What Memorial Day means to some…

By now we all know what Memorial Day means. But, as a veteran, it means more.

It means there are friends and comrades who are with our Lord now. It means there are wives and children who cry each day for their lost father or mother.

It means’s going to graves and talking to the dead about the old days, the times of the greatest commodity one will ever know. The good times, and the bad times. The ugliness of human nature, and the best of human nature. Sitting on a bench and shedding tears for the dead.

Memorial Day means finding the balance of telling my son when he asks how the Army truly is, without glorifying it, while also trying to not make a mystique about it. Trying to decide if it is right for him or not right for him then realizing when he is a man he will make his own choice about it.

It means tears over what was and what is, that time served to effect change did not do so, that lessons learned need to be learned yet again.

It means visiting the only one who can understand, my brother, and not ever talking about it, but being with one another and simply being. Knowing what each is thinking yet not knowing exactly but sharing the experience of life and death, and shedding silent tears.

Memorial day means different things to many people and to some it simply means another Holiday. But that is good in itself it means veterans did their job. They spent their Holidays in combat so that others can spend the day freely as they choose.

I smile when I see people celebrating the day as they see fit, I don’t get upset if they don’t understand the meaning of the day. It warms my heart to see children playing and picnickers picnicking and all the other fun activities. It means I did not spend my time in vain, it means the time I spent and the things I did gave them this right.

Celebrate life, enjoy the Holiday and know that there are still people out there in the periphery keeping you safe.

I am a sexist!

Yes, that’s me. At least that is what I was called the other day.

Recently I was called to an office to look into a technical issue with a computer system. This office is all women; they type on keyboards all day long, data entry. As I moved towards the area I needed to go to, there was a tight passageway one person at a time could squeeze through there to get around to the back area.

One of the ladies was coming out of the area, so I stepped back and allowed her to pass first. Two reasons, mainly because allowing a woman to pass first is the right thing to do, and because the area was small it would be easier for me to crawl around on the floor looking for wires without another body there.

After she passed, she turned to me and told me point blank " you know, you are a sexist"! I told her in days gone by that same act was called chivalry. She looked at me and shook her head and walked away.

What did I miss there? Women want respect from men, but when they get they beat us with it. Then they wonder where has the respect gone, and why aren’t men nice to them anymore. I will continue to be chivalrous regardless of her comment though in a work place she could possibly file a sexual misconduct claim. That would make my life miserable at work not to mention possibly get me fired these days.

So, in an age where chivalry is considered deviant, what is a man to do?

Jars of Clay, and Blood Water Mission

last night a friend invited me to see the Christian Band "Jars of Clay". I hear them on the radio and know their music but have never been to one of their concerts.

The concert was nice, they weren’t too loud for these aging ears. It was a sold out show, seating about 800 or so at one of the local Community Churches.

During the show, then again after the show, they showed a clip, and talked about a mission they are involved in. Blood Water Missions

The organization looks promising, and is providing clean water, and blood to Africa. Clean water for life, and clean blood to help stem the HIV Virus threat. I was quite impressed with the bands promotion of it, and their hearts desire to make this mission work.

Drop over to Blood Water Missions and see if you can help.