Memorial Day

My granddaughter Hope "planted" these flags next to her yellow flowers for Memorial Day.

Joining Forces has links to many ways we can help military men and women and their families.

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.

Jose Narosky

Wordzzle - and the long weekend.

I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend. I’m not much for official celebrations; they always seem so forced, so insincere and under this current stifling administration they seem outright obscene. Yet another opportunity for Bush and his boys (and Condi) to self-promote while trying to pave the way for McSame.

I’ve mentioned before that I do some volunteer work at a local VFW Post. Where actual soldiers with real stories gather. I do this because Nana would have been proud, one of her few complaints about life was that older folks are so easily forgotten. When I first went to the VFW I was a bit worried that my political leanings and my refusal to be quiet about them would be a problem. It’s not that I carry a soapbox with me, it’s just that when someone asks me a question I honestly answer it.

Well I underestimated my buddies. They love that I keep coming back, that I clearly, genuinely respect them and that I put my actions where my mouth is.

I’ve even seen a few Obama bumper stickers in the parking lot. And I was told they all voted strictly Republican. Oh and yes, I was the one who left the Obama bumper stickers in the lobby.

So - do something for a soldier. Buy them breakfast if you see them in a local diner. Honk the horn and wave – flash a peace sign even – if you pass them on the street. Stop by a VFW BBQ or open house – you will meet living legends.

My greatest hope for this and every Memorial Day is that we will find leaders who value our young men and women. Value them enough to not use them as pawns in a deadly game.

OK – I’m off my soapbox and I have folded away my podium.

On to Wordzzle…Drop by Raven’s Nest and take a peek at the other entries.

Ten Word Challenge: flamingo, monster trucks, Darth Vader, cucumbers, sugar-free, banking, determinate, thurible, sarcasm, drums

Sol was questioning his rebellious career path as he walked out into the center of the arena with his mother’s sarcasm still ringing in his ears – “You could have been a doctor, an accountant, even banking would have been okay. This is just craziness! What grown man dresses up like Darth Vader and …?” Mercifully the sound of the drums drowned out Mom’s voice and Sol followed the flamingo dancers into the spotlight. He hoped his sugar-free Tums would take effect soon; the smoke wafting from the thuribles the dancers carried was making him gag and the cucumbers from his salad were repeating on him; there was but a small determinate number of times that he could gulp back the bile. “Oy Vey!” his mind screamed as the monster trucks revved their engines.

And for the Mini Challenge: procrastinate, memory lane, alley cat, argument, Florida

Katherine Harris sat in the make-up room at ‘The Daily Show’ taking her own private hellacious trip down memory lane. She had procrastinated as long as possible and had finally lost the argument with her book publisher; she must appear on the show. She glanced in the mirror and was dismayed that she looked more like a matronly woman than she did a whorish alley cat and longed to be home in Florida.