Flora and Fauna Friday

Monster carp in the lake at Point Defiance Park.

 

 

 

 

Throw-back Thursday

Big Al and me in front of the Post Office in Texarkana, USA. Al is in Texas and I’m in Arkansas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Even a small puddle by the path seems to be enough for this Mallard.

 

 

Thankful Tuesday

Today I’m thankful that the blue heron has returned to the pond. He’s a little scruffy, but still I love him.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

(If this post sounds familiar to you, it’s because I originally wrote it in 2010. It’s pretty valid today.)

Today is Memorial Day – the day we honor those fallen warriors from all our wars.

I find that I’m having a difficult time with this holiday.  I have a difficult time with all patriotic holidays that honor our nation’s service men and women.

It’s not that I’m anti-military – to the contrary – Big Al was in the Air Force for 20 years

and worked as a DAF Civilian

for another 13 years.  I appreciate and admire anyone who puts their life on the line for their country.  I even appreciate those who didn’t die in the service.  My father served in World War II

(in fact WWII is the reason for my existence, because he never would have met my mother if he hadn’t been in the army).  And obviously, Big Al didn’t die in Vietnam or Thailand during his time of service.

My problem comes from the time of Vietnam.  Al went and served in Vietnam and Thailand.  I stayed home and raised a son by myself.  The Air Force messed up his pay, and, but for my parents, my kid and I would have starved or been on the streets.  And I lost that year out of my life.  To this day, I have to consciously think about how old I am, or how old my son is (subtract year of birth from current year, etc.) because I blocked that year out of my memory.  I never heard the phone ring, or footsteps on the porch without steeling myself for the chaplain’s visit.  And after Al came home there were months of readjustment – to each other – to our family roles – to “normality”.  Unless you have lived through a time of separation when your spouse or sweetheart is in harm’s way for a significant portion of that time, you can’t imagine what it does to you.

My problem now with patriotic holidays is a holdover from that time.  Because when he came back there were no parades.  There were no patriots meeting him at the airport.  There were no prayers for his safe return in church.  There was no thanks from a grateful public.  He was required to travel in uniform, but as soon as he could he changed his clothes.  He didn’t wear his uniform to church.  He didn’t wear it in public at all, if possible.  Because he didn’t want to be spit on, or booed, or otherwise reviled.

So now, when the country has at last come to its senses and is once again appreciating the sacrifices of men and women in uniform, I have a hard time getting into the spirit.  Because I remember how it was when we were the ones doing the hard thing and serving our country, and we weren’t appreciated and loved and cheered.

I only wish we would learn something, and not have to send our men and women into battle, either here at home, or overseas. Surely we can manage to behave responsibly and get along with the rest of the world. If only…

Social Media Friendship

I remember grieving with and for Adam and Sarah when Micah and Judah were born and, too soon, died. It was one of the first times I really understood the power of social media relationships. I defy anyone to say “you’re not really friends, because you don’t really know them face to face.” Virtual community is just as real, supportive, irritating, and comforting “in person” community – sometimes more so, because you can meet your virtual friends on your time table.

Be sure to read http://miheekimkort.com/2015/05/23/the-meaning-of-children-father-of-three/

 

The Meaning of Children: Father of Three

In May FDW is hosting a new series on  stories from people in all walks of life and their observations of children and what they make us. Click here for more on the series and a list of the contributors. This post was written by friend and colleague Adam Walker Cleaveland.

Sometimes when I introduce myself, or if someone asks me how many children I have, I like to say, “I’m the father of three, one living.”

Except for when I don’t. Except for when I don’t really want to get into it all.

“Is Caleb your only child?”

“Yes…” I say, as I remember holding Micah and Judah in my arms as their tiny lungs struggled to take in air. On October 25, 2010, my wife gave birth to Micah and Judah just shy of 20 weeks into our pregnancy. Micah was 10 ounces and Judah was 8 ounces.

That…

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Flora and Fauna Friday

One of the mowing crew, after a refreshing swim, getting back to work at Pt. Defiance Park.

 

 

 

Throw-back Thursday

Three years ago this week we finished packing up all our stuff in Dallas and hit the road to our new life, here, in Tacoma. It was probably the best decision we’ve ever made (other than deciding to get married in the first place).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

There the thief sits, watching me in the garden. Could he be the reason the purple hull peas have never sprouted, even though this is the second time I planted them?