For us, Memorial Weekend is considered the official start to our summer. Whether we are ready or not, whether it has been hot or cold, the community around us changes and begins three months of a seasonal way of life. Summer residents return, docks and boats are back in the water, lawns are green and require mowing, restaurant hours lengthen, and the highways and roads become way too inefficient for handling the amount of traffic that is present. It is unbelievable how many cars can be on the road at any given time. At first as the summer begins, it can be an exciting time. Then before long, we find ourselves avoiding being on the roads at all and by August we find ourselves impatiently waiting for Labor Day weekend to come when we get our community back again. It is a great money making time for businesses but it is a trying time when trying to carry on with normal life. I find myself avoiding going to town unless I can go early in the morning. Nevertheless it is here and we are ready for summer to begin.
Memorial weekend, like some of the other holidays, brings a bit of uncertainty for me. I remember Mom and Dad almost always planned a cookout or something that involved getting together with someone, whether it was family or friends. To some degree, I feel like I should do the same. I would love to have a cookout every time there is reason to do so but I don’t always have the time I’d like to have to prepare. I feel some obligation to have a cookout because I assume Dad would still like to be part of it. He and his wife are no longer of an age that they can easily entertain and I don’t blame them. They are both in their mid 80’s! This year, the weather forecast doesn’t look conducive to having a cookout so I’m not sure if we will be able to do it or not. I’m not really looking for more to do since the days of planning the family wedding are flying by. We will see though. Maybe Sunday would be a better day to do something.
As I remember the men in my family that have served in the different branches of the military, I am extremely grateful for the freedom we have. I am greatly saddened at those who are fighting to remove those freedoms. They have absolutely no comprehension of the consequences they are facing if they continue to push for the very things that give up the freedom they are living in. Just the fact that they have the freedom to speak up and say what they are pushing for, does not come from anything other than the fact that many gave their very lives for the freedom of speech. They are free to “speak” their mind about the flag because someone died to give them that freedom!! They freely “speak” of getting rid of the flag or anything else that represents their freedom to speak!!! Am I making my point? Are we stupid or what?? Oh, don’t let me get started; I’m thinking those who don’t love this country and the freedom we have been given, should be required to live elsewhere as well as required to serve in the military, on the front lines, just to help them understand a little more about what it is exactly that they have and are wanting to give up. Enough said for the moment. I love what this country was founded on. I love what this country stands for. I don’t like the corruption that exists and I believe it should be corrected. I pray always that the truth be known, that the truth will always set us free.
I hope your weekend is blessed. I hope you are able to reflect on family and friends. I hope you are able to live in freedom.
Be back soon!
Desarae