On December 8th, I’ll be at Fort Reno signing copies of The Major’s Daughter, plus Serving Up Love and other titles. The Fort Reno grounds will be open and ready for visitors, including the house that Major Adams, Louisa and Caroline would’ve lived in. This home isn’t usually open to the public, but on that Sunday from 2:15 to 4:00, it will be decorated with scenes from the Fort Reno books. You might just get a glimpse of one of the characters while you are enjoying refreshments.

But that’s not all that’s going on at the fort. You can watch reenactors participate in the fort’s Christmas Firing of the Guns at 2:00 and visit with Santa in the chapel. There’ll be a flyer for a self-guided tour of the rest of the grounds, highlighting locations mentioned in my books. On top of that, the Historic Fort Reno Visitor Center and the U. S. Cavalry Association Museum will be open from noon until 4:00. As a special treat, admission to the fort and the museums is free.

Please come out and see this site that has grown to mean so much to me, and has always meant much to Oklahoma’s history.

The post Let’s Welcome The Major’s Daughter to the Fort appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Thousands of British war widows and their children are to be transferred to Canada with the expectation that many women will be married to Canadian farmers, according to plans outlined here today by David Lam of London, commissoner of the International Emigration Society of the Salvation Army. He added that no women will be sent before arrrangements have been made for their employment and the rate of emigration will depend entirely upon the ability of Canada to absorb them.

(Source: The Oklahoma City Times, Nov. 20, 1916)

The post Historical Tidbit – a/k/a Future Story Idea? appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

My phone rang. It was Coy. He worked at a commercial laundry plant in downtown Oklahoma City. “I think our boiler just exploded,” he said. “I wanted you to know I’m OK if you see something about it on the news.” Having assured me that he wasn’t hurt, he described the scene – light fixtures swinging loose, windows broken, wall cracked, and he was on his way downstairs to see how he could help, but on the way he met people coming up. No, the boilers hadn’t exploded. Maybe it was the building next door? He hung up as they rushed outside.

I called a friend at the church. She was on the other line with her husband who also worked downtown. He was convinced that something had happened near him, but didn’t know what. But his and Coy’s offices weren’t on the same block. How could they have both been shaken by the same event? Could that have possibly been the thunder I heard? That’s when we turned the TV on and saw the first images of the gutted Murrah Building.

Stunned is the only way to describe the newscasters as they came on air. At first they shared the feeble hopes that perhaps no one had been hurt, but it didn’t take long for those empty words to be dropped. Obviously people had been hurt, a great many people. And more might be hurting even then in the rubble.

The sirens started almost immediately, rescue, fire and police leaving our suburb to race to the site. Then ten minutes later they would start in again as another rescue squadron from another community passed through on their way to Oklahoma City. Even hours later sirens could still be heard streaming past as the whole state, the whole nation raced to help.

And that’s what was so frustrating. There was nothing we could do to help. Sitting at the one-pin of Tornado Alley, we Oklahomans are used to putting on our boots and gloves and sorting through rubble. We’re used to providing cots and meals for people who’ve lost their homes…but this was different. People hadn’t lost their homes. People were lost. People had disappeared and it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a natural disaster that was beyond our control. This disaster was man-made.

Stunned. Again.

Since April 19, 1995, America has seen bigger attacks. The story of the Oklahoma City bombing doesn’t shock a generation that watched planes fly into the Twin Towers, but Oklahoma City has had more time to heal, and here’s what I’ve found –

As I was sitting my kids down, telling them once again about what happened here where they live, they wanted to know who did it? Why was it done? What happened next? As someone who followed the investigation and trial closely, I was surprised to find that why and who didn’t interest me. Justice had been carried out and that part of the story was closed. Instead I wanted to tell them about the people who had lived through it and those who’d been lost.

And even more than that, I wanted to tell them about how we responded.  You see, we will never live in complete safety. While it takes toil and intelligence to create, it only takes a fraction of the effort to destroy. Doing what is right, holy and honorable is difficult. There will be many chances to fail, but decide to be evil, destructive and selfish–well, you’ll find that an easy goal. Narrow is the way that leads to life, broad is the path to destruction. But the broad path is short. Destruction comes sooner than you realize and with it anonymity.

We’ll remember giving blood, making meals for the rescuers, buying meals for complete strangers just because they were wearing a uniform in a restaurant – that’s what we’ll remember. And those who lost loved one will honor them, telling story with about them with a smile once the pain has faded. The good will be celebrated. The dross is burned away and the gold cherished. That’s what endures.

The post April 19, 1995 – What Remains appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

April 24th – 26th, 2015

Hartville, Missouri

Come join me in Hartville, Missouri, for a big shindig in April! There’ll be dancing and singing, shooting and hooting. And I’ll be speaking on:

“A Look Behind the Book: Bringing History to Life Through Fiction.” That’ll be on Saturday, April 25th at 1:00 up on the hill.

I’d love to see you there!

Complete Schedule:

Friday, April 24, 2015

Saturday, April 25, 2015

7:00 – 9:00 – Registration & Check-in of reenactors & vendors
9:00 – Camps, food, & sutler tents open
10:00 – Reenactors Drill Activities @ Camps
11:00 – Skirmish on the courthouse lawn
12:00 – Don Joy & Melanie Lynn Music
12:30 – Ladies Tea Social (Tickets Available at chamber booth)
1:00 – Calvary Mountain Music Performance
1 -3    Book signing with Regina Jennings
2:00 – Ladies Tea Social (Tickets Available
at chamber booth)
2:30 – Reenactors Drill Activities @ Camps
3:00 – Battle @ Steele Mansion
4:00 – Camps Close
4:00 – Bluegrass Music Jam
5:00 – Dinner for Re-enactors (MUST have tickets)
7:00 – Civil War Era Ball – w/ Gum Spring Serenaders
(Dance caller will be there to teach dances)
8:30 – Canon Firing (Ball to resume after firing) 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The post Hartville, Missouri – Civil War Festival & Booksigning appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Shanna, thanks for taking time out of all the baking to write my blogpost for me…I mean, to do an interview! Tell me about your Christmas cookies and how this tradition got started.

Shanna: I have always been fascinated with my heritage.  I wonder what my ancestors’ lives were like in the ‘old’ country, what did they do?  What did they wear?  Where did they worship? What did they eat?  I decided to find a Christmas cookie/treat from the countries of my heritage:  Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, & Germany.  My husband’s grandfather was Polish, so I also added Poland.

I should’ve known you were Scandinavian. I could almost tell just by looking.

Every Christmas you introduce us to some new cookies as well as some old favorites. What was on the list this year?

I have changed it up from year to year, some cookies are not favorites, so I look for others.  The Polish Almond Cookies have become a family favorite.  Scotch Shortbread & English Toffee Squares are fairly similar, so I may change things up next year.  The Irish Cookies seem to come out flat, I don’t know if Oklahoma humidity has anything to do with it.  Is it humid in Ireland?  As I was getting my Norwegian Wreath Cookie ingredients together, my husband said, that he wasn’t a fan of them.  So, this year I made Norwegian Christmas cookies, he approved so I think those will be back next year.  From Germany I make Caramel Almond Wafers, but for some reason they bake flat.  The flavor is good, but they don’t look right.  I may have to figure out a different recipe, but I hate admitting that a recipe beat me!  I ended up making two cookies from Sweden, Pepperkakor, which is a type of Gingerbread & Swedish Dream Cookies.  This year I made three Danish cookies:  Danske Smakager, Musner & Danish Pastry Cookies.  I will probably get it down to one Danish cookie, but I don’t know which one. What were your favorites?

I don’t care how the German Caramel Almond cookies looked, they were my favorite this year! Of the three Danish cookies the Smakager is my favorite. They are so moist and have great flavor, but of course they are all good!

So, if you could eat foreign cookies in a foreign land, where would you go?

Scandanavia, I would love to visit Norway, Denmark & Sweden.  I had a Swedish Great-Grandmother & a Danish Great-Grandmother, ever since I found that out, I have been fascinated with the countries.  I love cold & snow (many of my Oklahoma friends want to disown me), I tell everyone it is my Viking heritage!  I keep thinking that I can find a cheap flight in the middle of winter.  Who knows, one day all my friends might get a postcard from Scandinavia at Christmas instead of my Christmas cookies.

I’m torn. Usually I’d insist on going with you, but I’m not a fan of sub-freezing temperatures. If we can plan a trip for the summer, count me in, but Christmas will find me further south. Speaking of location, what are some of the more unusual ingredients you’ve had to find and have you had trouble getting them locally?

The ingredients have not been too difficult, although, I have not been able to find Candied Citron in Oklahoma.  I substitute Candied Orange Peels, but I think next year I will actually order some online.  I also usually, substitute dried cranberries for dried currants (I don’t even know what a currant is).

Were there any unexpected difficulties in making these recipes?

The most difficult thing for me is understanding the instructions.  Many recipes use the metric system, so I have to convert that and there are other issues, too.  Did you know that a hard-cooked egg is the same as a hard-boiled egg?  Apparently, it is common in European recipes to use hard-cooked eggs instead of raw eggs. I spend a lot of time looking up cooking terms (I should have paid more attention in Home Ec.) Maybe making these cookies will make me smarter?

Metric conversions? I should send the kids over for math. And you might get smarter cooking them, but eating them improves my attitude.

So this year you made eleven different kinds of cookies – not to mention Uncle Guy Candy, but that’s for another post—how long does it take you to make all the cookies?  

It usually takes 2-3 days of all day baking.  First I lay out all the ingredients on the kitchen counter.

Some cookies have to be chilled overnight, so I try to mix them first.  Then I arrange the cookies by oven temperature.  The cookies that have to be baked on a lower temperature go first, then I increase the oven temperatures.  Thankfully, I have a double oven, so that helps with the time.  If my family did not insist on eating breakfast, lunch & dinner, I could probably get everything done faster.  Although, during my baking marathon, we do visit other countries for Pizza & Chinese Food.

Which cookies are your favorites? 

I don’t know if I have a favorite, I really don’t eat a lot of cookies.  I just love making them & giving them away.  I wonder when I am making the cookies if my ancestors made the same cookies?  What were their favorites?

Isn’t it fun to speculate about people from the past? It’d be so cool to spend a day in their kitchen, wouldn’t it? Well, thanks for the great interview and thanks for all the yummy cookies! Everyone at my house has their favorites—it’s like a smorgasbord. Can you share a recipe with us?

The post The Best Cookie in the World appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

So imagine my delight, when a very nice lady contacted me through this website and told me that she was the seamstress who created the lovely red dress on the “Caught in the Middle” cover.

Having already used the dress for a cover shoot, she was ready to sell it and wanted to give me first chance at it. I confess I thought it over longer than I should’ve, but in the end, I decided that if I was ever going to buy a dress, this one was perfect.

True, I did have some misgivings. Before I got the dress, I was a little concerned about the quality. After all, this was made for a photo shoot. Maybe it was only basted together. Maybe the fabric wasn’t of the best quality. But when I got the dress I was astonished. Not only was the dress a great example of craftsmanship, but it also had many extras that I didn’t expect.

On the cover, you can’t really see the bodice that well, but it is reinforced with boning that keeps it snug when laced up tight and also keeps that longer panel flat over the skirt in the front.

 And did you notice the neckline? Look closely at the cover and then at the mannequin. At first I thought that the seamstress had changed the lace on the neckline, but she was much more clever than that. 

Instead she wove a strong thread through the collar that could be gathered up and tied, giving more coverage over the chest. Probably a good idea for this Christian romance cover. 😉 The neckline also had a drawstring in the back, allowing the dress to be worn either off the shoulders or cinched up for a more modest look.

I was also surprised by how short-waisted the bodice was, but it’s meant to end at a woman’s true waist, not just above her hips like we’re used to nowadays.

And speaking of waists, I don’t really know how to describe the stays in the back. Rubik’s cube? IRS tax code? Theory of Relativity? There are just some things I can never untangle.

Here’s what we did find out: From the waist up to where you see the strings’ ends, those tighten on the outside. From the neckline down to that same point, those tighten on the inside. If you’re picturing Mammy yanking on Scarlett’s stays – eh, no. There aren’t any eyelets which means these strings don’t slip. That’s great for keeping it tight, but tough for adjustments. And there was no way we were going to unlace it completely, even to get it on. Instead we loosened the laces as much as possible and then I did a combination tugging, jumping, and scootching move. When that failed I looked up Harry Houdini and learned how to dislocate my shoulder….not really, but it was almost necessary to get the waist portion over my shoulders. (I think I broke my collarbone.) Once in place, each junction had to be carefully tightened and for the top half they were tightened from the inside by my long-suffering mother, then tied on the inside. (Notice those strings are hidden inside the bodice? The bow you see is from the bottom laces.) It took my mother a full half hour to lace me into this dress and nearly as long to get me out of it.

This experience taught me a few things I’d never learned in all the research I’ve done:

#1 – A character wearing a dress like this would not be involved in any sort of hurried clothing removal, no matter what romance books tell you.

#2 – It does make sense to have the strings meet at the smallest part of the waist, because it allows for maximum shaping.

#3 – Having a lady’s maid with warm hands would be essential.

Either way, my mom and I were able to figure it all out for the “Caught in the Middle” book launch. I had a fabulous time in my dress and have probably never had better posture.

There was one mistake I made. I didn’t choose the right corset to wear with this dress. With the boning and laces in the bodice, it ended up being unnecessary and I went sans, but since I do have the corset (and if you’re curious) I’ll post about it next time.

Thanks for playing dress up with me!

P.S. Do you see one other difference between the cover and the dress? The seamstress added one change before she sent it to me. Do you think it looks better?

Have you ever dreamed of wearing clothes from another era or are you happy with our comfortable wardrobes today?

The post Say “Yes!” to the Dress appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

PLAIN TALK for your BENEFIT

We Beg of You to Read it All, It Will Open Your Eyes

A few years ago such a things as sending away for goods was almost unknown, but now the custom is becoming so popular that it bids fair to soon be the medium for purchasing the larger portion of goods the consumer uses… Retail dealers, however, undertake to convince their customers that all advertising houses will swindle them. We shall take the position of fighting them with their own weapons. We will…undertake to give you the points and you can draw yours own conclusions.

     The retailer’s hobby is to make himself socially as popular as possible, and if his town supports any secret or other societies he endeavors to make himself an influential member, using at all times the social garb to attract and bring him trade…Step into his store at any time and you will find him gossiping with a neighbor merchant, reading the newspaper or both as he and his clerks are cleaning up and polishing some of the old shop-worn goods that have been in the house for years, trying to make them look like new. 

     His store, in order that he may be successful, must be located on the best part of the best street in the town where the rent is very high; his fuel and lighting expenses are very large, besides clerk hire, care of the store, interest on the investment, profits, his own living (and he usually lives very well), all of which must be included. Take into consideration all these expenses, then consider the small number of sales he makes during the year, and you can understand how he must have from 33 1/3 to 100 per cent gross profit on every article he sells. If it is not fraud to sell goods for twice what they are worth, it is certainly the next thing to it.

I thought this interesting, how the Sears corporation took the time to paint the everyday activities of their competition as something devious. Also, isn’t it fascinating how the local retailers had to compete with the newcomer…mail order goods? Reminds me of the concerns we now have about online retailers.

How about you? Do you see any similarities? Whose side do you tend to take – the local retailer or the less expensive wholesaler?

The post Warning About Your Local Retailer appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

With every book I search out specific resources based on the location of the story, the careers of the characters, and the exact year, but as long as I’m writing about the mid-19th century I have a few books that I keep nearby.

First off, we must know what our heroines are wearing. Besides the hero’s broad shoulders, the ladies’ gowns merit the most descriptions.

This book is a scrumptious visual feast. The illustrations are beautiful and the descriptions are detailed. Although the pictures are black and white, they include color in the descriptions. (And all these book covers are linked to a bookseller. Just click on the picture if you want more information.)

Example:

“Sea-Side Toilette – This striking picturesque toilette consists of a princesse dress of mandarin yellow silk, over which is worn a sleeveless polonaise of ivory white India cashmere. The skirt of the dress is simply trimmed with a closely gathered flounce, surmounted by a reversed heading, and supported by a balayeuse of white muslin, edged with Valenciennes. The polonaise, which is very clinging, and falls gracefully over the train, is bordered with black velvet ribbon…”

And it goes on for another two columns. Naturally, not all of my heroines would dress so fine. Rosa Garner and Anne Tillerton didn’t have much use for fashion, but Molly Lovelace and Miranda Wimplegate (if we don’t change her name) would wear gowns straight off these pages.

Now how about the housewares, farm equipment and clothing for the rest of the family? My favorite general reference is the 1897 Sears & Roebuck catalog.

Here I can see and read detailed descriptions of everything from kitchen grindstones to poultry netting to shaving brushes. Not only does this help me describe authentic items that would be used on the farm or in the kitchen, it also gives me ideas for possible careers or story lines. A two-dog treadmill-powered cream separator? I’d like to meet the salesman who demonstrated that. Or how about the Bust Cream, guaranteed to enhance her bosom? How would a woman feel if she’d ordered that in the mail and someone found out? Fun ideas!

And because most of my stories have some connection to agriculture, I love to flip through these references:

There are dozens of Foxfire books, so if you decide to purchase one be sure and choose the one that covers the topics you’re interested in. The other two books are instruction manuals on traditional skills, although you must watch for modern helps that might have been added. They might demonstrate how to make your own cheese, but use ingredients and processes unknown in 1878. Still, they are a good place to start.

And the last research book I’ll share on this go-around is this reprinting of a 1837 home health book.

I found “The Family Nurse” at a Civil War Reenactment and have turned to it several times. Let’s face it, you can’t have a 368 page historical novel without someone getting sick or hurt. So how would a mother deal with teething babies, parasites, or scarlet fever? How did they prepare herbs and roots? Let me tell you, reading this brings a new appreciation for those coated pills we can swallow whole.

I’m always on the look out for references that will earn their space on the bookshelf and these have proven helpful through repeated use. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

The post History, Romance and Research appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Last week I got the awesome opportunity to attend a Civil War Reenactment in my family’s hometown Hartville, Missouri. Knowing that I was going I asked readers what questions they’d like me to ask the soldiers. First off, let me say that the reenactors I met were AMAZING! These men are passionate about history and about their country. I’m so grateful to them for presenting our history in such a tangible way and making it accessible to the youngest participant. And at the same time, they aren’t just dressing up and playing war. The men I spoke with had done extensive research into the character they were portraying. They could tell you their troop’s movements, battles, and commanders as if they’d really lived it. And they spoke passionately in characters about their reasons for fighting, their families and what their country…or their state, as the case may be…meant to them.

A brief disclaimer…I jotted down their answers long hand as they spoke and I missed a lot. Any historical mistakes are 100% my fault. It was rainy, muddy, and I had children afoot. Next time I’ll bring a recorder. Disclaimer #2 – My conversation in the Confederate camp was with two officers. They both contributed to the conversation.

Reader Question #1 – How do you feel fighting against your fellow Americans?

Union Soldier (1st Lieutenant Michael Mandrick, 30th Missouri Volunteer Brigade a/k/a The Missouri Irish Brigade) – I am fighting to preserve the Union. These miscreants don’t understand that the Constitution must be protected and if they can’t be persuaded by logic, then we must use force. I took an oath to apply all laws equally, not pick and choose which ones I’d like to apply.

Confederate Soldiers (Or more accurately the 1st Regiment of Missouri Volunteer Militia – Captain Robert Jackson and Lieutenant Patrick O’Brien) – I’m fighting a foreign invader and I’ll defend the State of Missouri to the end. President Lincoln promised that Kentucky and Missouri could remain neutral, but then he moved against Virginia and we believe he will send troops against us as well. General Lyons has disregarded the wishes of the people of Missouri and chased our elected officials from the capital. He illegally armed Dutch immigrants and marched on St. Louis where he opened fire on civilians. That is an attack against my state and my people. How could I not respond?

Reader Question #2 – Considering the loss of life you’ve seen, do you think this struggle for/against slavery is still worth it?

Lt. Mandrick, U. S. Army – I’m fighting to preserve the law of the land. The Bible teaches about slavery and doesn’t condemn it, so I’m not sure whether God doesn’t allow it in certain circumstances or not. President Lincoln has issued a proclamation of emancipation and that’s good enough for me. If that’s the law, then it should be honored, but truthfully I’m not fighting for the abolition of slavery, but for the Union.

Lt. O’Brien, Missouri Militia – If the Federals lose, they will go home and their world will not change. If we lose we lose our whole way of life, our freedom to chose our own government.

Captain Jackson, Missouri Militia – The Federal Army likes to report that they are freeing Negroes. I know the men in my unit. Most cannot afford a single Negro. If they had that money they would buy more farmland for their family, not a slave. But I think we should be able to conduct our trade freely, uninhibited by the federal government. We must stand up for our rights to self-govern and not be dictated to by Washington.

Lt. O’Brien, Missouri Militia – I disagree with slavery, but I will not walk away from my family. I will fight to protect them.

Reader Question #3 – Why are you fighting?

Lt. Mandrick, U. S. Army – Many of us in the 30^th Missouri Volunteer Infantry are Irish and German immigrants. We know how bad the situation was against us at home. This country has been good to us and we want to defend her.

Capt. Jackson and Lt. O’Brien, Missouri Militia – We are fighting because Lincoln has broken the Constitution. He has not honored the rights guaranteed the people by the Constitution. The federal government has usurped the states’ rights that were intended by the founders.

Not only that, but many of the soldiers fighting against us are mercenaries. The U.S. Army meets the ships of immigrants at the docks and offers them $12 and a gun if they will take up arms against us. We are supposed to be brothers, but they are arming foreigners to march into our land. In Missouri, they’ve conscripted every man between 17 and 45 and forced them to aid the Union. They allow for no neutrality. We are forced to fight and actions such as these should make it clear why we must fight against the Federal Government.

In Conclusion:

I can’t exaggerate how impressed I was with the historians I spoke with. This is their passion and they are serious about preserving history. They roughed a very cold, wet and MUDDY weekend to educate and entertain us and no matter which camp I visited, Union or Confederate, I met people who cared deeply for the Constitution and their country.

I’m grateful.

The post Interviewing Civil War Soldiers appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

“Eyes, hair, face, image – all must be preserved.

Still life displayed forever, no less than she deserved.”

The last scene of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Evita” shows lines of Argentinian devotees as they stream past the coffin of their First Lady, Maria Eva Duarte Peron, dead at age thirty-three from cancer. Her waxy figure is displayed under a glass coffin, not unusual for a state funeral, but the last lines of the musical hinted at something further.

Eva Peron’s story is remarkable enough, but could it be that her incredible journey didn’t end at her death? Intrigued, I did some research…and oh the stories I found.

Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina

Eva Peron died in 1952 and as depicted her body underwent an embalming process to prepare it for the 2 million people who came to view her, but after the crowds went away President Peron wasn’t ready to part with his beloved wife. He had her body embalmed a second time to prepare it for a national monument that he’d planned, but before the monument could be built Peron was overthrown. He was forced to flee to Spain and left Eva’s body behind.

What was the new government to do? To bury her body would create a shrine, to destroy it would ignite protests in an already volatile situation. They needed a plan and while they made one the corpse needed to disappear. After cutting off one of her fingers to verify that the corpse wasn’t a forgery, they tried to hide her, moving her from location to location. While her whereabouts were supposed to be kept secret, flowers and candles appeared in the warehouses, by the vans, and in the halls of the government offices where she was hidden – notifying the military that their ranks were infiltrated with Peronists.

Eva Peron

Have Passport, Will Travel

With help from the Vatican in 1957 her body was smuggled out of Argentina and buried in Italy under a false name.

In the meantime, ex-president Juan Peron had remarried while in Spain and as the winds of change swept through the Argentinian government a more friendly regime came to power. Eva’s whereabouts were discovered, she was exhumed and returned to her husband.

You might expect at this point that Peron and the new wife Isabel would give Eva a decent burial and get on with their life. Not hardly. They washed the body and displayed it on their dining room table. No fooling. Isabel combed her predecessor’s hair as part of her nightly routine and there were rumors of occultist rituals performed to transfer Evita’s power to Isabel.

One has to wonder if they thought their efforts were successful for in 1973 Peron was invited back to Argentina to again serve as President – this time with Isabel as Vice-President. The happy couple returned to Argentina, although Juan’s triumph was cut short by his death the next year. Eager to cement her association with the popular Evita, new President Isabel Peron took the opportunity to return Eva’s body to her beloved Argentina and continue with the plans for a massive mausoleum.

Last Curtain Call

Eva’s body was once again prepared for viewing and was displayed beside President Juan Peron’s closed coffin, but before their monument could be built Isabel was ousted. Once again the plans for the memorial were scrapped and finally Eva was laid to rest in her family crypt. Juan would not rest as easily. In 1987, grave robbers stole his coffin, hacked off his hands and held them for $8 million ransom. The ransom went unpaid and the hands haven’t been seen since.

Wrap-Up

(I thought this sub-title was appropriate since we’re talking about mummified corpses.) What can we learn from this? Umm, don’t expect a long, peaceful career as an Argentinian politician? Think twice before embalming a public figure – the upkeep can be demanding? Some people spend too much time watching musicals and chasing down bizarre stories?

Maybe the lesson is this. While disrespectful treatment can sorrow family and followers, the departed one is beyond injury, but they are also beyond helping anyone. Relics, charms and idols have no power.

The most powerful person in our history left behind an empty tomb.

 

Any comments? Please share your bizarre stories, or maybe the actor you’d like to portray you in your life-story musical.

The post The Macabre Journey of Eva Peron’s Traveling Corpse appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.