Memorial Day

How often do you actually think about what Memorial Day really stands for? Originally it was celebrated May 30th every year. Now we celebrate it the last Monday in May giving us a long weekend to open up cabins, grill out with friends and family, camp, and more. Yes, we in the United States we are free to do this. I am disappointed that most people won’t show up for parades or for services held at memorials and cemeteries throughout our great country. Growing up in Clare during the 60’s and 70’s, it was a big deal to decorate your bike and ride in the Memorial Day parade. The parade is very small today. The few veterans who are in the parade still ride at the front. The band still plays. The police cars and fire trucks are still at the end. As an adult I make sure I’m sitting on our front porch to watch the parade go by – even as small as it is. The flag always hangs outside our house honoring those who have served and those who didn’t return. I don’t always make services, but living close to the cemetery I can here the familiar gunfire. This year, when you are out celebrating the upcoming summer season, please take the time to remember those who didn’t return. After all, we aren’t the land of the free and the home of the brave because we say so. We’re the land of the free and the home of the brave because of those who fought for our right to say so.

My Daddy’s Shoes

I belong to a group called Weekend Photo Theme Shooters. On Fridays we are given a theme and have the weekend to shoot it. We then share our photos with each other and, since I’m an amateur, give each other tips, etc. We’ve had several themes, but “SHOES” ended up really speaking to me. One Sunday afternoon I went out and shot some amazing photos. When I sat down later to upload my photos I found the only 2 things on the card were two black boxes. So I grab my camera again. This time I decided to shoot the shoes that mean the very most to me – the shoes that belong to my dad. He's always had only this one style of shoe. When he worked in the factory they had steel toes in them. As a little girl I stood on these shoes and we'd dance. While many people can keep their shoes next to their bed, Dad's are always in the same place – sitting next to the coffee table near the chair where he sits every morning to put them on. He has more than one pair and depending on how good they are depends on what they are used for – working outside/painting or for dress. At 86 years old I know he won't be wearing them for many more years, but I'll always love these shoes.