Pragmatic Finance

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday. It’s a great time to enjoy family and have barbecues, picnics, fireworks, or however you celebrate. In case any foreign viewers aren’t aware, it’s the day we Americans celebrate whooping the Brits.

As we celebrate the day of the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence, I can’t help but think of a story I recently read about one of my favorite historical figures. I suppose I will give another factoid history lesson. Similar to when I discussed a legend about the history of the song taps and the origins of Memorial day.

For those that aren’t aware, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were both on the committee formed to write the Declaration with Jefferson ultimately chosen as the primary author. Interestingly, they were also the only two signers of it that later became President.

After a bitter presidential election in 1800, they were pretty much enemies. Much later in their elder years they began to write one another and became very close friends. They both wanted to outlive the other, I presume a playful joke. In the several days leading up to July 4th, 1826 Jefferson would ask if it was the fourth yet. When that morning finally arrived, exactly 50 years to the date of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, he was told and by noon he had passed away. Several hours later, Adams also passed away, with his last words being “Jefferson still survives.” Obviously he wasn’t aware of his death yet. What irony of both passing away on the 50th anniversary.

Jefferson left very specific instructions on what words would be on his tombstone, insisting that there would be no deviations or anything added. It refers to him as the author of the Declaration of Independence but doesn’t mention his presidency. A little food for thought.

I suppose that concludes this holiday history lesson. I hope everyone out there takes it easy today and has fun, not thinking about money or finance at all!

Happy Memorial Day. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday and gets away from worrying about money and finance! I always use occasions like this for an excuse to read up on the event or holiday.

It was started as a memorial to those that had died in the Civil War and was later expanded after WWI to include all wars and military action. Many cities started their own memorial day after the Civil War such as Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia. It was officially recognized as a holiday in 1868, with Waterloo, New York getting the title of birthplace. Interestingly, many of the southern states continued to celebrate their own memorial day to remember the soldiers of the Confederacy who died.

OK, the history lesson is over. Last week I was in a book store while waiting on a movie to start and browsed through some books (which I didn’t buy…frugality…I knew I could tie some personal finance in here somehow..) about memorial day.

It was an interesting read. I read one story about the the song taps, the song played at military funerals. It said it was formed when a Union soldier found his son among the dead after a battle and wanted this song played at his funeral. His son had went to college in the South and apparently had joined the confederate army. Well, I was dissapointed to discover yesterday, while reading up on memorial day, that that story was really an urban legend and had no verifiable evidence. Oh, well, so much for the accuracy of books!

I will be spending time with some friends and family. If your feeling patriotic you can always listen to the Star Spangled Banner. Whatever you do, remember all those who have died or suffered in wars. Even if you don’t always agree with the reason they are fighting, many have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families will never be the same. Well, I’m out for the day. Enjoy the holiday.