Today is Meriwether Lewis’ Birthday. The Explorer.  Ford named a car for him.  No.  Not the Ford Meriwether. Although, I like it. The Ford Explorer. Four-wheel-drive Sport Utility Vehicle.  All terrain. Rugged. Ram Tough. Just like an explorer.

If Ford had made the Meriwether, I don’t really see it as being an SUV. No. The Meriwether sounds like a wimpier Ford. Like the Pinto. Or the Fiesta. Or the Percival. (Okay, Ford never had a Percival… but if they did…. well… I wouldn’t buy one, I’ll tell you that much right now.)

But back to Meriwether Lewis. Growing up, I thought the duo’s FIRST names were Louis and Clark.

……”Yo, Louie.” ……..  “Hey, how’s it hanging Clark?”  That’s how I imagined them rooting around in the untamed wilderness, with their little raccoon skin caps perched atop their heads. Forging their way over the river and through the woods. I didn’t have any idea then what their last names were.

Now I know. Good old Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark.

Yes. William and Mery. Don’t be fooled by popular belief either: The second oldest university in the United States in named for those two explorers. Founded 1693 in the Virginia region. The College of William and Mary. True story. First a school named for them, then an SUV.  They also got a candy bar.  And a gas station….. ……And a comedian… (that pair was Lewis and Martin).  Funny guys.

Meriwether Lewis was a jocular guy in his own right. A real prankster. He would find locust skins in the woods… on leaves and such. Then he would strategically place them around camp. On spoons. In the crapper. One time, he put a locust shell on Clark’s nose while he was sleeping.  That is how Lewis got shot in leg.  True Story.  Clark felt terrible about the whole debacle.  Absolutely terrible.

Lewis and Clark had about 35 or so enlisted men with them for the journey.  Most of them were… of all things… Polish Beer Drinkers.  Seriously.  Boy…..They sure would have fun around the campfires at night.  Oh, the jokes.

So today is his birthday.    I love historical birthdays… because I love history.  So much fun to recount all the little details….and so accurately.

I think the next time I write about history… it will be the story of free beer in Poland.  Or something along those lines.

Yes, I love to explore… and even joke around from time to time… just like ol’ Louie.