Red, White and Blue

The flag red, white and blue. Most people of a certain age remember starting each day at school standing up and saying the Pledge of Allegiance each day.  At every competition I was in or watched there was always someone who skated out onto the ice and the Star Spangled Banner played while they proudly held the flag.

The flag has evolved over the past 237 years. It started with the 13 colonies and was sewn by Betsy Ross in Philadelphia. Back in her time she would have been considered a small business owner since she had a small shop where she did upholstery work on furniture. I am sure back then she would not have imagined that her work sewing a small flag to fly over a new America that our country would have not only made the strides it has over the years but also some of the trials and tribulations we have and are currently going through.

The flag means many things to many people. Its symbolism hope, freedom, liberty, opportunity,  our forefathers and many others over the 237 years have given their lives for the country we live in.

 My grandfather and many others have had a ceremony when they pass away that signifies that they were in the military where a folding ceremony is performed.

When my brother was a Scout he participated in many flag ceremonies. How you treat the flag as an American is extremely important.

Most of the time people don't realize how important the flag really is to them. Several years ago at a Fourth of July celebration at a small church a lesson was learned about how to treat a flag. Several boys were walking up the aisle with the flags and they kept dragging them on the floor. It was then that   I explained to them something apparently they did not realize that you are not suppose to do this that in reality if it happens you are suppose to burn them. They looked at me like I was crazy.

For some its just a day off work, picnic and fireworks time. To others it is a day to reflect on what this country means to each of us.

Wedding Memories and other Stories-- The Strange Similarities

A year in the planning, I am going back down memories two lane highway again and try and relive the last highlights of a wedding in the making. Each time something we get ticked off the to do list it was an accomplishment for us. I sometimes had my doubts on whether it was going to be accomplished with all the wrenches that were thrown into the plans especially on the financial end of it. We had a major repair to the truck which caused a headache and moments of panic the end of last year but once the words of wisdom from David came that "it always gets taken care of" we were back on the right path and with less than six months left before Jennifer and Scott's big day I just wanted to see the day through.

Jennifer and I did the "wedding planning" with just a little help from a few. Flash back to my day almost 29 years ago, David and I had a small (only 50) at our wedding. We planned and paid for every little detail. I remember my dress was only $150, although it wasn't the first one I tried on (Jennifer fell in love with the first dress she tried on) my dress fit just right and only needed a few pink flowers removed from the front. Flash to the food we kept our budget small and only had finger foods while Jennifer's was a down-home catered full meal. I am now on the "no eat diet". Both of our cakes were to die for and beautiful, I remember we had a glass blow cake topper that couldn't seem to get to the cake maker without getting broke and then a second time before we even had our cake made, then once again in an earthquake several years later, not sure if it was bad luck but I wouldn't recommend glass blown cake toppers to couples.

We spent Friday evening, and Saturday morning decorating Jennifer's venue. She chose artificial and fresh flower mixtures and a local woman did decorating with lights and fabric. It definitely turned a fairgrounds room into a beautiful setting. David and I had paper bells and paper garlands. Another similarity was that our colors were purple/lavender and grey, Jennifer's was deep purple and green's. Interesting on how purple has crossed 5 generations of females in our family.. Hummmm great minds think alike maybe.

The ceremony was religious yet fitting in similar ways but the one beautiful moment in Jennifer's was at one point the pastor made a comment to the fact that for those who couldn't be with us they were there in spirit and with those words a sudden light breeze came through the Highway Gardens as if like a sign from the heaven's above: Grandparents, friends, and other's who would have loved to be there in body I know.  Another similarity was that our original preachers that we met with had to back out at the last minute due to conflicts and preacher number two's stepped in.

We planned things down to the very end but yet both of us had a forgotten item. Our wedding I spent hours making birdseed bags to have the guests throw at us after the ceremony. Those days are frowned upon now due to birdseed not only being a mess but many other reasons. I had recommended bubbles be blown (we brought them but forgot to put them out) and we didn't put the guestbook our at the ceremony. Oh well you can't remember everything.

I know for sure that the pictures the photographer took will all be beautiful. Catherine Rhodes was a fellow alumni from the same school Jennifer went to photography school with (Hallmark). My small book of photos was taken by a friend of my maid of honor, took me months to get and never got any copies of the pictures just had all the originals. Oh well at least I am fortunate to have those still.

Life is full of similarities, some on purpose others by fate..God has his plan, ours has been blessed for   almost 29 years, I hope Jennifer's is blessed that long if not longer as well. Marriage is a union each must put in 100%. You will argue and you will make up.  I will always believe that marriage is the right highway to go down.

Piercing Trooper

For some it is a right of passage,  other's sometimes go too far piercing body parts that have no business being with one much less multiple holes in them.  When I was a kid my parents told me that when I turned 18 I could get them done (how many times have we heard that saying in our lifetime and now find ourselves saying it now).

I was 18 and I went to a local department store, not really entirely sure what to expect. I  knew many people who just disinfected a needle and had a friend stick the needle in their ear, my mother actually had a physician do hers.

Yesterday was unlike many trips to the mall, except our main focus was going to get last minute wedding day items off our continuing list of things to get. At this point a week away and the list is getting shorter by the day.

Our granddaughter, Hadleigh  3, going on 13 was accompanying us on the trip and my daughter, Jennifer asked her as  usual, "Do you want to get your ears pierced?" Mind you her mother has had two such ear piercing stories and also a belly-button piercing story. The first ear piercing for her mother took many tries at getting them done due to the people ahead of her not being "big girls", and she got her belly pierced without our knowledge but after having Hadleigh let that hole close up (good choice I said).

We planned our attack plan of the mall and each store we entered and exited we asked her if she wanted to get her ears done, each time with a resounding "YES". I mentioned to my daughter it might be better to make the candy store the last stop in that we could reward a good experience with the candy.

We entered the store, walking around looking at all the other jewelry displayed. Of course she wanted her April birthstone ( I proceed to tell her Dad she would of course want real diamonds for Christmas). The clerk asked her if she was ready and she nodded and the clerk proceeded to hand her a large stuffed bear to hold if she wanted. What little girl is going to turn down holding a big plush bear? Every customer that passed the window admired what a "big girl" she was and motioned to us watching her sit there so patiently. We informed the clerk could you do a double shoot as it was our experience that it was easier for all involved to do it that way. "No problem" we would just have to wait for the second clerk to come in. My daughter and I looked at each other like, "Oh boy this might be the kicker because we would have to wait". I thought of my daughter at this point because she would have decided back in the day to forget the whole ordeal. But, Hadleigh, being who she is sat patiently waiting for the girl.

The time came and with ear guns in hand we all were in anticipation of what expression and experience was to come. We both jumped but with smiles on our faces and surprise---not a peep out of Hadleigh.

She is now part of the girls and boys of all ages, shapes and sizes that adorn ear piercings. Now I just hope she won't asked to have anything else pierced in her lifetime. Oh well, her mom will thank goodness have to deal with that time when it comes. I just hope I am around to experience it with the both of them down the road.

Memorialized

Yesterday I took a walk around the courthouse downtown. Mind you it was for a good reason. I parked the car in a normally busy area of town. But this bright and sunny Sunday morning it was very peaceful. I stepped out of my car not sure whether to go left or right first.(More on that later) Being the lefty that I am I went left. Step after step I scanned the names on the bricks. I came across several names I recognized some I didn't. But the reason these bricks are  proudly around the lawns of the courthouse have meaning to at least one person if not more to this town and to our country.

My family has two such bricks. One for a person who never even knew where Sedalia was, the other visited several times throughout his life cut short.

Carmon L. Conner, U.S. Navy, World War II enlisted in the Navy, a young man from West Virginia. The man I knew didn't speak much about the war, worked as a mailman, loved to garden, do leather work, bake, loved Elvis and rock and roll music. He was a true "Quiet Man" his entire life. He died when I was 17 years old. Believe me, not until later in my life did I realize all that he kept to himself about, but like other men and women who served and have served since, his stories would have been able to fill volumes of pages.  Some days I think of him more than others. There are so many people in my life he never has had the chance to meet and each year that list gets longer and longer. But I am happy that he is sitting in the front row. Although he is next to someone he never met, my grandpa was the type of person he would make my brother-in-law welcome.

Harvey D. Goalder, served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was David's oldest of three brothers. He loved anything Coke, he was married, and had two children. He was David's best man at our wedding. Although we didn't spend a lot of time with him over the years, the memories remain. As kids Harvey and the other boys spent many summers in Sedalia with family and one of his last trips during his long illness was to Sedalia our first Christmas after we moved back in 1997. By then he was very thin and frail.

Two men in different wars but with stories like all the other bricks with names. They gave up many years between them to our country so that we could live the lives we do today.

Honor Flight is a terrific group that sends war veterans to the War Memorial in Washington D.C. A group just recently returned this past week from a trip. War War II, Korea, Vietnam and others make the 20 hour turn around trip. I have thought since they started that I would love to go on a trip sometime since both my grandpa and brother-in-law are gone.  I had the chance a couple years ago to see the monument and it is a very emotional experience.

The humor in this story was that several people who also have bricks have told me it was an experience for some that took several trips around the courthouse for them because you don't know where they have placed your bricks. As I took each step, scanned the three rows I would think to myself about each war that was listed. There are already many Iraq soldiers listed. As I turned each corner still not having found our bricks, I almost began to wonder if they had done ours. So by the time I made the last turn onto 3rd St. and Lamine, the last grouping they were in. I admit I got a little teary, they gave so much, and have missed so much, but they are looking down on us each day with smiles of what we have all accomplished and will continue to strive for.

Now each time I have to go to the courthouse I will turn park in back, turn to the right and visit two honored men.

The Circles in Life Will Continue to Go Around and Around

This past weekend we celebrated Easter both in the Easter Bunny and biblical senses each brought back memories of childhood. We had no time to color Easter eggs this year we realized way to late, but as I told my daughter next year we will put it at the front of the list to plan to do. I think both granddaughters will enjoy it since they will probably understand the whole process a little better being one year older.

Growing up I remember going through the egg boiling process, letting them cool and then wanting to drop the little colored pill into the vinegar/water mixture. Watching the vibrant color getting brighter and brighter was always such a joy. I always loved the brighter colors--the pinks the purples the blues. Of course all the deviled egg sandwiches for lunch the next week wasn't a bad thing either.

Several egg hunts with our kids come to mind but one in particular was at a friend of their babysitters that had so many eggs in her yard we actually couldn't collect them all. Both kids in brightly colored outfits and a bright sunny day was always the joy of the beginning of Spring and the Easter Holiday. This year unfortunately the weather was a little cold and David was on the road and wasn't able to celebrate with us but we made the best of it.

One vivid memory of mine is going to Sunday church services with my grandmother. Easter hat on head, white shoes on feet and some brightly, spring colored dress was always part of the picture. This year my daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Hadleigh decided to join me at church. It was Hadleigh's first experience attending church and she did exceptionally well. Sitting quietly entertaining herself for the service made me think to when I would go with grandma and sit through services.

The circles of life go round and round no matter if the weather doesn't cooperate, eggs are not colored and if certain family members aren't able to be their for one reason or another it still can be a learning experience, an uplifting message of hope and a wonderful time to reflect on past seasons. Things change but we can continue to pick certain milestones in our past lives and keep them close to our hearts and share them anew.

Like it Not, Ready or Not-It Will Probably Come

This past Sunday the pastor at my church used the like it or not phrase as part of his sermon message. He shared that like many of us, as a child his mother frequently forced him to eat things that he didn't like. His dislike of certain vegetables is not unlike mine as a girl. I didn't like peas (still will not eat unless they are mixed up in something) and a few other's that I have since if doctored a bit I will eat now.

Like anything in life if we see something coming or it lands on us unexpectedly most of us truly are usually unprepared for what might happen. Fighting tooth and nail on some such situations still is part of my DNA and the older I get the more difficult it sometimes becomes to pull myself out in hopes that calm is just around the corner.

Mother Nature has packed several punches this season, equipment breakdowns have kicked our butts big time, routine situations in the first six months of the year await outcomes that you never truly know until the very last minute if they will be in your favor or not. Deadlines loom that sometimes we are not ready for not only in business and pleasure. I have said for many years, from November until June with the holidays and the beginning of the year funk, a small window of opportunity of pleasure times is so short its unfair. Some situations are just completely out of your hands.

Ready or not here it comes. Every time I hear this I think of when I was little and we would play hid and seek.  A wonderful game played either in good weather or bad, in the house or outside. Yes, those of us who are "OLD" played outdoor games and were not tied to the TV or video games like kids of today. Some of my favorite places playing it indoors was the laundry basket, under my bed, or way back in the closet underneath just about everything (this is when being really small is at your advantage). Of course giggling always put me out of the game or being sniffed out by our pet dogs, those minutes of fun were and still are terrific memories.

Some things in life you learn to appreciate, tolerate and yes even like. Vegetables or other such basic things are much easier than life struggles. The pastors' point in the use of this was obviously the biblical sense. The past several months I admit I have looked to the higher power to guide me, give me strength. No hiding, just seeking a sign or word was enough for me to bring myself into the light of a better day and count the days until the sunshine will put a much better "liking" too life situations.

I am ready and it will be coming soon.

February-Out Like A Lion, March In Like a Lamb

Whatever the saying is I think I may have changed it up a bit. Believe me it was necessary considering  how disastrous February was for me and for others around me. If it wasn't the two feet plus of snow we received, being stuck indoors for a week, truck being down for two weeks with repairs AGAIN, and two many other things to even want to bring up again, basically I have felt all month that I have been skating on very thin ice.

Praying, trying to repeat to yourself over and over again things will get better, rubbing the worry stone (I really need to pick one of those up the next time I see one), you begin to run out of ways to try and keep your blood pressure down.

Everyone these days has at least one problem or issue. If you say you don't you are probably in complete denial or one of those happy go lucky people (gee, I wish I could trade in my Type A personality for the alternative).

Some people refer to Facebook rants or shares, I often write in haste and then hit the delete button just as quickly, TMI sometimes you just need to push yourself away from the keyboard.

One situation this month put everything into perspective a little on how maybe we are moving to fast and need to take a step back and go back to the good old days.

I drew straws to deliver Meals on Wheels one week this month and everyday my last delivery was to a sweet little 90 year old lady in a trailer park. She lives alone, in a little old trailer and is always very nice and appreciative of her meal and newspaper everyday. I know she lives in a park that has been bought by a business that will be clearing the area for their expanding business. My curiosity got the better of me on the last day because I know soon she will be moving away. I asked her if she had made plans yet to move to another site. She stated no she hadn't as of yet but that she still had some time in which too move (11 months). She said that she had faith in God that she would find a place. Unfortunately, she had found out after coming back from being in the hospital after breaking a hip that the park had been sold and that she would have to move. She said she hated to leave the trailer that her and her late husband had bought the trailer brand new in 1982 and that they both had lived there together until he passed away several years ago. Because of the trailers age she probably would not be able to have it moved, so at 90 she will literally have to uproot herself somewhere else.

So as we move into March, I take a deep breath close my eyes and look forward to the sun melting the snow still outside my window,  and click my feet together like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and say it will get better, it will get better. 18 days until Spring. The countdown begins.