Jacqueline Kennedy's Oral History- Just Released!

The Kennedy family has been in the media spotlight for decades, but it's the voice of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy that had me fascinated this week.

The newly released book,  "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy", has everybody talking. Jackie Kennedy lends her voice to ensure her husbands memorial. A taped interview has been kept locked away until now!

This family often keeps a tight seal on personal information, but her daughter Caroline Kennedy thought the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's presidency was the right time. The world should be able to hear this historic conversation.

The interview was conducted by Arthur Schlesinger Jr., a special assistant to JFK during this presidency and an admired historian. She shared uncensored memories of her former life as first lady and the wife of the notorious JFK.

During the ABC special hosted by Diane Sawyer, Caroline Kennedy was asked if any edits were made to the tapes. Caroline's response really stuck with me. She declined any edits and believed that once you start editing a piece of oral history, it's hard to know when to stop. She wanted to share her mother's uncensored voice with the public to serve as a true memorial to their experience.

I'm a huge fan of Jackie. She kept it real and exposed herself to a world that wasn't yet ready for what she had to say. But nevertheless she won everyone over and continues to be an icon for women everywhere. And now with her voice, she shares their story with the world.

A few months ago I read "Jack and Jackie: Portrait of an American Marriage" and loved it! On my book shelf to be read: "American Legacy: The Story of John & Caroline Kennedy".

Happy Birthday Jack Daniel- How About a Guinness, or 7?

Today would be the 161st birthday of Jasper Newton Daniel, the founder of the famous Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. When he registered the distillery in 1866 it was listed as "No. 1" with the US government, the first registered distillery. If you haven't done the math, in 1866 he was only 16 years old! I wonder how a youngster would have thought to do this? To make history on his birthday, the Jack Daniel's Distillery hopes to break 7 Guinness World Records today at South Street Seaport in NYC. To get in on the celebration, get down to the historic seaport between 12pm-2pm.

Records they are trying to break:

Most Contributions to a Greeting Card

Largest Glass Bottle Mosaic

Largest Bottle of Whiskey

Largest Gathering of People Born in the Same Month (if your birthday is in September- get down there!)

Most Bottles Played in a Bottle Orchestra

Most People Blowing out Candles Simultaneously

Fastest Time to Build a 20 Shot Glass Pyramid

Check back to see if any of these official attempts are successful!

Update on Thu, September 15, 2011 at 3:15 AM by abbyb

History was made, Jack Daniel's achieved 6 world records! Cheers!

* I now have a Centenarian in My Family- Happy 100th Birthday Maw!

Steve's grandmother, Genevieve "Maw" Louise Woodard Burchett, turned a young 100 years old this past Friday- August 19, 2011. She is a lively, humorous, and inspirational woman. Her life spans time periods we can't even begin to fully comprehend. In her lifetime she has persevered through 2 world wars, the great depression, and unprecedented advances in technology. I am so proud and thankful to know her and be a part of her family. A glimpse into the past 100 years of her beautiful life.

Click to read more ...

* Prospect Park Walk-a-Thon 2011

Want to help preserve the lovely green spaces of NYC? The Prospect Park Walk-a-Thon is a great way to give back and keep this historic Brooklyn park green and beautiful for generations to come. I've registered and will be walking the park Sunday September 18, 2011! Click here to register online.

If you can't make it, you can sponsor my footsteps with a donation, see my donation page.

On the weekends the park is a place where we can escape from our shoebox apartments. Grab a blanket, frisbee, a good read, and you will have the best afternoon ever in Prospect Park. If you've never been- you should plan a visit. It's a sprawling outdoor oasis complete with numerous hiking trails, a zoo, lake, horseback riding, bandshell, multiple playgrounds, and even a vintage carousel.  This park is bursting with history and it needs our help to keep it going.

To learn more about the history of the park, see the Prospect Park timeline history from the Prospect Park Alliance.