Grandchildren

Did my children ever build Legos like this?
Did they ask a thousand questions about how a bird makes the nest?
Were they triple secured in car seats as we plunged down the road?
Did they worry that the bug on the door will get inside?
Time with a grandchild is priceless.

Musings of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is coming.
I worked on a presentation for the Smithsonian on African American military members using paintings from the American Art Gallery. The presentation was not entirely used because the Smithsonian does not like Wikapedia. The article I used was written by one of the foremost writers on Buffalo Soldiers. He could not get his book published, so he resorted to Wikipedia.
But I digress.
What brave men the African American soldiers were- fighting against the enemy outside and inside the country.

This is another one that I used. A pen and ink from World War I. Did you know that the French would serve African Americans, but the US mess soldiers would not?

Here is my father in law at the beginning of WWII. He did not become a pilot- got air sick. He became a mechanic on the Anolea Gay. I'd show you a picture of my brother in law, but we don't have one of him in uniform. He was a crew chief gunner in the worst part of Vietnam. He returned twice- my sister in law said it was out of guilt of leaving others behind.

Both men are gone now, but their life memories are strong for me.

My son now flies helicopters and my nephew is an F-16 pilot. They are men who followed in the air prints of their grandfather and uncle.

I'd like to show you another  picture. Neil Hyland.
Neil was a crazy man. He went to Notre Dame, graduated near the top in his class, went to seminary, and then joined the Army. I last saw him on a Metro. I was standing at a station with my class of 8th graders visiting DC. There he was. He laughed when we saw each other- remembering our long hours of playing RISK while he and my husband went to advanced course. He left us on 9/11 serving at the Pentagon.

Soldiering was not really a career tasking in our family until my husband. My grandfather served with the big guns in WWI and then came home. My father served in Hawaii at the end of WWII and then went to college.  My daughter joined the AirForce and my son in law the Marines. Both served and got out to start a different life of service.
My husband was a career man- after Vietnam and nine years of college.

I know I am early, but I will be pretty quiet the next few days. Going out to help my daughter find a place to live. And this Memorial Day I will be walking in Arlington. I'll touch a flag for you.

Who will your remember?

Forgot the camera?

We drove to Nebraska and met up with my husband's niece. Of course she is mine as well.
This kiddo has been through loads, but had a relaxed way about her. Her children and husband were also relaxed and just ...happy. What a delight.
They moved to a western Nebraska town for a good job
And the opportunity for my niece to be home with their three (almost four) kids.
Just a delight.
It is good to see that even with all of the complaining and nashing of teeth
Life in America continues to move forward in the lives of those who believ
That a good family and a strong will to work
Anything is possible in the United States.

House shopping from afar

We haven't gone house shopping for seven years.  My daughter and her husband are in the market. Finally settled enough with a job that a house is the next step in stability.
It is a bit nerve racking.
I ask all those questions that they don't really think about.
Then again, I am the one paying property taxes and not getting a write off....
Questions. some of my questions are normal- others are...well something a retiree thinks about.
Are the taxes in the area likely to go up suddenly?
What is the chance that crime will quickly move into the neighborhood?
Does it seem that the neighbors are out in the yards, caring for the gardens?
What are the schools like? Not just the elementary schools, but the middle and high schools?
Do you think the local economy will stabilize if something happens to the administration and the country goes full tilt austerity? How about full tilt spend until we drop? (They are in Maryland and it seems the latter is more likely than the former for them.)
Can you fit al of your stuff in a house without a garage?
How can you live without a garage ---lol?
Lead paint? Copper pipes? Good wiring?
I love my kids to pieces. I just wish there were some real jobs in my area so they could just---come home!

Certainly not the best

but they are up :>)

We were the visitors today

One of the reasons we are in Kansas is to live by the lake.
Unfortunately, for the last three years the lake is often closed
-blue green algae
- zebra mussels
-high water.

Today we got out.
Surprisingly the boat still works!
Along the way we noticed that the two Great Northern Herons have grown into a small flock.
They watch boats closely, because they love to pick up the freshly killed fish that we have to throw back because they are too small.  They got a sun fish from us today.
We were the visitors today!

Today's visitor

Staring at the hole
Suddenly comes

a toad.

Did it come out of the hole?
I don't know.

Mother's Day 2012

Illness

Illness
Slows you down
and makes you think
Are those birds making so much noise?

Did we really see scenes like this in central China?

Was the moon THAT bright last night?

Was our visit to Vietnam really in this lifetime?

Has this squirrel always lived in these bushes?