My thoughts on Memorial Day have been an evolving experience.  As a child I remember thinking WOO HOO Memorial Day is here and we are out of school for the summer.  I do however remember that my parents always went and decorated graves so I did know it was a time to honor our dead.

When our children were little I still had those thoughts of Memorial Day.  I did however expect it to be a holiday where my children got out of school.  We lived a few years in another state and when my children had to go to school on Memorial Day I was appalled and ended up calling the Superintendent of the school district.  (In retrospect I was appalled that they had to go to school on a National Holiday but at that point didn’t really know much about why it was a holiday).

That was when I found out of the origins of Memorial Day.  It was actually started as a Northern Holiday after the Civil War.  It was after World War I that it officially became a holiday to celebrate those who died not just in the Civil War but any war.  It was in 1971 with the National Holiday Act it became a three day weekend celebrated on the last Monday in May.  I was surprised that the school district we were in at that time did not have the day as one of their recognized holidays.  That may have changed as we left that area 12 years ago.

My nonchalant attitude about Memorial Day continued as our children graduated from High School.  In our school district graduation would always take place on the Saturday of Memorial weekend.  Our son graduated in 2004 and immediately joined the Army.  This was when I really learned the meaning of Memorial Day.   He ended up serving 3 years of Foreign Service with two of those years being over in Iraq.  I must say this will bring the meaning home to you.

As I was preparing this post I did some research and came across this History of Memorial Day.  Wow did this post go along with what I just wrote.  I was writing about my own nonchalant attitude and then read in this post “As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”  It appears that my nonchalant attitude was more the norm than the exception.

Our son just got out of the Army May 2^nd.  That has made me very introspective about this Memorial Day.  We were one of the lucky ones as he came back without injuries.

We are not necessarily a military family but do have a long record of serving our country.  My Dad and all of his brothers were in World War II at the same time.  (That’s my Dad second to the right.)  Two were in the Army, two were in the Air Force and one was in the Navy.  My family was blessed; they all came home.  My Uncle Myrl who was the one way to the right in the picture was the only one who stayed in the reserves and he ended up getting killed in the Korean conflict.  The rest of the brothers all lived to old age; my Dad is the only sibling whom is still living.

My husband’s Grandfather served in World War I.  In our Game room we have a picture of his unit before they deployed and under it a picture of those that came back.  I have not actually counted how many came back but it is about half of those that left.   I also have a flag with 48 stars in a ceremonial container that was given to my Great-Grandfather.  He fought in the Civil War but my Mother told me he lied about his age to get in.  In that same room I have a picture of our son while he was in the Army and a picture of my Dad from back when he was in the Army. This is in the room where I have my elliptical machine and I have been trying to exercise 4 to 5 times a week so these have become a visual reminder for me of my family serving their country.  These visual reminders have made me realize how fortunate our family is that they all lived through their service.

Thank God we don’t have as many casualties in this war as in previous wars but we have a huge amount of our soldiers who are coming back injured and maimed.  I just had an email come across about a local soldier who has lost both legs and they thought also both arms and burnt over 56% of his body.  His family is asking for as many soldiers and veterans as possible to send him a birthday card.  You can go to “Chandlers Watch” and get the address.  This is a recent post so you still have time to send a card.

My nonchalant attitude about Memorial Day has disappeared!  Freedom is not FREE!  We owe a debt of gratitude to those whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can be free.  We also owe a debt of gratitude to our returning soldiers. 

In doing my research for this post I ran across an idea I really like.  Perhaps we need to go back to our traditional celebration of Decoration Day on May 30th.  We could always have our three day weekend over Armed Forces Day which is the 3rd Saturday of May.  This would be a way to put the emphasis back on what Memorial/Decoration Day was meant to stand for.

I really debated how I should start my first post on my outside Blog.  This will mainly be a blog about real estate in connection with the Northwest Harris and Southeast Montgomery County areas but it will also be interspersed with my ramblings.  You will I am sure hear about our flight attendant daughter living in New York City and our son who is an Intelligence Analyst with the Army and is just getting ready to leave for his second tour of Iraq. 

You are probably going to think I am starting it off a little bit on the heavy side but after much personal debate with myself I decided to start off with some words from Irma Bombeck.   At the first of the year a dear neighbor found out that she has terminal cancer and it really starts making you realize that we just don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  It has made me stop and think about how important it is to live our life to the fullest each day that the Lord blesses us with life.  I think I have received these words from Irma Brombeck in an email before but they did not impact me as much as when it gets personal.  She wrote the following words after she found out she was dying from cancer.  Her words are bolded and in italics and then I have added my thoughts.  She gives us some great advice!!

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. As I am writing this I am home sick with a cold, case in point.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I have to laugh at this one when we moved here 11 years ago I had a beautiful big snowflake candle that I would not let anyone burn.  Somehow it got up in to the attic that first year and when we brought it down at Christmas it was now in the shape of the box it was stored in.

I would have talked less and listened more. A lesson we all need to learn.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. We went to my sister’s house for Christmas this year and had a wonderful time even though their house was not completely finished.  My brother-in-law was stressed because we were coming with the house not finished but I’m glad we went anyway.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I’m over this one.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. Once they are gone there is no bringing them back so this is a biggy.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. Hmmmmmm I guess I need to help mowing that yard.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. My husband’s car has a sunroof and I have been guilty of this.  I guess I need to go with the flow and let my hair fly.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I love sitting on the grass so I guess I’m over this one; at least if the bugs aren’t biting.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I’m not a big television watcher but sometimes I need to get my head out of a book.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. It is no fun settling for second best because it is practical.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. This one is huge we blink and they are here and all grown up.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, ‘Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.’ There would have been more ‘I love you’s'; more ‘I’m sorry’s.’   Sometimes; well a lot of times that English side of our family comes out so this is something I need to work.

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!   Most of the stuff is that small stuff.

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what! Okay this one I have learned with age.  This is one of the beauties of being middle aged; I’m over that.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Those relationships are the ones to be cherished.

Let’s think about what you have been blessed with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a joyous day.  I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED!!

Okay I promise that my post will not usually be this heavy.  With life I try to keep everything in perspective God – Family – Career so this just seemed like a good place to begin.

For all your Spring TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332