today

today is a special day for many...
for some, it's their birthday.
others are celebrating their anniversaries.
many are partaking in the luck associated with 11.11.11.
everyone in st. louis is rejoicing in this beautiful warm fall day.
even more are giving thanks to our veterans today.


dad enlisted on 8.31.67
he spent two tours in vietnam

before i could even say, "good morning" today, dad said, "it's veteran's day!"

yes, this is the day that we take a moment to say thank you to the men and women serving in our military.

but, truly, how many of us can say that we have said those words to a service man or woman (facebook doesn't count)... and even more, how many of us can say that we've said those words the other 364 days of the year?

i've been with dad in the grocery store or the barber shop or walmart (and he's sporting his vietnam hat, of course) when someone walks up to him, shakes his hand and says, "thank you for your service."

and dad, he just looks at me and shakes his head like it's no big deal.

because to him, it is no big deal. he feels that he was meant to serve his country.

dad has been telling lots of stories since he came home from the hospital earlier this week. it's been feeling like every day is veteran's day at our house. he and his roommate swapped plenty of vietnam army stories when they couldn't think of anything else to talk about for those five days. i think that is one of the better parts of him being at the va hospital...the bond they have is irreplaceable.

this evening, my cub scout, jack and i ventured to city hall for the veteran's day ceremony.

sadly, dad wasn't feel very well, so he stayed home.

louie telling pop all about the ceremony

thank you to all of the bold and brave men and women of our country from the past, present and future.

happy veteran's day.



"freedom lies in being bold."

~robert frost