Memorial Day 2020

As a history buff, I have always had a fascination with cemeteries.  Each stone memorializes a person or persons who had lived.

The words I type can not express my emphasis on the word “lived”.  I mean that in every essence of the word.  These people, who lived in another dimension in time, had emotions like us and may or may not have lived their life to the fullest.

I have always loved cemeteries.

Apparently so does my daughter.  I mean, her father does live in one now.

She jumps up and down with excitement when it’s time to go visit a cemetery.  I am not alarmed, she is a smart child and she has had to face things that many adults have never had to face.

But in her young life, she has also helped her grandfather place flags on Veterans graves every memorial day.

This was my daughter last year placing flags on graves with her grandfather.

And last year we got to attend the parade.

This year was different because of a certain virus.

My daughter did place flags with her grandfather.  If I heard my father correctly, they visited 9 cemeteries.

There were some family cemeteries.  This is Higgins Cemetery where we placed a flag on a grave of a Civil War Veteran.

We visited an old forgotten family cemetery in the woods.  The owner of the land was going to clear the land and found the graves.   The owner did some research and found that one of the graves belonged to a Civil War Veteran. The owner contacted the VFW and the grave was rededicated.

And we visited a grave of a Civil War Veteran that was in the woods behind a subdivision.

Today there was no parade but my father and his fellow comrades still held a few small memorials (while recording LIVE by drone on Facebook).

Because they will never forget.

My daughter did get to say the Pledge of Allegiance at two of the Memorials.  She was so excited to participate. She can tell you why we are gathering which I think is impressive for a 5 year old.   Though she had trouble staying focused during the reading of General John A. Logan’s Memorial Day Order.  Hopefully that will come with age.

How was your Memorial Day?  Were you able to participate?

150cyd

Good Vibrations Gratitude Friday #44

Today is Friday!  You know what that means. Time for some good vibrations gratitude.

 

I am inviting you join me on Good Vibration Gratitude Fridays!

Exciting, right?

You are probably wondering how you get in on the action.

It’s easy! If you are grateful for something, please either comment below or share a pic of what you are grateful for on Instagram with the hashtag #goodvibrationsgratitude

Also feel free to follow me on Instragram at @kerrymckim

I am getting used to this new Gutenberg editor in WordPress.  I liked it when creating my last post but it is pissing me off while writing this post.  And for the love of all that is Holy, I can’t figure out how to name my own permalink.  I had to go back to Classic Editor.  Not cool, WordPress. 

Those of you on WordPress- what do you think?  

Here are 5 things I am grateful for this week?

1. President George H.W. Bush

There is nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said by people far more distinguished than me.  I am just happy I got to experience George H.W. Bush as my president.  He represented an America that I am not sure even exists anymore.  

People can say what they want about the Bush’s and their relationship with the Clintons and the Obamas but I think it is a great reminder that we are all people.  

My heart broke for President George W. Bush during his eulogy.

And I was in awe when Senator Bob Dole took every ounce of strength he had to salute the President. 

It really is the end of an era.

2. Last Weekend in Maine

I am not going to delve too deeply into the past weekend since I wrote about it (and my unsuccessful search for my Christmas Hallmark Man) here.  But it was good to be home.

My next four things (I added a bonus) are all related to being sick. My daughter brought home a nasty cold from school and I have caught it.  Last night I went to bed at 7:30pm which is very unusual as I am usually awake until 1am or 2am. I do feel like I am on the mend but I will be taking it easy for the next week or two. 

3. Elderberry Syrup

4. Himayalan Salt Inhalor

5. Vick’s Vapor Rub

6. Sleep

What are you grateful for this week?