was filed today, but only for the luggage damage. The travel insurance provider will always want to know if a claim had been filed with the airlines as that's usually the first step. In the online form, I explained that no claim had been filed and why.

Why not file a claim for the socks?

The 3 pairs of Open Wide socks, a subsidiary of Darn Tough Vermont were among six pairs bought before the trip at a lofty cost of $20 each. Yes, that's expensive, but after years of going through many brands and not being comfortable, I took the plunge based on the fact that these socks come in wide sizes and have a lifetime warranty. If they wear out, you can request a replacement pair after filing a claim and returning them.

My original order included duplicates of these 3 colors

I called the company to share the plight of the recent purchase made a week before our departure. You can order online or call to place an order without going through an automated system and you connect to a human being — imagine that !

After explaining what happened, the customer representative said that an exception would be made and the socks would be replaced at no additional cost — happy day after the Delta Airlines run around and I ordered two additional pairs. This is an unabashed plug for the company, I'll admit. However, wearing the socks and also receiving such great customer service I would highly recommend their products to anyone who values foot comfort, well fitting socks. All their products are made from Merino wool in the U.S. and right here in New England.

Today, I filed an online baggage claim with the travel insurance provider, less the sock replacement. I should receive a claim determination within 2 weeks or less. Thankfully, we have no long-distance travel plans until fall, which gives me time to shop for replacement luggage, if necessary.

As usual, there's a lot of photos to sort through, plus the next week or so will be spent catching up on matters here at home. That's why blog reading/commenting will be a bit slow for the next couple of weeks. As much as I enjoy the blogging community, at times, life has other priorities.

This river cruise was a great first experience. We're happy to be home until the next river cruise. An onboard offer of 15% off a future cruise booked while onboard was too tempting not to resist, so we didn't. This October we'll riverboat cruise with ACL and explore the Pacific Northwest on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. We have one more far-off adventure before then in early fall, details shared later.

Your turn — ever have luggage damaged on a trip, if so what did you do?

Friday Funnies

It's time for another round of vanity plates and here's a couple for which no explanation is needed.

And how about . . .

As a NJ native, I would definitely not want to be on the same road as this driver. According to a 2025 report, states with the worst drivers are North Dakota, New Jersey and Utah.

We are driving to our home state in early May on a family visit, and hopefully this driver will remain here in NH.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're still cruisin' on the Mississippi River

Down a Lazy River

Down a lazy river is often used to describe a slow, relaxing journey or a carefree escape from the craziness of everyday life. It's a chance to relax and enjoy simple pleasures.

That's exactly what we'll be doing starting tomorrow as we travel with American Cruise Lines (ACL) on the American Melody with a passenger capacity of (are you ready?) 180 cruisers. Fewer passengers is definitely our preference.

Beignets

Our tour starts today with a flight from Boston to New Orleans, LA, and an overnight stay at the Intercontinental Hotel there before boarding the ship early Wednesday.  We won't have a lot of time to explore the Big Easy, but will ride its world-famous street cars with a $3 all-day pass. One stop will be at Cafe du Monde on Decatur Street, the original French Market Coffee Stand established in 1862 and legendary home of the classic beignets, puffy square French doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. (These are similar to zeppole, traditional Italian fried dough pastries served warm and dusted with powdered or cinnamon sugar.)

Intercontinental Hotel on Charles St in New Orleans, LA

All ACL sailings include a complimentary pre-cruise hotel night in the departure city, This ensures cruise passengers have time to get to the departure destination. The cruise line picks up passengers for transport to the ship the following morning.

Our travel route is from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN

Our cruise will traverse the lower Mississippi River from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN. The itinerary includes stops and excursions in Vacherie, St. Francisville and Vidalia, LA; Natchez and Cleveland, MS; and Memphis, TN. We return to Boston April 18 after a transfer in Atlanta, GA.

This will be our second cruise after the Alaska land-sea adventure last fall and our first-ever river cruise. After traveling abroad for the past couple of years, we wanted to experience U.S. waterways and small ship cruising and wanted to cruise the mighty Mississippi.

American Cruise Lines (ACL), founded in the early 1970s, is headquartered in Guilford, CT, and operates the largest river and small-ship cruise line in the U.S. with a motto of Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly. The line has 28 small U.S. flagged ships with 5 riverboats on the Mississippi River and 8 on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Each vessel is USA-built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, and is American-flagged and crewed. The ships travel with between 90 and 180 passengers maximum. The series of 6 modern American riverboats all have musical names — American Melody, American Jazz, American Song, American Harmony, American Serenade and American Symphony. 

American Melody was launched in 2021

We're sailing on the five-deck American Melody. Launched in 2021, it has 91 staterooms, all with private balconies and full-length sliding glass doors with an average room size of 350 square feet. The ship has several lounges, fitness center, large dining room, café for casual dining, sun deck, library and a four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. What it purposefully lacks are casinos, buffets, gift shop's, photographers, swimming pools, water slides, large crowds, nickel-and-diming for extras like wi-fi and drinks, included with the cruise cost. The emphasis is on a relaxed atmosphere with no formal nights or loud, high-energy activities.

American Melody flip-up bow

The unique ship’s unusual flipped-up bow is an attention getter with a crucial function. It opens to extend a retractable gangway for passengers to comfortably walk on or off the ship. And, with its shallow draft and unique bow, the ship can dock in places other ships might have to bypass. The upper deck offers a walkway with ever-changing sights as the ship cruises the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River is a massive waterway flowing approximately 2,350 miles Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico ending in Louisiana, just south of New Orleans. The river's name comes from the Ojibwe (or Chippewa) word Misi-ziibi meaning Great River. The river is some 20 feet wide at its source, expanding to over 11 miles at its widest point. It's the second-longest river in the U.S. after the Missouri River at 2,341 miles passing through 10 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana). One of the most important commercial waterways, it also serves as a major migratory flyway for 60% of North American bird species. 

We won't be cruising full time as shore excursions are included in the cruise itinerary with at least one included in every post stop; others have an added charge. Our selections included many of the included excursions. Here's some of the sights we will experience.

Live Oak trees form a canopy leading to the Big House mansion

Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, LA, is a historic site is famed for its 800-foot canopy of 300-year-old live oak trees planted in the early 1700s years before the mansion they lead to was built. The 28 evenly spaced live oak trees form a path from the Mississippi River to a Greek Revival mansion. In 2021, winds from Hurricane Ida's significantly damaged the historic oak trees in what was described as a significant pruning. Branches were blown off, but the trees remained stable.

The Big House mansion was built in 1829

Known as the Big House, the mansion was built in 1839 for sugar planter Jacques Roman who was known as the King of Sugar and one of the wealthiest men in the South. It was constructed by enslaved labor and first named Bon Séjour (pleasant stay). The mansion is renowned for its 28 Tuscan columns surrounding the entire structure. The property has seen different uses in its over 200-year history from a prosperous sugarcane plantation, an abandoned investment property and a cattle ranch in the 1920s. Now, a National Landmark, it's been open to the public since 1976 and is managed by Oak Alley Foundation.

The Myrtles was renamed after the crape myrtles on the grounds

The Myrtles Plantation is a historic home and former antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, LA, built in 1796 by General David Bradford. It was originally named Laurel Grove. In the 1830s, new owners renamed it The Myrtles after the crape myrtles that grew in the vicinity. In the early history of the property, it was worked by enslaved people. Reportedly haunted, the mansion has been featured on TV shows of paranormal activity. The Myrtles Plantation has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Vicksburg (MS) National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS, preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. It borders the Mississippi River, and commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign that led up to the battle. The park has many reminders of the 47-day siege that ended in the city's surrender. Victory here and at Port Hudson, farther south in Louisiana, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

This nearly 1,800-acre park includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of historic trenches, reconstructed forts, a 16-mile tour road, 12.5-mile walking trail, 2 antebellum homes, 144 cannons, the restored gunboat USS Cairo (sunk in December 1862) and Grant's Canal site, where the Union Army attempted to build a canal to let their ships bypass Confederate artillery fire. There's also a national cemetery with more than 17,000 Civil War graves. 

The national military park was established in February 1899, to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The park and cemetery were transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service (NPS) in August 1933.

Cleveland, MS was named for a former President

Cleveland, MS, is a cultural hub in the Delta known for its deep musical heritage, and has the only Grammy Museum outside Los Angeles, CA. 

This 26,000-square-foot facility features interactive exhibits on Mississippi musicians and American music.The city was named after U.S. President Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president, who served from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893. The town was officially renamed in 1886, during Cleveland's first term in office, to coincide with the development of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad running through the area. (Cleveland wasn't a MS native, and was born in Caldwell, NJ, our home state.)

Cleveland was named one of the best small towns in the South by both Southern Living and Smithsonian Magazine. The downtown historic area was listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Gateway to the Blues Museum housed in a former train depot in Tunica, MS

The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center in Tunica, MS, is dedicated to Mississippi Delta blues featuring displays on history, art, and famous musicians. Located on Highway 61, it's the first place many people see when they come into town. The museum features interactive exhibits, artwork and a recording studio. The museum tells the story of how The Blues was born and the role Tunica played in building its legacy.

Housed in a rustic 1895 train depot, It had been used as a grain storage facility for years. The train tracks it served were pulled up some 40 years ago. It remains the last original train depot in Tunica County.  W.C. Handy, a popular blues bandleader often played at the depot.

Beale Street in downtown Memphis is the most popular tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee. This renowned National Historical Landmark is considered the Home of the Blues and includes three blocks, about 1.8 miles, of live music clubs, restaurants and shops.

The street was created in 1841 by entrepreneur and developer Robertson Topp who later named it Beale Avenue in honor of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a naval officer, frontiersman, rancher and diplomat who fought in the Mexican-American War, emerging as a hero of the Battle of San Pasqual in 1846.

W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues

In 1916, American composer and musician William Christopher (W.C.) Handy penned the influential piece, Beale Street Blues, which played an important role in the decision to change the street's name from Beale Avenue to Beale Street.

Handy, who referred to himself as the Father of the Blues, was one of the most influential U.S. songwriters. One of many musicians who played the distinctively American blues music, he didn't create the genre but was one of the first to publish music in the blues form, taking the blues from a regional music style (Delta blues) with a limited audience to a new heights of popularity.

In the 1920s to 1940s, Beale Street saw performances of legendary musicians Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Memphis Minnie, B. B. King and others. Their contributions shaped the musical style known as Memphis Blues. B. B. King was introduced as the Beale Street Blues Boy during his early career.

Beale Street holds great historical significance for the city and the blues music genre. In recognition of its importance, the stretch of the street spanning from Main to 4th Street was designated as a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1966. In the present day, the blues clubs and restaurants along Beale Street are major attractions for tourists visiting Memphis.

Presley note

Elvis Presley spent a lot of time with musicians on Beale street. Their music made a great influence on his own style. Presley bought his trademark black and pink suits, jackets, and bluesman-inspired clothes from Lansky Bros. Clothing, which remains open in the original location at 126 Beale Street. 

If time allows, we'll look for Presley's name on the Brass Notes Walk of Fame between Second and Fourth Streets. The 127 musical notes that line the sidewalks honor mothers and fathers of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. Created in 1986, it connects the street's rich past with the future by celebrating artists, producers, and others who put Memphis music on the world map.

Posting and blog commenting will be on hold during our adventures. We'll be relaxing and enjoying the sights on the river. This post was a brief intro of our first 2026 major travel. We invite you to come along as more adventures are planned this year and we hope you will take us along on any of yours.

And, it seems we're leaving NH just in time as light snow is forecast for early today a.m will winter never end. in New England?

Friday Funnies

This weekend, many people will celebrate Easter Sunday, widely regarded as the most holy and significant day in Christianity. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which is the foundational event of Christian faith, representing the victory of life over death and the promise of salvation.

At the Hudson Senior Center, a certain lady was all decked out in her spring-time finery.

Of course, Maxine is always dressed and ready to celebrate every holiday. She also has a basket filled with sweet treats.

Passover is celebrated this week we well. These two important religious holidays often overlap or coincide as both are linked to the first spring full moon, usually falling in March or April. 

Passover (Pesach) begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, usually falling in March or April. It's determined by a lunisolar calendar, set to start on the night of the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. This year, Pesach (Passover) begins before sundown on Wednesday April 1 and ends after nightfall on April 9.

Easter is a movable feast, in that it does not fall on the same calendar date each year. Unlike Christmas, which is fixed to the solar calendar, Easter is determined by the Moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21, when the Christian church marks the spring equinox. If the full moon is on a Sunday, Easter is the next Sunday. This year, the full moon was on Wednesday, April 1. Easter is celebrated the following Sunday, April 5.

Colorful Jeep recently seen in downtown Nashua, NH. 

This Jeep owner might have a difficult time deciding on a color choice, so several were used making for a very vehicle, just in time for Spring. 

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes on recovering from my recent stomach bug. This week has been a much better one. Also, thanks for sharing your own experiences.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Our best wishes to all for whatever holiday you will observe.

We're dining at home & will watch the classic film, Easter Parade.

Recharge Needed

(Internet source)

No fooling — Happy April 1 — but a recharge was needed last week, not for a battery, but a human, myself.

That's because electrolytes became depleted due to some sort of stomach bug.

It's resolved now, after a medical office visit, several tests and getting rehydrated over the course of several days.

Was it a stomach bug? 

There's uncertainty as to what initiated the issues as we had attended a couple of weekend events. One was a catered luncheon at the local historical society. Food served possibly could have been the cause.

Whatever the cause, early last Tuesday, my body was reacting to something that had been ingested or perhaps airborne. Sparing all the details here, but anyone who has dealt with the aftermath of food poisoning may already know the symptoms, which are most unpleasant.

By mid-week, not only was I not able to hold down anything, but was fatigued, disoriented and had a headache, despite having spent most of the previous 2 days lying down. 

It was time to seek medical advice.

An appointment with our medical provider determined that I had become severely dehydrated based on the above symptoms. Certain tests were also ordered to rule out an infection. The tests were all negative for any.

Sports drinks with electrolytes

The recommendation was to buy sports drinks with electrolytes and to drink several bottles over the following days. That being done, within a day, I was feeling better with less fatigue, eventually the headache and lightheaded feeling went as well.

I knew about electrolytes, but had never purchased or tried any of the available bottled sports drinks. All of which advertise replacement of electrolytes.

Now I know a lot more.

Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance?

Depending on which electrolytes are too high or too low, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Some folks don’t feel any signs of an electrolyte imbalance; others may have severe symptoms caused by illness or other factors. Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance can include: Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, numbness and tingling, constipation, confusion. 

What electrolytes do

Quite simply, they help your body function. Electrolytes are electrically charged chemicals and essential minerals that include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate. These are located in bodily fluids, like sweat, blood and urine. When these minerals dissolve in the blood or other body fluids, they develop electric charges. These charges send signals to your nerves and muscles telling them what to do. Electrolytes also help balance pH levels (the measure of acidity and alkalinity) and support muscle and nerve function. They also help regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and heart rate. It’s important to replenish the electrolytes lost.

Essential body electrolytes (Internet image)

Some of the most common electrolytes in the human body include bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium and sodium. 

• Bicarbonate - balances pH levels and moves carbon dioxide through the bloodstream. 
• Calcium - supports strong bones and teeth)
• Chloride - regulates fluids and helps the body maintain a healthy blood volume
• Magnesium - supports heart, muscle and nerve function, and helps regulate blood sugar
• Phosphate - works with calcium to build healthy bones and teeth 
• Potassium - helps the body’s cells, heart and muscles function properly
• Sodium -  helps maintain fluid balance

How to get electrolytes

It's fairly certain that food provides enough electrolytes. You likely get all the electrolytes needed by eating a healthy diet. Usually, the amount of minerals being consumed through diet is beyond what's needed. and can replace them by eating food or drinking fluids that contain electrolytes. While it's needed for hydration, water doesn't contain electrolytes. Electrolyte products, often sold as powders or sports drinks help the body replenish its electrolytes.

There are times when it's necessary to supplement electrolytes from food, for example: 

• After illnesses with vomiting and diarrhea
• Before, during and after prolonged exercise or heavy sweating
• When in extreme heat for an extended period
• When suffering from a hangover.

The BRAT Diet 

No, it's not named after a badly behaved child, but when someone is dealing with digestive issues (diarrhea, nausea or vomiting) this diet is most recommended by medical professionals, including my own. 

BRAT diet foods: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast

The low-fiber short-term eating plan consists of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. All these foods are easy to digest and provide essential potassium. The foods are easy to digest and are less likely to trigger nausea as they don’t have much fat (or flavor). The diet is very restrictive and lacks protein, fat, fiber and essential vitamins/minerals and isn't for long-term use.

These bland, stomach-settling foods might resemble those your mother served when you were as a kid during sick days. Mine used to give me ginger ale and saltines and it was always surprising how good they tasted afterwards.

Are other foods allowed?

Other light, bland foods work, even if they don’t fit the BRAT acronym. These include: plain crackers, cereals and oatmeal, eggs, skinless chicken that's baked or poached.

Foods to avoid on the BRAT diet include: dairy products (milk, cheese), fatty, fried, greasy foods, spicy foods, high-fiber foods (raw vegetables, bran), alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

(Internet source)

Describing an illness is never pleasant, but as a community, bloggers share what's been going on in their daily lives. Also, this information might prove helpful to someone else.

There hasn't been a clear determination of the cause for my illness, perhaps just a stomach "bug" that has passed (no pun intended). The sports drinks and Brat diet were very helpful.

Unfortunately, due to illness, there was no blog reading or posting done. I hope to catch up on what everyone's been doing as much as possible the rest of this week. Time is limited as we leave on our first 2026 travel adventure early next week. A brief overview will be posted. We're exploring more of the U.S., but it's not a road trip.