My husband Samuel was a Downs. In Louisiana, you just couldn’t make a finer “catch,” as my mother put it. The Downs family owned plantations, Uncle Solomon was a U.S. Senator, and the power and prestige of their slaves and properties offered vast advantages for a new blushing bride.
For me, Samuel built this manor home and farm. He often said our children would forever be wealthy, famous and a political powerhouse in the New Orleans area.
That was before the war, however, 150 years ago. Today it all belongs to the swamp, and no one remembers except the spirits.
Inspired by this weeks Friday Fictioneers prompt:
ParkInkSpot 
Argh, so many tales every week. I try to read them all…my poor eyestrain!
Made it through the first half of the (100+ tales!) list. Pant wheeze.
Ha – it’s a fools errand to try and read them all – unless you have a long commute on the bus of course :).
I try for a few favourites, and some new ones every week.
Cheers
KT
I do try to read most of them. And then (a week later) I get to try to catch up on the comments after my vacation…sorry!
I wonder how many people have thought that they or their family are “too big/powerful to ever be forgotten”? Nice reminder!
Your basic commentary on mortality, really. A million approaches to the story, but only one ending.
Shelley told it better; “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair.”
That’s the Old South for you: Peanuts, butter and Shelley.
Ok, who let Jimmy Carter in? Security!
More like Billy.
Good stuff, Dave. You have a compelling voice. Bravo.
It shows that no matter how much we believe the future is secure, something could come round the corner to bite you.
The wolf is always at the door.
The rise and fall … . Samuel got it wrong, as most of us do.
Your story reminds me of the house my grandfather had built for the family in China. It was a very fine house. We never thought of leaving but here we are in Canada. The house is abandoned to cousins to live in. But they do no upkeep so is fine no more. 😞. I do appreciate the memory of where I’ve come from now and again.
Lily
Can’t really object a man trying to provide for his family. But sometimes fate happens and interrupts the Dynasty plan.
Dear Dave,
Yep. Lots of stories this week. The numbers seem to be growing, too.
Nothing’s forever no matter how solid it seems. Good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I love reading ’em all, but it really does take a boatload of time. Finished 100+ this week!
No one remenbers but the spirits. Nice phrase.
Well, our protagonist telling the story is either 150+ years old or … Yeah, that 😛
I wonder how many things that we believe will last forever will crumble into forgetfulness …
Ask anyone in middle age. All of them 😛
Pride before a fall? Nicely told.
Ooh…civil war ghosts.
even the mighty must fall
It’s hard to establish a dynasty, but that never stops people trying.
I liked your story with plans not fulfilled. Sad how we are always in the future or the past.
Reality check. This is a great twist on the prompt.
Thank you. Delayed response, thanks to the vacation, sorry.
I enjoyed this, money cant protect you from war is a great theme. I also liked not finding out the narrator is one of those ‘spirits’ till the end – at least I assume she is, considering the war was 150 years ago.
Nice work.
KT
Ozymandias meets Scarlet O’Hara. Maybe she’s a really spry old corpse 😛
Like it! Great commentary.
It drew a lot of comments…and then most of the replies got stalled by my vacation. Sorry!
Liked this. Lots of different stories this week. I’ve just read a fanfiction type based on Oz (The Wizard of) and now your Ozy (Mandias). The poem’s one of my favourites too; I’ve never tried it with peanut butter. I would have liked it spread with a bit of dialogue. Or maybe it is somebody telling the tale, and the quote marks dropped off. 🙂
Internal dialog. I like italics for that, but not for an entire post.
Ah, okay. Nor me. 🙂
I figure my family will wait until AFTER I die to get rich and powerful. Right now, they’re having too much fun watching me slave in obscurity and wallow in poverty.
Hah, yes indeed. Perhaps I should have upped the offspring output, in the hopes one would support me eventually?
Well, we had Gone With the Wind, and now we have Gone With the Swamp. You can’t plan ahead, expecially if there’s a war. Well done, Dave. 🙂 — Suzanne
“Oh, Rhett! Please, don’t go! You can’t leave me! Please! I’ll never forgive you!”
Thanks ::grin::