Memorial Day

Something about a small town parade, followed by a town BBQ at the park with live music, on a lovely day, makes me smile.

The girls and I took the truck down early and parked in the church parking lot. From experience we know, if we get there with enough time, we can park the truck in such a way that can sit/stand/play in the back of the truck and watch the parade go by. And not take up valuable sidewalk gawking space.

And it WAS lovely. And just enough warm, and just enough wind, and just enough people I wanted to see, without the anxiety spiking.

My heart still stops though, when I see Marine Corps formations. There was plenty of that at the parade too. From the safety of the back of the truck, and behind my sun glasses, I let it come and wash over me.

Something was backwards though, which broke my heart, even more that the Marine Corps. As the bagpipes were playing, I was seeing these troves of men and women who had served this country walk humbly down the center of the street. Some of them were throwing candy to the kids who were scurrying along the edges of the road... never satisfied with one last piece, always hungry, needy for more.

How backwards is this?  Remind me why the veterans are in this parade. And then remind me why they would be tossing out anything... to garner what? Attention? Acceptance? A few nods of gratitude and thankfulness? *THIS* is my heart breaking. Good Lord, yes the veterans should be in the Memorial Day Parade, but WE should be showering THEM. With our words of love, our acceptance, our gratitude and thankfulness. Our ability to express these things should rain down upon them, and not just in a parade.

Just my take on things.

Blood Aint Thicker Than Water

I LOVE my family. I ADORE them. I wouldn't be where I am today without them. But truth be told... in the grand scheme of things... they have to like me, right? Or at least put up with me? They don't have a choice. And I thank them for that :)

What about friends though? REAL friends? Tried and true. Not the acquaintances who will say hi in the presence of a mutual friend, but never make eye contact outside of that circle. Not the ones who you only hear from when they are in need, or in town, or wondering about some recent juicy gossip. Nope. The real friends...

The ones who had the choice. Who have an on-going choice, every day, and every day choose to be there, be present, available. The ones who near or far, the distance or time is of no matter. The ones who know ALL the petty details, the nuances, the caveats, the quirks, the dark and dirty truths, and all of the baggage too.

They stand proudly by your side (or by your side in spirit). They weather the storm with you... by choice. They know when words just aren't sufficient, and know some things need no explanation. They just need a shoulder.

Lost and Found

I was meeting with a staff member today in my office and I noticed a few papers on the floor under my desk just barely sticking out. They looked like papers I had attempted to file away, and they'd somehow ended up under the drawers... and lost.

We tried to take the silly desk drawer off its slider so I could reach my hand and arm in to get the papers. The drawer wouldn't budge off the tracks so I jammed my chubby little arms in there and rooted around trying to grab whatever I could reach.

As I grabbed the only paper I could reach, I jokingly(?) said to the gal in my office "maybe it will be a long lost Starbucks card!" Welp... apparently I'm not the only one with a sense of humor.

It was a card. But it was an 8x10 piece of paper folded in half... and it read:

Good morning Lovie, here is a carmel macchiato with extra carmel. So have a good day. I love you so much. Love, James

♥
♥
♥
Yep... there are little glimmers out there.

A Little Rant

9/11 changed me, and most of the people I know. In our little town, James was a volunteer fire fighter. It hit him hard, especially that so many fire fighters were killed going in and trying to save the wounded. Particularly the chirps of the SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus), after the towers went down, and before the dust and rubble settled... they sounded. They are supposed to sound after a few moments of inactivity, so that if a fire fighter is down, he can be found.

I've been fending off a fair bit if criticism lately, for many a reason. Only one of which is my stance on the military, and today's report about Osama bin Laden. To be clear: I would *hope* that death is never the answer. And while I'm not tauting his death as something to be joyful about, I AM grateful and joyful that this particular person can no longer be the ring leader of this particular ring any longer.

Call me crazy. Call me old fashioned. Call me whatever you want. Just know that my heart is with service men and women all over the world. My soul is with Jesus, and my faith in the contentment I have for all of the above.

There are somethings I will never second guess. Hallelujah, amen, goodnight, and happy May Day.

Carry on.