Lucy
Lucy loves her humans, but there are days when we are obviously not entertaining enough for the house princess.
Memorial Day 2020
Today is Memorial Day. We are long past the days of spending hours and hours packing the camping gear and scrambling to find the perfect campsite on the lake shore. The Memorial week-end is a quiet time around our house this year. Saturday my wife and I drove about an hour to visit the grave site of her parents. It is over three hours to the place where my parents are interred, so we don’t get there very often, although we will probably make the trip a little later this year.
Our parents were members of what history has called, “The Greatest Generation”. I doubt if any generation will fully appreciate what this group of Americans accomplished. They grew up as children of the Great Depression and as young adults began to climb out of the economic dungeon and into the light of a new promise, fueled in part by the war in Europe. Then, on December 7, 1941 this generation was thrust into World War II on both fronts, engaging Nazi Germany and it’s axis powers in Europe while responding to the Japanese bombing of Peal Harbor in the Pacific. My wife’s father was stationed in Europe while my dad was in the navy and saw action in the Pacific theater. These men and women literally saved this world and built the greatest nation on the planet. As Baby Boomers, we were the direct beneficiaries of their efforts. Nearly all of them are gone now as even the youngest soldiers of that conflict would be in their 90’s now. For all of the things that the educational system says that our children need to learn, we could all still learn a great deal about how to live life from this Greatest Generation. Happy Memorial Day.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
This week the theme at 4M is songs about flowers and gardens. Well that’s a pretty broad subject. Personally I love flowers and gardens. The first song is a little difficult for me to feature. I love roses and one of the earliest songs I can remember about a rose is “Yellow Rose of Texas”, but being a native of Oklahoma it hard for us to pay much respect to Texas, even if it is deserved. There is a little football game in October that pretty much defines the OU/Texas relationship. Still, I love the song.
Okay, so I gave Texas top billing and it is a great song from my pre-adolesence, so now I have to give equal time to my home state with a much more obscure musical offering. Color is not the issue, It’s just an Oklahoma Rose.
I have to admit that one of my favorite songs about flowers or gardens comes from gospel music and many people will recognize it because this song was found in their hymnal. Some people who pray daily have a special place to go and pray. They may choose a quiet place on the patio or a special chair in the corner of a room while others may retreat to a garden to get away from the distractions of this life and spend a few precious moments alone with the God of all creation. They Come to the Garden Alone.
My final offering is a song that I post nearly every year in my Christmas Music Marathon. Selah is one of my favorite Christian groups and Rose of Bethlehem is one of my favorite songs. Stay safe, stay healthy and ave a blessed week.
Driller's Place 
Happy Memorial Day. This year is different, no events or things that people usually do are happening. It’s raining here too, so rather depressing, but we have each other and that is what matters most.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forecast for NW Arkansas is rain all week, so there will be no outdoor activities. We might do a little flea marketing just to get out of the house.
LikeLike
What a lovely tribute to the greatest generation. My father served during WWII. Those folks had some true grit for sure.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Memorial Day and week. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Out of their adversity, the Greatest Generation carved the best country in the history of the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Driller both my Mom and Dad and Celestine’s Parents did grow up in The Depression as well. Both our Dad’s Served in the Millitary in the 2nd World war. Her day saw action in the African Invasions and Itialy one as well he was even at the Anzio invasion. My Dad entered in 1945 served in the US Army Air Force in the Pacific Theater flew in Bombers and was Part of the Occupational Forces in Japan when it ended. That’s why I wanted to follow my Dad’s Footsteps and serve during the Vietnam War,I am an Vietnam ERA Veteran since I never stepped foot In Country I cannot claim to be a Vietnam Vet. May All Our Parents Rest In Eternal Peace,God Bless you both,Sir!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even as a Vietnam vet, my military experience was nothing compared to my father’s service in the navy. He served aboard an aircraft carrier that participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, among other islands on the march toward Japan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dad was in the Pacifif as well all he said about his service waS that he flew in bombers. I took it as he was part of the bombing raids of japan.and he was part of the occupation forces after Japan surrendered.
LikeLike
You have such a beautiful House Princess.
Wonderful music, especially the hymn, it’s not the first time i’ve heard it today, and i am glad to hear it again.
May we never forget those who served and those who gave their lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I posted Day instead of DAD! Dorry about that! damn dsylexia strikes again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Young people certainly don’t honor our greatest generation. If they did, they wouldn’t be partying in Missouri or engaging in other risky ventures that puts our veterans at risk. If it weren’t for these brave people, no one would have the ability to protest, anything. God Bless and protect the elderly among us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honestly, the young that you mention can’t really relate to the life that their grandparents or possibly great-grandparents lived.
LikeLike
Beautiful post and beautiful song pics. Memorial Day is so important, I’m glad you’ve highlighted it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day all celebrate the American spirit and those who have served their country. There is nothing wrong with a few good doses of patriotism each year.
LikeLike
My dad was a WW II vet. That’s how he met my mom. Sort of. My dad was from Brooklyn, NY. His best friend in the Army was a guy from the Bronx. The guy from the Bronx was my mom’s cousin, and he introduced my mom and dad after the war.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My dad and I believe that all of my uncles served during WWII.
LikeLike
Driller,
DH’s parents were from this generation, as were my grandparents. What solid people they were, too! I can’t even imagine what it was like to have little to nothing at all for most of their young lives, often right up into their adult years. My in-laws were frugal people. They didn’t waste anything and kept everything of value. My FIL was amazing. He could build just about anything with what he had saved. Some might see that as being a serious pack rat but I’m sure it stemmed from the days of necessity to keep and not thrash just because it’s broken way of thinking. My parents are Baby Boomers and have many of the same traits as their parents. I consider ourselves blessed to also be called BBs even though we were born toward the end of the era. It was hard but no where near as hard as what the great generation endured. Kids today have no clue what it’s like to do without or the sacrifices made for their future. I am proud of these special heroes and thank God for giving our country such brave men and women to serve, abroad and at home, this nation in time of need. I was thinking with everything that’s transpired over the past few months, the inconveniences and hardships pails in comparison to what that generation went through. That was truly some scary times! Thanks for sharing your mewsic picks and am glad to see that we were thinking alike with “In the Garden”. I really like Alan’s country version of that old gospel hymnal. Have a blessed week, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Being two generations removed from the Greatest Generation and growing up in the most affluent times this country has ever enjoyed, most of today’s young have no point of reference when it comes to sacrifice and hardship.
LikeLike
Such a lovely post. I am so grateful to the Greatest Generation. My father was a Korean War vet and was born early in the depression (1930), I am a Persian Gulf I vet. I agree with you so much about learning from that generation. Thanks for the great post and nice songs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never ceased to learn from my father. The last thing he taught me was how to die with dignity and grace.
LikeLike
My father, and my father in law, were both World War II veterans. My father was an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Force and served in NE Arkansas, in Biloxi, MS and in India; my father in law was a guard in a POW camp in Ohio. My mother worked in a parachute factory. All gone for years….The rapid loss of many survivors of The Greatest Generation is such a sad thing, DrillerAA; in some counties of upstate New York 90% or more of the total coronavirus deaths have been in nursing homes, veterans homes, and the like. So thank you for your tribute. We had one song in common; your other songs certainly put me in a contemplative mood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Greatest Generation never asked to be treated special. They are special because of the way they treated their fellow man.
LikeLike
I wish we all had the grit, determination and forthrightness that our parents had. Too many folks just focus on their wants instead of looking at the big picture. Have a lovely flower filled day!
LikeLike
Such great pics and tunes… you did a great job my friend. I haven’t heard the Yellow Rose of Texas in a long time. I love that John Wayne movie it plays in too! Of course I love John Wayne too. My mother had a huge crush on him that’s for sure. ~hehehe~! Oklahoma Rose can’t say I ever heard that one, but I listened to the whole thing & bopped along to it in my chair. Alan Jackson’s tune my daddy use to sing that to me in the car. We always sang in the car him & I. I haven’t heard that tune in so long it’s beautiful. He didn’t know all the words so it was nice to hear this one today. Thank you so much for giving me my wonderful memory brought back to my heart. The Rose of Bethlehem I’ve never heard before. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for this beautiful introduction to such a beautiful song. Thank you and have a wonderful safe day. Be healthy. Be happy and you & yours be safe. Happy Memorial Day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard Yellow Rose of Texas in decades, so don’t ask my why it was the first song that popped into my mind when I saw the theme for this day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Memorial Day is of course a day for remembering people. My Dad was officially a WWII veteran but he didn’t serve during the war. He was an MP at the war crimes trials in Tokyo.
You were right that generation paved the way for our modern America.
You have such a great ear for music.
LikeLike
Beautiful choises, the last song, that we didn’t know yet, was very beautiful. We hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day😸Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend🐾😽💞
LikeLike