Moving On...

Well, OK - Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States and Mike Pence will be the Vice President.  Obama and Clinton have said they will work together to ensure a smooth turn-over to the Republicans on 20 January.  I will back the will of the American public, even if I didn't vote for the winners.
    Boulder, itself, was depressed yesterday.  All of the bus drivers commented on it, as did the owner and wait-staff at Turley's, where Bea and I had brunch.  As a matter of fact, when I arrived at Turley's, Bea was hugging a blond woman, dressed all in black, in the waiting area.  She had said to Beatrice, "You look as depressed as I feel."  Then the woman started to cry.  I joined in, and made a three-way hug.  The lady said she was dressed in black, mourning for our country, and that she had purchased a red hijab to wear on the day Trump is sworn in as President.  She was on her way to a business meeting, and didn't want to ruin her make-up, but she couldn't stop the tears from welling up.
    One of my friends told me that her husband was in tears three or four times Tuesday night because of the election results, and that at one time he was tossing furniture about in frustration.  He, too, wore black, in mourning, on Wednesday.
   But, we are moving on. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day - banks will be closed, businesses will have sales, and we will honor all of the men and women who are, serving, and who have served, in our country's Armed Forces.  We will specially recognize those who have given their lives and limbs fighting to keep America "the home of the free and the land of the brave."  I salute all servicemen and servicewomen who work to preserve their country's independence.  I can honestly claim to have ancestors and relatives who have fought and died in a majority of all the chronicled wars and battles since 1066...

Veteran's Day

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918 AD, an armistice, or temporary cease fire agreement, began between the countries at war - Germany and the Allied nations.  At the time, World War I was regarded as "the great war" and "the war to end all wars."  If only this were so.  In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 to be the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:  "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. ...."
   The original concept of the day was for a celebration of parades and public meetings, with a brief cessation of all business at 11 a.m.  In 1926, the United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution that 11 November be celebrated by displaying the American flag prominently on all governmental buildings, and that people celebrate the day with friendly relations to all other peoples.  In 1938 Armistice Day became a legal holiday in the US.  It was a day we celebrated those who fought and died for our country in World War I.
   Then came World War II and the Korean War.  In 1954, Congress agreed to strike out the word Armistice in the resolution of 1926, and change the word to Veterans.  We have had our military personnel serve all over the world during times of war and times of peace since then.  We are still involved in armed conflict on this very day.  Members of my family have served in the military as far back as I have been able to trace, and I am extremely proud of their service to this country.  Many never returned home, and still lie in unmarked graves, or have had their bones scattered by scavengers as the ages, centuries, and years have past.  I am still proud of them.
  We live in a great nation, founded on great and high-sounding and proud beliefs.  But these beliefs must be paid for by those who serve our country in our military - from nurse and doctor, cook and raw recruit, enlisted men and officers, computer programmers to entrenchment diggers - all of these people, from every walk of life, serving in every capacity, are willing and sworn to give their life's blood to protect me and this nation.  That is a humbling realization.
   I thank all of the people who are serving, have served, and have given their lives to protect my freedom and my own personal way of life.  Blessings upon all of you.

Giggles, Groupie Doll, & Veteran's Day

I was awakened this morning at 5:50 by a very loud burst of giggling by females.  I am still unsure of their location at that time - next to me? Next to me and up a floor?  I just snuggled back down under the covers, but the couple above me got up and banged on their walls and floor, which also kept me awake.  The giggling went on, in fits and starts, until 6:20, when I got up.  After caring for my kits, I walked to the bakery and got a fresh bagel - and I heard the laughter as I left the building, and when I returned.  I'm glad someone was up and feeling all giggly this morning - I could make out five distinct voices, so I guess a group of friends over-nighted partying, and just returned home.  Things became very quiet again after 7:15 today.
   My kits are running in and out this morning - Lovey used to be the one who stayed close to home in the morning, while Nedi rambled.  Nedi is sticking near the apartment now, while Lovey disappears for long periods.  It's always interesting with the kits around.  Saw my shrink yesterday and got my meds renewed - have to take the prescriptions to the pharmacy later today to get them on file.  I'm not looking forward to Wednesday morning, when I'll be 12 hours fasting for my blood work, and then have to face Dr Guthrie.  It would be nice if I could have a "Principle Care Physician" that I liked....  She always makes me feel as if I'm a very disgusting specimen on an overgrown Petri dish....
  There's nice news about Groupie Doll, the mare who won the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint.  She was sold at Fasig-Tipton for $3.1 million to Mandy Pope earlier this week.  Mandy had Dr Larry Bramlage do a thorough check of the mare, and, as she is totally sound and in perfect health, has decided to return Groupie Doll to the race track.  She returned to her previous trainer, who was also a previous part-owner, on Friday.  Ms Pope had purchased the mare with the intent of breeding her only, but after speaking with the first owners, and Dr Bramlage, she decided to have the mare continue to run, as long as she is healthy and interested in racing.
  If I were on Chincoteague today, I'd be joining the folks from the American Legion who are placing American flags on the graves of those people who served our country.  I read this morning that the Eastern Shore of Maryland is paying special attention to those who served in the War of 1812...  Of course, Chincoteague is in Virginia, but I know of two War of 1812 veterans who are buried in Redmens Cemetery on Taylor Street - both are my great-great-grandfathers.

Veteran's Day

Today is a day we should all honor anyone who has spent any time in our military.  My Dad put in 21 years in the US Navy; my Uncle spent 28 years in the Army; my brother-in-law has 28 years in the Marines.  Two of the boys I went to school with ended up being career military - Tommy Rayburn is a career Air Force man, and Donny Davis is a career Army man.  We owe thanks to any men or women who have placed their lives at stake for the security of the United States of America.
One of my ancestors came to the US as a bond servant - he signed away six years of his life, working on a tobacco plantation in Maryland, to become a free man in the New World.  And once he had achieved his freedom, he backed the Cavaliers in the only British Civil War battle fought in America, and lost his 10 acres and bolt of cloth given him after six years of hard labor.  My many-times great grandfather Tunnel fought his battle for the Lord Baltimore, and won his part of it; but he had to surrender when the rest of the forces ran.  He ended up in Virginia in 1643, a free man, with nothing that belonged to him.  When he passed away, he owned over 700 acres of prime farm land.
Several ancestors were Minute Men in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine. They fought on the side of the Colonies, against British rule.  Men in the family also served in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and one of our great tragedies, on both sides in the US Civil War.  Relatives and ancestors fought and died in the Spanish-American War, the Great War, World War II, the Korean War, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I am proud to be an American.  I am proud that my ancestors and relatives were brave and strong enough to represent our families, and our country, in all of the conflicts that have occurred since the settlement of North America. 
I thank each and every member of the US military for their blood, sweat, tears, time, and lives.  God bless all of you.