Like a Great Game of Chance

Adam Goodheart's father  was a judge who married people on Valentine's Day so that their marriage certificate could be signed by Judge Goodheart.

Today Adam was the speaker at the Historical Society's Banner Lecture as he talked about his book "1861: The Civil War Awakening."

And talk he did, which is always preferable to a lecture read from notes, which today's was certainly not.

He had a casual way with facts, couching them in stories that no doubt engaged the group of St. Gertrude girls who'd been dragged to the lecture by their history teacher,

Contrast them with the charming white-haired woman next to me,  a regualar attendee,  who cracked wise as soon as I asked if the seat next to her was taken.

"No, but we're saving it for someone with bad knees. Do you have bad knees?" Despite good knees, I was allowed to sit.

We fell into a discussion of what we do and found that we were both fans of the UR International Film Series.

"Some of them are pretty frisky," she said sotto voice but with a big smile. I've been at some of the friskier ones, so I knew what she meant.

She couldn't wait for "that cute VHS President" to get the lecture started (no doubt Paul Leavingood has no clue he has a fan club).

Goodheart's talk centered on the significance of May 23rd, which just happens to be my birthday, although 1861 is a bit before my time.

He talked about Elmer Ellsworth and his regiment of Zoaves, which he described as "a cross between Cirque de Soliel and SEAL Team 6" for their showy uniforms and fancy drill routines.

He also mentioned that since Ellsworth was the first casualty of the Civil War, he ended up with 20,000 babies named after him as a result.

20,000 Elmer Ellsworths? It boggles the mind, but as Goodheart explained, Internet databases provided the proof.

Ah, but did Judge Goodheart ever marry an Elmer Ellsworth descendant?

Dunno.  But it's enough to hear some good stories and meet an amusing seatmate.

I never said all my questions got answered at a Banner Lecture.