For Spitler (Spanky), Hartegen (Rope Man) and Fuergeson (The Sweede).
Please take a moment this day, to stop and reflect on what a great opportunity you have to live in a country such as this, to be able to live the life you are living. Take time to think about the many who gave so much that you might enjoy what you have.
And I would like to thank you sir, for your courage and service to our nation too, while we’re at it.
Freedom Is Not Free; in fact, it has one of the very highest price tags on it, that we’ll ever know. But thank God for the priceless men and women through the years who had the heart and mind to pay that price for the rest of us.
Comment by localmalcontent — May 25, 2008 @ 9:18 PM
Don, I will certainly do just that. I can assure you that my day tomorrow will feature, as it has been all this weekend, my thoughts on those who have (and those who still) serve this great country of ours. That includes you buddy!
Brother John
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania USA
Comment by Brother John — May 25, 2008 @ 10:24 PM
Remembered always.
I’m in the UK, but it’s just as important to remember.
Comment by Author — May 26, 2008 @ 3:14 AM
[1] I have to admit, my service to the country was for the most part “required” we had the draft then, and Viet Nam, so it wasn’t patriotism that drove me to it, but rather, a choice, get drafted or enlist. I chose the later.
It is four years of my life I would not do over for any amount of money, and it is four years that I would not trade for anything.
This country would be a lot better if like Israel and others, some kind of service was required of the youth.
“War is cruelty. There’s no use trying to reform it, the crueler it is the sooner it will be over.” William Tecumseh Sherman
[2] Nice to have a day off huh John, time for the family, the important things in life. We are so fortunate y’know it? I said I was going to lay back and take it easy, for the most part, I did a little of that, but I also did some house cleaning on the computer and wrote one piece to go up later on today.
[3] Man, that picture on your site this morning girl, it mesmerized me, captivated me, it filled my spirit with longing. The only thing that I did not agree with was the smoke, she could have done without the smoke.
You are an interesting lady, never know what I am going to find when I trot myself over there to take a peek. Thanks for stoppin by.
Have a wonderful holiday ….
DS
Comment by Don Smith — May 26, 2008 @ 5:54 AM
Funnily, I agree about the smoke! I noticed it straight away too.
I have never smoked in my life – not even one cigarette. But I suspect Vettriano smokes as many of his paintings have smokers in them.
Comment by Author — May 27, 2008 @ 1:58 AM
[5] I smoked for almost 33 years, three packs a day towards the end. Then one day I realized that they were trying to kill me, and I stopped.
It was not easy, I had to “try and quit five times” before I finally made it. I did it cold turkey, nothing, no gum, candy, just stopped. It was a real booger, but I made it, I understand later on that only 11% of the people who stop in this fashion, actually make it.
They always made it sound so glamourous, “on the desk a limp cigarette smoldered in a brass tray filled with the remains of limp cigarettes. Ragged grey flakes of cigarette ash dotted the yellow top of the desk and the green blotter and the papers that were there. A buff curtained window, eight or ten inches open, let in from the court a current of air faintly scented with the smells of the city. The ashes on the desk twitched and crawled in the current.”
They never talked about the ash getting in your eyes, the shirts with the holes in them, the dank smell smoking leaves on you and your home, the cough that never seemed to go away. And of course the ultimate payback or reward …….. lung cancer and death.
Guess that wasn’t romantic huh?
Glad I stopped, if you are smoking, anyone who happens across this, stop, stop today. Give yourself the gift of life.
Have a good one, oh yeah, I will go to McDonalds’ I aint gonna eat Chinese food like that …… No way. I found myself wondering “Where do they get the water?”
If anyone is wondering? Click on Author (to the right) Free Chinese Food for the brave.
It’s a trip four sure
Comment by Don Smith — May 27, 2008 @ 8:33 AM
Don, I wanted to stop in yesterday and thank you for your service to our country. But, made a promise to stay off the darn internet for the weekend.
So, today I will offer up my gratitude. Your sacrifice will forever mean a great deal to me. (((HUGZ)))
And to Joseph, Daryl, and John… We will NEVER FORGET.
Comment by betme — May 27, 2008 @ 9:19 AM
[7] I am so glad you stopped by this morning, and good for you! I admire someone who has “discipline” and can stick to an agenda.
It is not often easy, eh?
Now you guys are starting to make me just a tad bit uncomfortable. I mean, jeeze, I just enlisted and did my four years, and that was it. It was not a big sacrifice, the one’s that sacrificed didn’t come home, they are the one’s we should be thanking …
What an exciting time to be alive, the sixties, so much change, so much turmoil, adventure, it was all there. And I feel so fortunate to have been a small part of all of that. What a blessing that was.
I think about my Dad, on an aircraft carrier in WWII and it got shot out from under him (same thing happened to me, talk about co-incidence?). My uncle who was a waist gunner on B-17′s out of Siapan and flew over Tokyo. My next door neighbor, p-38 pilot or P-51, who was shot down over Italy and broke his leg when he bailed out and hit the water.
These are the guys I think about. Those guys and all my buddies that came home dressed in the flag.
It is a special day for me, and will always be that kind of day, as long as I am breathing.
DS
Comment by Don Smith — May 27, 2008 @ 9:56 AM