I Met the Original Jackass
When I was in third grade, I was required to write a lengthy history report on a person from United States history. Okay, lengthy for me back then was seven or eight pages of wide-ruled notebook paper, handwritten and double spaced. I almost couldn’t contain myself to that with the character I selected.
I chose Andrew Jackson. Military hero. General. President. Great plumes of white hair. Rabid dueler. The ultimate controversial figure.
My parents had a book from the 1960′s on The Hermitage, Jackson’s home outside of Nashville, Tennessee. I read that book from cover to cover, and I cut pictures out of it to bring my narrative to life. The founder of the Democratic Party was fascinating to me, even at the age of eight.
On Saturday, I visited The Hermitage for the first time in my life. It was surreal to see the painting of Jackson on his white horse that inspired the cover of my third grade project. With painstaking precision, I cut around the silhouette of man-and-horse and Elmer’s glued it to the report’s yellow cover.
My little eyes pored over the architecture, not understanding what it all meant, but knowing I was drawn to it. That connection was no less striking in adult life, as I reached out to caress the columns I knew through photos as a girl. A house that seemed ginormous to me from pictures shrunk to fit the man I studied.
It was his burial place that had the most poignant impact on me as an adult, though. I recalled the domed-and-pillared structure from a lone photograph. Saturday, I sat in front of it and communed with the man I came to know so long ago.
How do we thank someone for being imperfect? For leaving behind so much of his essence intact in a place? For inspiring a girl to grow up to be eclectic, proud of the clashing chords of her own personality?
I don’t know the answer. But, sitting in the quiet of his garden, the sky heavy with impending rain, I finally got to say a silent thanks to a man who couldn’t hear me.
I know he heard me anyway.
It’s pretty neat that you have had a chance to go full circle with Andrew Jackson. As a child you get a certain version of history that has been “cleaned up” by the books that you get as a third grader. Growing up you have a chance to see the warts on our historical figures as well as the traits that made them “great”.
Interesting that your final photo is “The Jackass”, a fitting representation of how controversial the man was. The good thing is that apparently his eclectic quirkiness rubbed off on you in a good way, making you unique.
May the spirit of Andrew Jackson continue to inspire you.
They do a good job at The Hermitage of portraying the good and the bad in his character. He really was salty.
The Hermitage really is an interesting place. We took the kids there a few years ago and explored the house, exhibition, and all the grounds. We were fascinated by all of it.
And as you say, there is something especially poignant about the small cemetery and burial monument. Helps to bring everything full circle and make the man more real.
In a way too, it helps to realize that even controversial, larger than life figures are, at the heart of it all, just people. Mere humans like the rest of us.
Glad you are having a good time in Music City.
We are on our way home now. Still didn’t get to see Hillbilly Porn this time.
Andra, lovely post.
One of the phrases that caused me to pay attention to Bill was his statement in his bio/profile:
“My match would be a loving, caring, giving, spiritual, self confident person. An incurable romantic. *Someone that’s willing to accept the fact that we’re all broken in one way or another and not let that get in the way of a wonderful, tender, loving relationship with their soul mate and best friend for life.* Someone that needs someone else to share their joy and their pain. If we help each other grow, then we can’t go wrong. *asterisks are Cheryl’s
I’ve never been to The Hermitage, but would love to. And I’ve not ever read a bio of Jackson, other than some of my history book descriptions…and perhaps I shall now do so. Anybody have one to recommend?
Bill’s words are moving. He found the right girl.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House is the most recent bio on him. I have it on my reading list but haven’t read it.
I think I still have that history report you did on Andrew Jackson.
I know I have seen that report at your house relatively recently,