Photo: U.S. Navy sailors parading a mikoshi in Yokosuka.
Happy Independence Day!
In about three weeks I shall no longer be an expatriate. Oh, to nestle in the supersized bosom of my native land. Scares the shit out of me, if you want to know the truth. After almost five years as an ex-pat in London and Yokosuka, will I kill someone by driving down the left side of the street? How will I catch up on the hip lingo? Can I buy good sake there? Will I die of happiness when waitresses serve me giant glasses of ice water without my asking? Who will give me a job?
Moving day is approaching.
I’m preparing for the move to D.C., sorting through our stuff, drinking down the bourbon on the sideboard. I need a new name for my blog: You, madam, are no [insert American diarist here]. Any ideas?
I’m hoping to find an appropriate American diarist, male or female, from any era, preferably with a Washington, D.C. connection. The diary should be either still in print or easily obtainable at the library/though the Internet. One interesting contender so far is Mary Boykin Miller Chestnut (1823-1886), but she’s a little obscure and her four names would make for a tedious blog title. On the other hand, her name does scan nicely in two-syllable sing-song. Yes, I went through my Anaïs Nin period when I was in college and read every volume of her diaries, but I don’t think she’s exactly what I’m looking for. Robert Shields and Arthur Crew Inman are tempting in a Amy/David Sedaris satisfyingly creepy way. This is fun!
The person who suggests the diarist I select will receive a permanent credit on this blog, a link to his/her blog (if applicable), and perhaps a free drink/meal, depending on how conveniently we can meet. Family members with Master’s Degrees in English Literature (Saul) are strongly encouraged to submit entries.
Enjoy the Fourth of July!
ETA: The search is over. Please see the resolution on renaming the blog.
7 comments
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July 7, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Callie
Hi there! No suggestions on the blog name, but hope you enjoy DC. I moved here from Japan too, and love it here. Also, you have some fantastic photos on your blog. The hydrangeas are looking lovely this year.
Madam says: Thanks for the kind welcome. I’d love to hear more about your time in Japan. Where did you live? From your blog I see you’re leaving DC soon. I don’t want to leave Japan, but I look forward to being back in the States after five years.
July 8, 2008 at 3:30 am
Lisa
Same as above! I lived in Osaka and Kobe for 5 years, and before that I was in Egypt for 2, before moving to DC (the suburbs, actually) in 2006. Good luck with the move, and I hope the reverse culture shock isn’t too bad. =)
Madam says: People keep warning me about reverse culture shock! Should be interesting.
July 8, 2008 at 6:31 am
Janet
Rather than using a diarist, you could go with the famous quote from Lloyd Bentsen when he and Dan Qualye were in a debate as vice-presidential candidates during the 1998 election cycle. Qualye compared himself to John Kennedy and Lloyd Bentsen famously remarked, “I knew John Kennedy and you, sir, are no John Kennedy.”
Madam: Thanks for this, but in fact, that quote is what my blog name currently references (in a twisted sort of way). See the About page. So, I was hoping to twist it again, from Pepys (for when I was in London), to Sei Shonagon (Japan), and find another name for DC.
July 8, 2008 at 6:32 am
Janet
P.S. He wasn’t a Washingtonian, but you could quote Dickens who called Washington “the city of magnificent intentions.”
July 10, 2008 at 10:56 am
Janet
Oops. Sorry for that oversight. Should have read the “About” before mentioned Bentsen and Qualye. That said, I ran across this today in a search for something completely unrelated to you quest, but wholly apropos to the same:
http://www.kimroberts.org/writerhouse/house.html
A list of DC diarists…
Madam says: I think you just found me my new blog title, I’ll mull it over and do a post shortly, but one name, guess which one, jumped out big time.
March 28, 2009 at 5:13 pm
RaiulBaztepo
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad English, I’ve just started to learn this language ;)
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
December 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Née Sei Shonagon « You, madam, are no Sei Shonagon
[...] I embraced the moment and sought a new name for this blog. What fun, I would continue the blog in America, and Ambrose Bierce would be my standard-bearer. [...]