three day weekend

In light of this past weekend's event of the loss of my mother I wanted to offer a couple thoughts about today's holiday, Memorial Day.

Even though my mom wasn't a soldier who gave all she was the traveling, pregnant wife of an active soldier in the Vietnam War. I was born in an army hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and remained in Germany with her for two months until we both came home. After 40 years, I recognize now that my mom gave birth to me, her firstborn, and she wasn't surrounded by or visited by any friends or family for two months. There is some measure of sacrifice here and I'm including it in today's holiday festivities. If this is something I should've brought up this upcoming Veteran's Day, sue me. My next thought...

Freedom isn't free... somebody paid. And that somebody might've been your neighbor or your relative or a father of three or a mother of four or the Homecoming Queen or the high school track star or an NFL player or an inner city youth or a country bumpkin. Or it may have simply been your son, daughter, father or mother.

A simple definition of the word sacrifice is forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim. The strength to lead, give or take and then execute a fateful order where the outcome knowingly is not good is something I can't fathom. For whatever reasons that led them to their decisions to serve I am sure they didn't plan on dying but knew it was a possibilty. It's a shame there is only one day on the calendar for these brave people.

I hope you join me this week in honoring and thanking the fallen who provided or defended our liberties and paid the ultimate price for what we enjoy and mostly take for granted. These heroes sacrificed their own posterity so we can live on in freedom.

she out-swam the boys in high school

Mom, your kids turned out alright and we will be fine going forward. Your pain and suffering is now gone so please rest in peace and don't worry about a thing. We will take care of everything. I will celebrate your life every time I jump in a pool or stand on a beach. Thanks for your gifts of athleticism and work ethic. Thanks for taking over my newspaper route when I was 12 and I was blowing all my earnings at the 7-11 arcade. Thanks for life lessons learned; intentional or not. Thank you for the gifts of Mark and Laura and everything you've ever done for us. Thanks for letting me win when we played Candyland and the MatchBox cars in my stocking at Christmas. And, last but not least, thanks for telling me I was good-looking at my wedding.

Linda May
Mom and Grandmom
9/13/1948 - 5/21/2009

the grass is definitely green(er)

It's hard to believe but Eric has completed his first year of pre-school. On his own for three hours a day twice a week really helped him grow into a fine young man. I could go on and on about all areas of his advancement but I will just say that Sue and I couldn't be prouder. Another stellar report card sealed the deal for a trip to the Lehigh Valley Zoo with friends.

In other news, my mom had brain surgery to remove a tumor that had developed there during her bout with lung cancer. The thumbnail sized tumor was completely removed and she was released from the hospital after a four-day stay. She is continuing radiation and her doctor says she will be cancer free before too long. At sixty years-old, we hope she can get back to her normal life and enjoy all it has to offer.