REMEMBER

I still have my mother's wedding dress. It is a handmade dress worn on her special day January 10, 1944. I also have one of my father's Army uniforms, possibly the one he wore on that day. Although he never fought overseas during WWII, there was at that time the strong chance that he was to be sent at any moment. He took that long train trip from the east coast west in preparation for a possible assignment in the Pacific. Those were scary times. Unstable times. You never knew what came next. People were married on the spur of the moment just as they still do in times of war and upset. I have two uncles who served overseas during WWII. One was a fighter pilot. One made a daring escape from German captivity. I knew a man who was a prisoner of war in the South Pacific in WWII and was tortured by being kept in a small metal box in the sun. My husband piloted transport planes full of soldiers and supplies to Vietnam during that war. We all have stories of someone in our families who served and died or served and lived to tell the story. Remember and honor them.

This memorial weekend when you see pictures of wives and family left behind by those who served our country, remember those faces. They could be you or me if not for the courage it took for our young men to "join up" and the bravery of them as they fought their last battle.

Remember the men who left here as boys and returned as men. WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Iran.

Always, always remember.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH

Just about this time 42 years ago I gave birth to the most wonderful, the most beautiful, the most talented, the sweetest daughter I could ever ask for.

Happy Birthday to my dearest, my only child.

ANDY WARHOL AND THE WEATHER CHANNEL

Andy Warhol said that everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes. Well, I don't know if that is true, but yesterday may have been one of my husband's few seconds.

I was sitting by the ocean yesterday and noticed a Weather Channel van parked nearby. I did not think it unusual because we often get news cameras by the beach to film a storm. We had just had that nor'easter and the beach was eroded as a result. I knew my husband was working a few blocks away and I thought of calling him to let him know his favorite channel's news was in town. I didn't call, but the next thing I saw was him standing by the news van. They hooked him up to a microphone, turned the camera on and there he was being interviewed and taped. This was a big deal for him, since as a retired Air Force pilot, weather was and still is important to him. We called our family to tell them, and about 7:30 last night he was on television. His interview on site took about ten minutes. After editing, he was on the screen for about ten seconds. Following him was an interview with a surfer who happened to be walking by. He got more air time. So much for television.

SQUIRREL UPDATE

A squirrel has been finally lured and captured into our trap. However, it may not be THE squirrel. The trap sits along the tray ceiling in the master bedroom (in which I have NOT been sleeping until all culprits are captured and all ceiling and attic openings sealed!). This occurred late last night. We set it loose and so far it and/or its partners have not reappeared. (By the way, he and his possible friends are all named "Peanut." If you share a bedroom with squirrels you have to name them.)

I will keep you apprised.

BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS and elephants, too

I am surrounded by books to read. I recently finished the BEST book I have read in a long time. It is "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen. It is fiction, but laced with some true events and facts. This book is SO good. It is definitely a "must read."

I was so fascinated by the behaviour of the elephant, that I checked out two more elephant related books from the library. I am now reading "Jumbo - The Greatest Elephant In The World" by Paul Chambers. I am almost finished it. It is full of interesting facts, figures, stories and photos and illustrations of this famous elephant who was with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. The word "jumbo" meaning large was derived from this elephant's name.

I also have waiting for me:

1. "The Circus At The Edge Of The Earth (Travels With The Great Wallenda Circus)" by Charles Wilkins.

2. "Modoc - The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived" by Ralph Helfer. (I don't know who was the greater - Jumbo or Modoc).

3. "D" Is For Deadbeat" by Sue Grafton. (I am working my way through the alphabet with this author.)

4. "The Diary of a Nobody" by George and Weedon Grossmith. (This was first published in 1892 and is about a timeless comic character in English fiction.)

5. "My Best Friend's Girl" by Dorothy Koomson (This was loaned to me by a friend who loved it.)

6. "Riding Lessons" by Sara Gruen.

I have finished reading "Slow Waltz In Cedar Bend" which was on my Spring Reading 2008 Challenge list. This was a good book, even though I did not really like the two main characters. The author, Robert James Waller, also wrote "The Bridges of Madison County" which I did not read, but saw the movie. Slow Waltz is similar in that it tells an interesting love story. It is worth reading.

I am also reading "Ida Mae Tutweiler's Traveling Tea Party", but I think I have read it before.

It is a beautiful day here in coastal Delaware. Two days ago we were besieged by very high winds and rain. Tree limbs and leaves are everywhere. You should have seen the ocean yesterday -- the roughest and highest waves I have seen for a long time.

THE GREAT SQUIRREL INCIDENT CONTINUES

I returned home last night and looked forward to a good night's sleep in my own bed. I checked outside the house and noted that the holes in the soffit along the roof were closed up and was happy that the repairs were made. Husband said it was all taken care of. I slept like a log and awakened this morning to the scramble of little feet in the ceiling. I got out of bed and looked up and, yup, there was the squirrel looking down at me. I grabbed my phone, called my husband and vented my outrage. Within thirty minutes two of his workers were at the house. Obviously, only the exterior was repaired with the squirrel still in the attic area and with open access to the unrepaired room size opening along the tray ceiling. You can't see this opening from ground level, but I climbed up the ladder to the ceiling myself and saw it. I now await the workers to return and seal up the opening which Husband the Builder said was "taken care of." I have also gone on-line and found out how to trap squirrels. So it looks like I will be heading to the local "Ace Is The Place" hardware store for a squirrel trap. The saga continues.

But -- I did have a very nice visit with my daughter and son-in-law, his parents and sister and her little girl, and my wonderful grandsons. It was a tight squeeze in their house for all of us, but it all worked out. The first communion was beautiful. Little Ian was dressed in the same suit his brother wore three years ago. He was so handsome and so proud. Eleven year old Cooper was the "official photographer" and took a cute video of the children singing at the church.

Well I guess I will head on out to the hardware store. Wish me luck.