Man, I would so come back and haunt your ass.
Those who follow my FB feed know I’ve been scanning photos and sharing a few. OMG, the memories!!! I’ll add others as time goes by. But I’m done for today. I think…
Happy Belated Birthday Rio!
Memorial Day? My family doesn’t have a huge service history - Dad’s dad aka “Big Boy” was in the artillery corps in WWI and gained a lifelong dislike of horses. Dad was drafted after grad school during Korea but ended up a clerk at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Since we habitually give veterans and those who sacrificed themselves for us their honorable due, we’ve not excessively observed Memorial Day beyond some discussions when I was young about the purpose & meaning of the holiday, and how to be respectful.
So for me Memorial Day is the symbolic beginning of summer. When I was young it was a long weekend spent on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, boating and fooling around in the warm weather. Now that I’m older and work in an industry not known for having holidays off, today is just another work day, with less rush hour traffic.
I spent the weekend doing work around the home, even in the driving rain (rather enjoyable actually). The place is starting to come together.
Maybe I can sum up Memorial Day for me as being the day when you reflect upon and appreciate the life you have, constructed upon in some part on the deeds and sacrifices of others who served our country. So by living that life, helping others, and moving forward we reward the efforts of our veterans and the fallen.
Cheese was rolled, mad people ran/cartwheeled/fell down a hill that was far, far steeper than videos had prepared me for- even the spectator area was at about a 45° angle. In the rain. There looked like a few minor breaks and concussions, but I don’t think any really serious injuries.
We got there a little late, so didn’t get a great view, but insane fun was had by most. My legs are now sulking about the walk and the standing on a slippery slope for an hour or so, so the rest of the day shall be taken up with slobbage.
Slobbage is being had here today as well. Happy belated Birthday Rio!
I think it doesn’t matter what you say because no matter what somebody, somewhere is going to be offended.
One person will get mad if you say Merry Christmas because it’s not inclusive of non-Christians, and another person will get upset because you didn’t say Merry Christmas which is what they think the holiday is all about.
And maybe Memorial Day shouldn’t be about cook-outs and mattress sales, but there are plenty of people who think Christmas shouldn’t be so commercialized.
Somebody else is going to be offended by Happy Halloween because they think it’s a pagan holiday and it offends their religious sensibilities.
Columbus Day will surely be next, closely followed by Thanksgiving.
I think New Years Day may be safe, although somebody, somewhere, at some time will surely complain about it being a western holiday that follows the western calendar and is not inclusive of those who don’t.
However, I think it is safe to say the 4th of July is cool, because the Brits, who could find it offensive, won’t.
No matter what it is, a holiday, a greeting, white women selling tacos, an Uber driver with a bobblehead, a Thomas Jefferson quote, white women wearing hoop earrings, or Trump written in chalk, somebody somewhere is going to be offended.
And they are going to complain, loud and proud, all over the internet.
All I can say is, if all it takes is a greeting to offend somebody, then they need to sit back and give thanks for a life that can be so easily disrupted.
Because there are people out there who are homeless, or hungry, or are caring for a dying relative, or are dying themselves, or have difficult children, or are suffering abuse at the hands of loved one, or live in war zones. They are the people we need to be concerned about.
Psst, Sari, Columbus Day went a long time ago.
Let’s see, my memories. My grandfather worked in WWII as an engineer at the Boeing aircraft plant. I always got the sense he was ashamed of that. I also always thought that someone, somewhere thought he was doing more good working on designing planes than in fighting in the war.
My aunt’s father was killed at Pearl Harbor, while she was an infant. She grew up without a father and hating the Japanese. It wasn’t until my cousins were grown and off to college that they started having anything made in Japan in the house. It’s funny. She always seemed so gentle and kind to me, but she had a will of steel. I remember feeling glad when she was able to forgive a little. It seemed harmful to me to carry that much hate for so long.
I remember standing in France and seeing the enormous graveyard from WW II of the Allied dead. It’s over-whelming. So many gone, to stop the ambitions of one man. I still have the pictures, from 30 years ago.
I think I’ll talk to my kids about this today. My husband’s a Quaker (actual Quaker) and military talk is confounding to him. I think it’s important to remember the fallen. Whether we agree with the actions of the government is separate from that, which is what I’ll tell him if he questions me.
Yesdterday, we saw the latest Pirates movie, which seemed like a re-make of the first one. IOW, not original, but not a terrible way to spend time with a/c and popcorn. Then we went for a walk in a bird sanctuary. As expected this kicked off a really nasty headache for me, but after a not-so-fun night, today is ok so far. I will cautiously explore further short walks. 
Today shall be laundry, some chores, and homework with 'Beamer (oh, the fun - it’s like taking an unwilling cat to the vet).
Did we find out who’s going to play the Preds yet?
Happy Birthday Rio!!!
sari, that’s why my traditional holiday greeting is “Good day to you.” If they protest, then I get to reply with “I SAID GOOD DAY!” 
I didn’t go to the graveyard today. Instead I went for a walk at Treacherous Park (so named because the long walking path tends to flood and the city PTB haven’t had a chance to scrape the sand and river mud off yet). Came home, stood next to the yard door, immediately gained two :eek:ticks:eek:, screamed, and will never trust that door again. Had lunch al fresco on the porch, read a dirty Greek comedy under the hemlocks which was appropriate because Socrateswas a character in the play.
I’m trying a new recipe - a strawberry pound cake. If it’s any good, I’ll post a link. It’s smelling good, so yay!
In a bit, I’ll put the meatloaf in the oven - we didn’t want it yesterday, so we’ll have it today. Still gotta decide the sides.
The sun came out - huzzah!! And my long, long weekend is winding down, alas…
One more soldier I’d like to mention on this Memorial Day: Rick John Best was killed on a train in Portland this last week after intervening to stop a man who was threatening two teenage girls. He had served 23 years in the Army before retiring. May we all have the courage to do the right thing when the time comes. Rest in Peace Mr. Best and my condolences to your family.
When i was small, memorial day was never anything to do with parties or cook outs or such.
I would go with my grand mother to several local small and mostly forgotten veterans cemeteries in the area.
Perhaps you have some now tucked behind some shopping mall or something where you live
Every soldiers stone got cleaned and weeds pulled and every one got a little flower.
This took the better part of the day. We knew none of these people, but for this day they were family come to visit.
Then we would go home, and out would come the photo albums than would explain to me why i did not have the uncles and cousins etc that most other kids i knew did.
Faces or people i’ve never met or known, all smiling and looking sharp in their doughboy uniforms ready to ship out, all but one who will not be allowed to go because he suffers from what is probably emphysema, He is the oldest.
All probably thinking they will be home by next planting season, but none will be, except George who has the lucky misfortune of a lung ailment.
It seems almost unreal for a family to send all its boys off to war and not have even one return.
4 Boys had already become married and had children though, there were 4 sons and 2 daughters.
One daughter would die of polio, one would die of TB.
Of the 4 sons, 3 would remain with the family farms, one wanted to become an engineer.
Then comes another photo album 20 years into the future.
There are 3 strapping young men in work clothes sitting on a vintage tractor and one young man wearing eye glasses and dress clothes sitting on the tractor with them.
The engineer has come home from Tulane with degrees in both Electrical and Mechanical engineering, he has been recruited by Westinghouse.
The 3 strapping young men have yet to get to the business of finding wives, the engineer though has a young son, it will be the only child he has.
He has ideas of better easier more profitable farm operation through engineering, he will never get to work them out.
Japan will attack Pearl Harbor, and once again an immigrant family who is only now 1 generation american born will send her sons in faithful service of the country that has adopted them as it’s own.
3 sons will go to combat, the engineer will not be allowed, America needs him elsewhere, his draft number will be pulled 3 times but he will not be released to go.
But a price will be paid for the 3 deferrals even though they are not of his choosing.
3 more of the families sons will be lost.
They are immortalized in antique black and while photos proudly wearing their army uniforms standing by the same antique tractor.
The engineer is my grandfather, he would outlive my father by some 30 years.
My father would make the sacrifice to duty at age 30 and then fade into memory and photograph along with the rest.
Which is why it my grandmother and i attending to the graves.
My grandfather having fed them his family including his only son can not bear to look upon them.
Which leaves only me left and a bunch of old black and white photos, ghosts of people i mostly never knew, and somehow have never joined.
Not for lack of effort though, i suppose death has just gotten bored with the taste of us, and now i am too old for good eating, but eventually he will have me too, whether he likes it or not. And then our book will close.
So where am i now?
Sitting at work, so other people can have a long holiday week end, have cook outs and parties and such, somewhat ironic as i am the only veteran here.
Strange how a day of remembrance changes to a day for parties and cook outs.
Thank you for sharing that. Wow…
Sprinkled into Boston Harbor just outside of Hull Gut from Dunkies cups?
The whole extended family felt that he would have approved, and laughed his ass off!
His two greatest loves after family were sailing and coffee.
Weiss thanks for sharin’ your story. My father and uncle made it back from WWII but many of their friends didn’t.
Not much happenin’ around here today. My sinuses have been actin’ up so I’ve stayed inside. We et hot dawgs, slaw, and chips for dindin. Watermelon for later if desired. OYKW is gearin’ up to go back to irk tomorrow and I shall return to my regularly scheduled routine of defilthyfyin’ da cave, laundry, etc.
Myself, if it’s someone I don’t really know, I just tell them to have a good day. If it’s someone who I know has lost a loved one, I ask them to tell me about that person.
Happy belated birthday Rio!
Thank you for sharing your story Weisshund.
Growing up, we would go to place flowers and/or small flags on family graves. Later, we would celebrate my mother’s birthday, which was the 31rst.
I don’t get a paid holiday at my irkplace, but I can request PTO. Since both of the others in my position are off and it’s month end, I irked half a day. In the town where I live, we got a Blue Angels jet in Thursday. It is in a hangar at the airport across the street and will go into a memorial at a local park later. It is in memory of Captain Jeff Kuss, a Blue Angel who was killed in a crash landing at our air show last summer. http://wkrg.com/2017/05/25/blue-angels-jet-arrives-in-smyrna-for-capt-jeff-kuss-memorial/ He chose not to eject, but insted guided his plane to a field instead of where the crowds were.
We shall now retire to the boudoir to watch teevee until sleepy time. I am yawnin’ my haid off and barely keepin’ my eyes open.
Nitey Nite Y’all!
I just finished knitting another scarf. What to make next???
Thus endeth my extra-long weekend. Now I’ve got a 3-day work week ahead. Woohoo!!
I wish I could eat supper at swampie’s place. Everytime I read what he’s cookin’ I get hungry. I just had hotdogs, but cooked in the oven.
nobody to cookout with.
A bag to keep it in.