YES, I AM STILL HERE peeking out my window on Main Street, and I want to tell you about a short walk I take every Thursday morning.
It’s from the newspaper office; crossing Main Street; and up the shortcut sidewalk to the war memorial monument.
At this spot I stop and make it a point to pick out at least one name from the many names that are blasted into the granite. I speak the name to myself.
They all died in wartime military service for our country — a bullet wound in combat, maybe poison gas, an airplane crash, a torpedoed ship going down.
God bless the memories of all fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen.
I think about the person represented by that name on the monument and I wonder how his family recovered from the loss. I wonder how life would be different even now in our community had these soldiers, sailors and airmen been allowed to live long productive lives.
But I never cease to be grateful that they fought for you and me.
Looking at the names I recognize the husband of a NHS classmate; the father of another.
Monday, Memorial Day, was a time to remember those who died for us. The event at the monument went on despite the earlier rain. It didn’t dampen our need to remember.
In November we’ll salute and thank all who served in uniform in times of war or peace, but on Memorial Day we concentrate on those who died mostly violent and painful deaths in an effort to keep our country safe and free.
What were their last thoughts before going to their Maker?
This Memorial Day I will also think about our President who would’ve been the best soldier ever except for those pesky bone spurs. He wants to be honored by a flashy parade on his birthday. Of course this parade is being ‘spun’ as a celebration of 250 years of the U.S. Army.
I love the Army, but in our hearts, you and I both know that the big military parade is what Dear Leader wants to reflect his own glory.
He’ll finally have a big parade, just like the dictators of Russia, North Korea and the Third Reich.
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THE GOOD EARTH. Some people can smell privit, some can’t. Some people love the taste of cilantro, some hate it.
It’s taken Daughter Julie and me many many years to learn that Mimosa blossoms do have a scent. It’s one of those things like cilantro. Some humans’ olfactory receptors do not recognize mimosa.
Mimosa blossoms apparently have a smell sorta like honey.
I wouldn’t know.
I’m still trying to understand why asparagus makes my pee smell like asparagus.
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CONGRATULATIONS to all area high school and college grads. Now thank the ones that made it possible for you to reach this milestone.
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ANIMAL CRACKERS. The fancy bluebird box has hung at the same spot on the fence for at least seven or eight years. It has never had bluebird occupants. My daughter Julie gave me that box, and she painted it.
Even though it looks so enticing it has remained empty year after year.
Had some stinging bugs one year. I think they were wasps or hornets. I stayed away when they were buzzing around the small round entrance.
But this year it finally has bluebirds.
Mom and Pop take turns bringing delicious juicy morsels to whatever is inside
Well, they’d bring delicious juicy morsels if that durned mockingbird stopped divebombing long enough for Mom and Pop Bluebird to get safely through to those hungry chicks.
Why does that mockingbird harass the bluebirds?
Must be something in its nature.
I DID notice that in the heavy rain of early Monday morning — as I sat under patio cover sipping coffee and counting blessings — there were regular streaks of blue darting to that bluebird house.
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OKAY, I COULDN’T RESIST.
Anyone else uneasy by the President accepting a new Air Force One from a foreign nation? We’ll have to check for listening and tracking devices. It’s nice to save money, but what will we owe Qatar in return?
Of course, 45-47 has announced that the billion$ aircraft will be used as Air Force 1 until he is out of office.
Then, 45-47 says the aircraft will be his.
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MORE THINGS I LEARNED from the Universal Classroom of Life: “If only Noah had swatted those houseflies when he had the chance.”
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WORD GAMES. Distant relations: More or Less. Admit that you use them pretty often. Even more or less daily.
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HE SAID: “One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace, good people don’t go into government.” Donald Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States of America
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SHE SAID: “When it comes to social media, there are just times I turn off the world, you know. There are just some times you have to give yourself space to be quiet, which means you’ve got to set those phones down.“ Michelle Obama, First Lady
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SWEET DREAMS, Baby
