On Memorial Day

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

Today is Memorial Day, the day we honor and mourn the U.S. military men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

It is not, as you may have seen, a day for honoring our veterans (which we do) or those currently serving (which we do).

The first observance of Memorial Day was on May 30, 1869 and was known as Decoration Day. Over the years it became Memorial Day and, since 1971, has been observed on the last Monday of May.

It is not now, nor has it every been, the beginning of summer, not even on the calendar.

Sure it feels that way. Pools and water parks opened this weekend. Lots of outdoor cookouts are taking place. (Not barbecues…barbecue is a food, not an event).

But in the midst of all of that, let us take the time to remember those who died that we may have our freedom.

Our country, and our flag, have received a lot of disrespect in recent months and years.

You won’t find that here. My flag is proudly flying from the front of my house.

I could go on a political rant, but I won’t. Today that would be a disservice to those to whom we owe so much.

So, I’ll merely say, thank you.


 

Now Where Are We Going?

 

I can’t wait to get on the road again. More thoughts from yesterday’s wild ideas.

In keeping with the high school theme from earlier this week, I wanted our graduation theme to be the Theme From Mahogany “Do You Know Where You’re Going To?” But our resident class grammarian insisted we could not end our education with a preposition.

For about the past three months, I’ve been spending my Fridays writing about The Old Man Bucket List Trip (™) that my friend and I took last August. You you can start here and follow through each Friday to read about the entire journey. I haven’t fully decided whether or not this will turn into an actual travel book. It might.

It also might not.

The Canyon Trip was a bucket list item. I can check that one off. But it leads to a new question:

Where do I go next? I mentioned two options yesterday.

Once I’m out of the day job, I want to travel. I’ve been to 39 of 50 states. I need to get on the road…or on the plane if I’m going to make it to Hawaii.

I’d also like to do some international traveling. I was very close to being offered an international Santa job for this season. That didn’t pan out, but I’m still on the list for potential trips elsewhere.

Mugshots
(click the pic)

And, I may have a big trip coming up next year. Details when available and appropriate.

I did a lot of traveling when I was a Meetings and Convention planner in Washington, DC. Lots of cities and hotels wanted me to visit so that I would book a meeting there.

One of my favorite stories is when we moved from Washington DC down to Richmond, I was no longer planning conventions and spending millions of dollars on meetings.

We took our then five-year-old son to the beach for a couple of days and stayed in a typical beach motel. This is a child who, along with his mother, frequently traveled with me and got to stay in luxury hotels.

We walked into a standard hotel room with two double beds. My son said “we can’t stay here, there’s no living room.”

Get used to it.

Back to traveling. I have a list. I want to go. I need to hit the road. The schedule for retiring from the day job and my usual fall and winter activities mean that it’s likely not going to happen until next spring

The road is out there, and I plan to get back on it. I have places to see.

Currently, I’m on the Road to Retirement and I’m enjoying the journey.

That journey ends on September 1.

Please send camping supplies.

It’s the beginning of Memorial Day weekend. Please take a moment (or several) to pause and remember it’s not about a three-day weekend, it’s not about the cookouts it’s not about the pool opening. It’s about remembering the men and women who gave their lives so that we could enjoy those things.

And it’s about the flag. Fly ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. And if you don’t got ‘em, go get one on your way to pick up charcoal.

IN OTHER NEWS

‘Rewarding terrorism will not bring peace’ says Netanyahu after 3 countries recognize ‘Palestine’
All Israel News
“80% of the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria support the terrible massacre of October 7. This evil cannot be given a state,” the prime minister said.

Ilhan Omar: ‘Antisemitism Wouldn’t Be A Problem If We Got Rid Of All The Jews’
The Babylon Bee
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar proposed a radical solution to the nation’s antisemitism problem: getting rid of all the Jews. The plan is already being embraced by leaders of Hamas, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, the government of Iran, and the Democrat party.

Sing for us Diana…


Speaking of Diana. She’s coming to Richmond this fall in case any of you were looking for a way to be a blessing.

Available on Amazon.