MEMORIAL DAY

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE



The STORY BEHIND the Song "TAPS"

We have all heard the haunting song, "Taps." It's the song

that gives us that lump in our throats and usually creates tears

in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song?

If not, I think you will be pleased to find out about it's

humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when

Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near

Harrison's Landing in Virginia.

The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow

strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard

moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.

Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier,

the Captain decided to risk his life and bring

the stricken man back for medical attention.

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain

reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his

encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines,

he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the

soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly

caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light,

he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had

been studying music in the South when the war broke out.

Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate

Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked

permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial

despite his enemy status.

His request was only partially granted. The Captain had

asked if he could have a group of Army band members

play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request

was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.

But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could

give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler.

He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he

had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead

youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps"

used at military funerals, was born.

ABOUT KELLY'S BIRTHDAY

Here is my excuse for forgetting my daughter's birthday. I thought the 21st was today (Friday) so.... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Kelly, Happy birthday to you. This is late but my intentions were good!

ABOUT THOSE CRUTCHES

I went to get the results of my MRI on my knee. I have severe osteoauthritis and a torn miniscus (think football injury) in that knee. The doctor gave me a choice. I can either have orthroscopic surgery with the chance in won't help or a knee replacement. Big choice. I'm right now thinking Orthoscopic surgery - It's worth the gamble. He said he would opt of the chance of orthoscopic surgery working and gave it slightly more than a 70 percent chance. He is not thrilled with the odds. He described a knee replacement as and "in-body amputation" which scared the heck out of me. The knee replacement surgery sounds brutal and the recovery not fun.

So, If anyone has any input into my decision that might be helpful please let me know.

Mother's Day

I was thinking about all the Mothers currently in my life and how much I love each of them. I was also thinking about their unique personalities and how much they each add to my life.

Holly is such a good mother, enjoying Deana at each stage of her life and allowing her the freedom to make most of her own decisions. It's a joy to watch the metamorphosis of both Holly and Deana. She makes me laugh and she has taught me so much about love and growth.

Kelly, so full of wonderful surprises, openly facing any challenge and making such good decisions for her children. I miss her so much now. She makes me laugh and has taught me so much about love and seeing the meaning in things.
Megan, full of humor and energy and self confidence, has a talent for mothering and is possibly the most "fair" mother I have ever seen. The right kid gets the right consequence - amazing! She has taught me so much about love and family values.

And of course there is my own mother and her mother who taught me all they had to teach and allowed me to use that knowledge however I would.

I found this article by David M. Abromowitz in the Huffington Post today. I liked it because I too have never liked Mother's day much either. I usually end up nostalgic and tearful at least once during the day.

A Mother's Day for a Mom Who Never Liked Mother's Day

My mother never particularly liked Mother's Day. The sentiment always struck her as unctuous, akin to the scriptural passages frequently read at women's funerals: "A woman of valor who can find? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain. She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life." Mom made us swear no one would read it at her funeral.

Not that she ever would have identified herself as unhappy with motherhood or honoring mothers. Born in 1919 and predisposed to voting Republican, she was uncomfortable with early feminism of the 1960s.

But had she known of Julia Ward Howe's early effort at establishing a Mother's Day through her 1870 "Appeal to Womanhood Throughout the World", my Nixon-supporting-turned-Another-Mother-For-Peace mother would have signed up. These words of Howe's would have been right up her alley: "Arise, all women who have hearts whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country, to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

A child of the Depression, Mom must have thought the 1934 sentiments of Franklin Roosevelt's Mother's Day Proclamation made sense as well: "Whereas [Congress has declared that] there are throughout our land today an unprecedentedly large number of mothers and dependent children who, because of unemployment or loss of their bread-earners, are lacking many of the necessities of life," President Roosevelt called on Americans to show love and reverence for motherhood by "doing all that we can through our churches, fraternal and welfare agencies for the relief and welfare of mothers and children who may be in need of the necessities of life."

Since my mother passed away in the early 1990's, there is no way to know what she would make of Barack Obama. But this year's presidential Mother's Day proclamation would have resonated with a woman who co-owned a department store, helped build a synagogue, organized newspaper recycling drives before there was Earth Day, and yet was still expected to deal with all things related to children and food in the household.

"Women often work long hours at demanding jobs and then return home to a household with myriad demands," proclaimed President Obama. "Balancing work and family is no easy task, but mothers across our Nation meet this challenge each day, often without recognition for their hard work and dedication. The strength and conviction of all mothers--including those who work inside and outside the home--are inspiring. They deserve our deepest respect, admiration, and appreciation."

I wish my mother had lived to hear this sort of unsentimental but real respect and acknowledgment of what she (and millions of women for decades) endured and accomplished as a mother, and what so many other mothers accomplish every day. That's a Mother's Day that Mom would have liked.

Bradyn;s church outfit

This hilarious picture of my grandson, Braydn, was taken before church. My wonderful daughter-in-law said he got it half right with the shirt, vest and tie. She allowed him to wear what he had chosen to church. Her reasoning was it wasn't a battle she wanted to fight and who cared anyway. Yea Megan! There should be more parents like you.

Delaney and Austin ran in a mini marathon the other day. Kelly said they got shirts and medals for their participation.

Deana's friend who is a boy - I can't bring myself to say her "boyfriend" - is having surgery this week to repair damage done when a coach at school made him continue to run after having pain. Sometimes I wonder about the coach/sports mentality. Now the kid walks with a cane. I hope the surgery is successful.

I'm still on crutches. Now both knees are painful. This is getting really tedious.

THIS AND THAT

I had the opportunity to hear Deana sing in church today. She did a wonderful job. She sounded confident and hit all the notes. Trudy, her other grandmother, sat with me and we both were as proud as we could be.

I haven't been to a protestant church in years and it was an eye opener. The church itself was beutiful. The youth minister had on jeans and a western shirt. There were drums, a two guitars, a piano and a trumpet. The music was nothing I was familiar with, and the sermon was an explanation of a few verses from the book of John. Not at all what I've been accustomed to in the past but really nice.


Holly couldn't go hear Deana because she started back to work today. After being fired from Disney she was rehired. I have to say Mickey's employer is screwed up! I am shocked at the underhanded tactics, dishonesty, and unethical managerial behaviors Holly was subjected to. I've respected Disney till now - another icon bites the dust.

HAPPY KEESTER

A friend sent me this and I thought it was cute. Hope it doesn't offend anyone's sensibilities.



ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE
I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket
Walk softly and carry a big carrot
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears
There's no such thing as too much candy
All work and no play can make you a basket case
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day
Some body parts should be floppy
Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans
Good things come in small sugarcoated packages
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare
To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.