F. Scott, Remember Me

The Thirty Years War began in 1618, shortly after Protestants defenestrated two Catholic Regents and a secretary.  They survived the 70-foot plunge from a window by divine intervention, although Protestants, horribly plagued by the Holy Roman Empire, said a soft landing in a dung heap was more factual. Soon, hooks suspended heads, tainted blood poisoned wine, catapults flung rotten corpses. A Black Death, riddled with fleas, rose like a red welt on Germany.

*

Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in September 1896. His father was from Rockville, Maryland; his mother was daughter of Irish immigrants. Both were Catholic. It’s hard to say what latched onto and killed their son, what leapt from the window of his soul, but history indicates he was plagued by aspirations for high-living, an unstable woman, and too much gin.

*

Oberammergau posted sentries, to repulse Protestants and disease…