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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Honoring Our Veterans


Thank You
Today, I stand before you
Thanking our veterans.
Those who serve now, or in the past.
Those that live, those injured and those who died
To protect our freedoms, our rights.
Keeping us safe in our beds.
Sacrificing their lives
Missing their families
So that mine might be safe
From tyranny and atrocity.
I am on my knees in gratitude
For their time, their lives, their effort.
But mostly for their scars
Those we see and those we don’t.
Today, I shed a tear for them all.

In gratitude.
Lest we forget.


Every year, I think of our veterans and give thanks.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.



Sunday, November 4, 2012

Fabulous 50

Yes it is true! Today I hit 50.

A number of years ago,when I was in my 20's, I actually thought that 50 was just about the end of the road. I worried that 50 was ANCIENT. You know ... creaking bones, grey hair, weak muscles, loss of memory .... shoot I DO have all that.  Yikes!

We'll I am older and wiser now. I know that the best part of my life is just beginning. I have a fabulous family and great friends. I have a good job and an appreciative boss (even if he does have an issue with me breaking the stapler repeatedly.) I have pets who love me. I'm a published writer. I'm happy and healthy.

Yes, all in all, my life is pretty damned fine!

And to top it all off, yesterday my darling daughters and their husbands threw me a fabulous birthday party. Friends and family arrived bearing hugs and gifts. (I'm not going to ask why so many of them brought me alcohol. I'm just going to drink it and be grateful.) There was great food, a STUPENDOUS cake, and balloons. I love balloons. There is just something about them that makes me smile.

How great are these balloons!
They just make me smile!
 
And to make it even better, they got me this cake. And yes I proudly admit that I am a Trekkie!
This might be the most perfect cake, EVER!
 
This photo in no way does justice to the painting given to me by Cousin Marnie.
So soft and romantic, it reminds me of Thomas Kinkade.
Today on Facebook, and on my author's loops, I received birthday wishes from tons of people. It was fabulous. It gives a girl a warm fuzzy feeling when she is remembered by her friends and family.

Today, I say thanks to everyone for sharing my birthday, whether in person, by card, by letter, by e-mail, or text. It means a lot that you took the time to share my day.

Hugs to you all
Cathy