I was standing on hallowed ground in Gettysburg.  Today Wayne and I walked the site of Pickett’s charge across the open field with Gary Roche, our  Civil  War guide, and Dale Gallon, a  Civil  War artist.  It was humbling to know that thousands of men fell right where we had walked.  I’ve never considered writing historical fiction, but I sure feel the emotion of this battle.

I’m really not much of a Civil War buff, but Wayne is and he jumped at the opportunity to tour Gettysburg with our friends the Roches from Florida. I figured I’d ride along with Wayne and Gary, who is a certified guide.  Thinking I’d probably be bored, I brought along my knitting to help occupy myself while Gary explained the details of the battles.  It didn’t take long for me to set my knitting aside and get caught up in the tales of the conflict that so divided our country.

Wayne and I came away with a renewed appreciation of the history, the lives of the men who lived during that time period, and with each other.  We discovered history at its very best at possibly the worst time in our country.