Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2011

For the last three years, we have started Memorial Day with attending the memorial day parade in our small Wisconsin town. It is short. It is sweet. It is for the Veterans that have served our country so well to keep us all free.

We started going to this parade due to my oldest child becoming involved in band. Both the middle school and high school bands march in this parade. It is the very first parade of the parade season and patriotic music is played. Usually, not a lot of preparation goes into this, but they always manage to sound and look good. It is a bittersweet parade for our senior high school band students have already graduated when they march in this parade on Memorial Day Monday. Today, I saw many of those seniors march in their high school colors for the last time. It is somewhat sad.

Yet, this is fitting for Memorial Day, isn't it? It is a somewhat sad and somber occasion. We go to the parade as a family to honor those still living and those soldiers who have passed away in service to our country. For me, I will probably start my memorial day each year this way as long as I live in this small Wisconsin town, long after I don't have anyone marching in the bands. After I've thanked the veterans by attending and by putting my hand over my heart as they walk by with our flag, I can feel free to enjoy my day.

Picnics, gardening, the start of summer......enjoy it all, just don't forget those that keep us free. We owe them so much!

Today, as we were leaving the parade, a veteran was walking up the street with a handful of little flags. He stopped and gave us each one. I was honored to be able to look in his face and say, "Thank you for your service". It made me feel good to say it and I hope I made him feel good in that I recognized his great contribution to our country!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your Memorial Day!

Carol

Homecoming.............A time to remember!

Usually, I am a person that lives in the present and looks to the future. I am also very goal oriented. It is rare for me to look back, for I am always moving forward. However, this weekend presented a rare occasion to do just that! It was Homecoming Weekend for our local High School. What a busy weekend it was, too!

It all starts with the prep, earlier in the week; the floats are being built at the various schools, including the elementary schools, the band is practicing for the parade and field show during half time at the football game, special t-shirts are ordered, dates are made, corsages are ordered and the whole community seems to get in the festive Homecoming mood.

What really helped this year was the weather! It was about 85 degrees here in Western Wisconsin! What a gorgeous fall day we had! In fact, the entire weekend was sunny and down right HOT!

I wasn't going to the parade this year, as I had seen it before and didn't feel I needed to see it again. BUT, my middle child joined the choir this year and it was his first chance to walk in the parade AND my high schooler was marching with the band! So, at the last minute, I decided to go. I had errands to run and decided that my kids are only young once and I should enjoy seeing them participate in school activities. I'm glad I went. I enjoyed it and got some great pictures.

Friday night proceeded with the festivities of the game, half time show, and dance! Many milestones were being past this weekend........My son had a "real" date and since he recently got his driver's license was able to pick her up and go to the dance; without a chauffeur! I missed out on pictures of course, but in the digital age; we had these by Saturday afternoon from his "group of friends".

This was all fun and exciting but the biggest impetus for me to look back this weekend was that the high school year books were distributed. Last night, I finally got a chance to sit down and look at a modern day year book, in full color, no less! What a great keepsake! And after carefully looking at the 2010 yearbook; out came all four of mine! I won't tell you the years.....but high school was many, many years ago for me! I had a great time reading the notes from former friends, remembering little things that I had since forgotten in my forward moving life, and thinking about "way back when".

As I said, I don't do it often, but I did look back last night! It was fun. I was able to share some of the pictures and stories from my high school days with my high schooler. He might have a better idea of who I am and who I was! It is readily evident that I was teased a lot and had fun in band.....just like him! So, although I don't look back often, I am sure glad I did on this Homecoming Weekend 2010!

Have a great Sunday~

Carol