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The New American Digest

For Followers of Gerard Van der Leun's Fine Work

  • About American Digest
  • About New American Digest
  • “The Name In The Stone”
  • Remembering Gerard Van der Leun
    • from the website: Through the Looking Glass
    • from the website: Barnhardt
    • from the website: Neo’s Blog
  • Articles
    • The Overland Stage
      • The Holladay Overland Stage: 1 – The Central Route
      • The Overland Stage – 2 Company Operations
      • The Overland Stage – 3 Exploring The Route – An Overview
      • The Overland Stage: 4 – South Platte/Julesburg/Ft Sedgwick
        • Jack Slade
      • The Overland Stage: 5 – Julesburg to Junction Station (aka Ft Morgan)
      • The Overland Stage: 6 – Junction Station to Latham
      • The Overland Stage: 7 – Latham Crossing to Fort Collins
      • The Overland Stage: 8 – LaPorte to Virginia Dale
      • The Overland Stage: 9 – Virginia Dale to Cooper Creek
      • The Overland Stage: 10 – Cooper Creek to Pass Creek
        • Fletcher Family
      • The Overland Stage: 11 – Pass Creek to Bridger Station
      • The Overland Stage: 12 – Bridger Pass to Duck Lake
      • The Overland Stage: 13 – Duck Lake to LaClede
      • The Overland Stage: 14 – LaClede to Almond
      • The Overland Stage: 15 – Almond to Rock Springs
      • The Overland Stage: 16 – Rock Springs to Fort Bridger
      • The Overland Stage: 17 – Fort Bridger to Weber Station

I find I don’t wish to explore new lands, but to explore again those I have already passed through, trying to see what I’d missed in the first hectic rush … Gerard Van der Leun

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It Could Happen…

The New American Digest Posted on June 7, 2025 by DTJune 7, 2025

Originally published by Jean Sunday, September 12, 2010

If you were me
and I were you
I think I’d be confused.
Your socks would sag
Your pants would drag
Your shoes would be askewed.
I’d sip your wine
instead of mine
Then probably p’tu-it.
There’d be no getting used t’it.
The mix of you
swapped ’round with me
might fail to find the conduit.
Sparks would fly
There’d be a cry
We’d end up glooped ‘n puddled.
Best you stay there
and I stay here
evade our being fuddled.
I’d miss the me
and you would you.
Two twains not meant for meeting.
Happystances less than fleeting.
Does make no sense
in trading tents.
Isall discombobulation.
Keep what you’ve got
and covet not
another’s home play station.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Replies

End Of The Road

The New American Digest Posted on June 7, 2025 by DTJune 6, 2025

There comes a time when 4-wheel drive is no help at all.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Replies

Sunrise Over Lake Huron

The New American Digest Posted on June 6, 2025 by DTJune 5, 2025

From the eastern shore of northern Michigan – north of Oscoda – the lake is about 100 miles across at this point. Not intentionally, but on the eastern shore of the lake at this point is the beach where I spent most of my youthful summers … and learned that “warm” water (as I was often informed that it was – my mother lied to me) in the northern Great Lakes is good drinking temperature.

Back before Global Warming, we’d drive out on the ice a bit south of here; if it was thick enough to stymie Coast Guard ice-breakers, it was certainly safe for cars. At least so far as our feeble minds were capable of thinking at that age. Made it 20 miles out one time.

We’d do a lot of foolish things like that.

God was watching over us …

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Replies

Hissss

The New American Digest Posted on June 5, 2025 by DTJune 5, 2025

“Just as the spat between Elon Musk and President Trump seemed to have reached cruising altitude, Musk hit the afterburners“

Regardless of how you feel about either one of them, this can’t be good for the country.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Replies

On The Bus

The New American Digest Posted on June 5, 2025 by DTJune 4, 2025
Istanbul
Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Replies

We Were Both Minding Our Own Business

The New American Digest Posted on June 4, 2025 by DTJune 3, 2025

Except I was walking and he was dozing.

In a nice bit of shade right in the middle of the path.

Did I mention it was a hot summer day in southern Arizona?

The path was narrow … I was literally between a rock and a hard place … and I had places to go and no desire to back up.
Anymore than he had a desire to move from such a comfortable place to laze away this fine summer afternoon.

So I stopped – a polite distance away – and we had a bit of a discussion. I said my piece; he said his.
I pointed out the error of his thinking – he pointed out he was armed and wasn’t taking any nonsense.

I countered with my point of view – the fact that I was armed didn’t seem to faze him one little bit.
I told him I didn’t really have any argument with him but that I was going to pass by.
He attempted to convince me that he didn’t care – he wasn’t moving.

Eventually he saw my point of view – we came to an understanding: he moved on, I passed by … and other than a vigorous bit of noisy displeasure on his part, no harm was done to either party.

I get grumpy too when someone disturbs my nap …

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Replies

Domain Name

The New American Digest Posted on June 3, 2025 by DTJune 3, 2025

I just received an offer to buy Gerard’s domain name “americandigest.org”. No price mentioned nor was the offer from Neo (I wouldn’t expect it to be). I’m not inclined to buy it, I wouldn’t use it – I’d prefer the name to fade away. On the other hand, controlling the name would keep it from being used for other purposes – assuming someone would purchase and use it. (A “normal” registration costs about $20/year or less).

I have no reason to think this is anything more than a first-chance and friendly offer.
Just letting y’all know …

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Replies

untitled…

The New American Digest Posted on June 3, 2025 by JeanJune 3, 2025

Originally posted 9/29/2017

I’m not much for
conscious prayer
but I do some
silent thinking
that could be
construed as such
I guess.
Some days sling
challenges
that make me duck
for cover
as I stumble
grasping, angry
and frightened
Searching for
the right thing
to do again.
Always the awkward
dance.
Knocked to my knees
Sometimes screaming.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Replies

Tunes For Tuesday – It’s A Beautiful Day “White Bird”

The New American Digest Posted on June 3, 2025 by DTJune 9, 2025

A sample of some obscure – and some maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.

Today’s selection: It’s A Beautiful Day “White Bird” 1968

Hippies!

A 1967 San Francisco band; their most famous cut was inspired when living in Seattle during winter.

“Where the ‘white bird’ thing came from … We were like caged birds in that attic. We had no money, no transportation, the weather was miserable. We were just barely getting by on a very small food allowance provided to us. It was quite an experience, but it was very creative in a way.“

Nice tune though

Posted in tunes | 3 Replies

Free?

The New American Digest Posted on June 2, 2025 by DTJune 2, 2025

Aside from the concept of anything “free” from the government, we have this:

“‘Free’ Government Money Accounts For 19% Of All Personal Income“
“Free money includes Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, and more…“

If Social Security and Medicare are “free”, what the hell are all those deductions out of my paychecks for the last umpteen years paying for?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Reply

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Rules

Gerard Van der Leun
12/26/45 - 1/27/23


Gerard's Last Post
(posthumous): Feb 4, 2023
"So Long. See You All a Little Further Down the Road"

When my body won’t hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Where will I go?
Will the trade winds take me south through Georgia grain?
Or tropical rain?
Or snow from the heavens?
Will I join with the ocean blue?
Or run into a savior true?
And shake hands laughing
And walk through the night, straight to the light
Holding the love I’ve known in my life
And no hard feelings

Avett Brothers - No Hard Feelings

The following was posted along with the announcement of Gerard's passing.
Leonard Cohen - Going Home

For a 2005 interview with Gerard


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Most Recent Comments

  1. Casey on Do We Really Miss The 70s?June 16, 2025

    Ask me next year after my 50th HS grad reunion. 1976. Cars were the last good designs. So were the…

  2. Casey on Deep ThoughtsJune 16, 2025

    News comes out today: all the protestsriots are funded by (please be sitting down)...communists. You're welcome

  3. jean on Do We Really Miss The 70s?June 16, 2025

    I do not. Those socks gotta go.

  4. ghostsniper on Do We Really Miss The 70s?June 16, 2025

    Yes. Yes I do. I never seen doods like that in the 70's or any other time. I was 15-25…

  5. jean on I Love My Wife But …June 15, 2025

    LOL...old smartazz.


Blogroll
The New Neo
Jean's Blog

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,
play a song for me
I'm not sleepy
and there ain't no place I'm goin' to

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,
play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning,
I'll come followin' you

Take me for a trip upon
your magic swirling ship
All my senses have been stripped
And my hands can't feel to grip
And my toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin'

I'm ready to go anywhere,
I'm ready for to fade
Unto my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it


Men who saw night coming down about them could somehow act as if they stood at the edge of dawn.


From Gerard's site. The picture always caught my eye.

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