Conquering 233 Speeches

I’ve been feeling in a bit of a conquering mood lately.

I’ve almost conquered Sir Martin Gilbert’s delightful tome on Winston Churchill.  With just a chapter and a half left, I’m growing a bit nostalgic.  Favorite item of late: when the former Prime Minister (he went back to Parliament after World War II) needed to rest, he’d just call up one of his friends (read royal dignitaries from other countries or very rich English dukes & duchesses) and go stay at their chalet/castle/cottage/country estate for weeks upon end.  If I had that luxury, I’d simply decide to “need rest” forever.

I’m slowly conquering my neck & back injuries I mentioned last week.  The pain is lessening, although my doctor says there are still “unresolved issues” that I can’t feel right now.  But I’m thankful to be feeling more like myself — and honestly, two deep tissue massages a week are not all that bad.

I’m in the process of conquering our basement with a paint roller and brush.  Painting is really fun.  And although I’m not sitting by a lake in some European chalet, there’s a grand sense of accomplishment when you personally transform an 80′s-peachy-pink bathroom with a bright and cheery “Blue Mist” from Home Depot.  I’m now onto the rust-red and navy guest bedroom (going to a “Soft Plum” option) and the faded-tan and brown living room which will soon be transformed by a delightful shade of green, the name of which I can’t remember.  But I’m slowly conquering.  And our house is becoming our home.

There’s another thing I’m going to start conquering: William Safire’s Lend Me Your Ears, a collection of great speeches I’ve previously mentioned.  It has rested peacefully on my office bookshelf, watching me and yet not complaining.  I’ve been in the middle the  seemingly-daunting tome above.  But it’s time.

My plan is to read 2-3 speeches a night and then reflect on them here.  Not every bit of every one.  The highlights.  Even though I’d beg you to read them all with me, I’m realistic and know that probably won’t happen.  So.  If you want to see how Abraham Lincoln modeled his Gettysburg Address after Pericles’ Funeral Oration, “read” the speech Nixon had prepared in case the Apollo XI landing ended in tragedy, or encounter some of the best commencement speeches ever given, stay tuned.