Memorial Day

The true meaning of Memorial Day is something that obviously resonates especially right now. That's a tall order to teach my six year old. I do know that soldiers scare him because he associates them with dying and war - no matter how much shelter you try to provide from reality of the state of affairs, you can't protect them from every song that seeps through or every newspaper clipping now that he's reading. What I try to do is point out all of the soldiers in our life (friends and family) that have fought for our country and are still her to talk about it. I found out I was pregnant with him on Sept. 7 2001, so he has never lived in a non-war America. I want him to understand what the military is about and what America is [at the core] really about. He's starting to get it and I try at every turn to help him understand that soldiers fight for our freedom and make sure that America is safe and protected. He has begun to recite the pledge whenever he sees a flag and puts his hand over his heart - and I love it! I'm going to insert a clip of him saying the pledge when he came across his new flag I bought him -sorry that you have to tilt your head to enjoy! It's very moving and I want him to never forget what Memorial Day (and July 4th and Veteran's Day for that matter) is [are] supposed to be about. I want him to focus on the way Americans should get a lump in their stomach when they hear of a family losing their home in a fire or natural disaster, even if it's thousands of miles across the country. Or the way tears should flow when they hear of an abduction or a mother losing her child in gang violence. Or the heart sick feeling one should feel when they hear of a child having to hug their parent for the last time for deployment in times of war for God knows how long. That is America and the other "stuff" that I wish was different - too many to name - are not the focus of the day which celebrates those who died fighting for a country of which they were proud enough to defend.

As I descend from my soapbox - I salute the troops, still fighting or in memorium, and say Thank You from the very bottom of a full heart and tears welling.

Spring has Sprung... Just in time for Summer!

I know I'm behind and most people got into Spring back in the end of March, but the past week has really been the start for us. Maybe it was the rain; maybe it was delaying the inevitable full blown weeding; maybe it was the fact that we knew this year we had to say 'uncle' and finally pay to have a professional do some things we weren't doing successfully... who knows but it's in a good place as of today. We've had the mulching, the edging, the digging, the pulling, the planting, the cultivating, the watering, the weed-killer, the transplanting, the raking - not to mention the regular mowing and weed-eating. Sometimes it's relaxing - mainly the planting and the weeding (no I'm not crazy) - especially first thing in the morning before it gets hot and when Parker's at school - the air is crisp and the birds are chirping... very good time just to be with my thoughts. The yard, some new chairs, a new outdoor light fixture (actually I've changed it out three times so far since I decided to replace it a few weeks ago) and getting rid of a bunch of crud at a yard sale this weekend should all conspire to make it a very beautiful end of Spring for us. They also are great reasons for me to continue to procrastinate writing and submitting! I can't believe it's halfway through May and I have not submitting anything since I submitted to Red Cygnet at the end of December... I definitely needed a break but it's about that time. I just bought a new laptop (to help boost the economy :) for writing in changes of location but haven't taken advantage. I even got an optical wireless mouse from my boys as an early mother's day gift since I don't really like that pad at the bottom of a laptop that's supposed to be a mouse.
I'm hoping since Parker and I have planted a little veggie garden, I'll find inspiration while nurturing the tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash! Here's to making my tan thumb a little green...

Last Gush... I promise!

This is the last gush I'll make about the Middle Place - but I just wanted to insert this clip of the author reading an excerpt from the part of the book where her [future] husband meets her father for the first time and the comic emotion people can relate to - the last minute cramming about the family and the secret hope that everyone will mesh. Enjoy!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRQpmSVV9SA&eurl=http://www.kellycorrigan.com/blog/

See if this works a little easier for folks because there have been some problems with opening the video previously inserted...