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5/23/2008

Friday - the weekend cometh

The Memorial day weekend, actually. When I was a little boy, it meant the start of the summer vacation season - weeks spent at Aunt Louise's resort at the lake - endless summer days spent playing - waiting for those who'd left for 'vacations' to come back and play - Relievio played until way after dark - bounce or fly played in the street on bright summer days where the sun was so strong the reflections off the cars made you squint - hot nights with the screen in the window, hoping a breeze would come into the room and cool you off. Sweat on the pillow - days spent in the cool dark of the Atlantic Theater watching double bills over and over, and then your body was somehow unprepared for the fact it was dark outside when you went home. When I was a little boy. Now I am a big boy. Too big by a long shot. And the things summer means are different. And Memorial Day is different. There are names on The Wall that mean something to me. There are bodies in the ground that went there too young. They should be fat and old like me. They should have kids and grandkids and cars and mortgages. And life. But they don't.

"Find the cost of Freedom, buried in the ground", part of a lyric, in a song sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

17 comments:

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Lovely... Have a great weekend. :)

Anonymous said...

Your childhood sounds fantastic. I used to spend mine climbing trees and daring my mates to jump into ponds. Good times.

Anonymous said...

I can see you guys play around all day - must have been fun.

And sigh, yepp, many, too many went too early - and for what? :(

moneythoughts said...

Lou,

Great pick on the photo. It looks good. Thanks for your help.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

Fred

Anonymous said...

I hope amongst your gratitude for those who are buried in the ground is also an enjoyment of a holiday.

Talina said...

Oh, the joys of long weekends... Hopefully you have a great holiday! No outdoor activities for us, it is snowing!

Unknown said...

You paint a lovely scene. It makes me miss those dog days of summer as a kid.

Momisodes said...

Well said Lou. Very well said. You painted such a beautiful picture of summer, and tied in such a great reminder for us all this weekend.

Crimzen Creative said...

My Father lost a cousin in
the Vietnam war so Memorial
Day affected him and our
family greatly. I don't
like war, but respect all
the men and women who put
their lives on the line for
our freedom. Have a good
weekend!

Anonymous said...

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday. Be safe.

K.C. said...

Just stopping in. This was such a moving entry. Great description of your childhood and then when you moved on to how everything had changed for you as you got older. It is different, huh? Glad I stopped in. KC

Elizabeth said...

I hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend!

Anonymous said...

Have a great weekend, my friend!

Anonymous said...

It is more somber as you get older, isn't it? Not a "YAY, School's out!!," but a sad and more reflective day. My 3yo asked to get a flag last night (seeing all of them out) & I was so proud of him. I know it's more about it waving in the wind right now, but I hope as he ages to show him exactly what that red, white & blue stands for.

Unknown said...

Have a great holiday. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories.

Vikki North said...

Hi Lou,
I know I�ve said it before, but I stand speechless. What a beautiful Memorial Day story.

And you are so right. I also get a bit melancholy on Memorial Day. So many friends I went to high school with went to Viet Nam and never came home. You never forget them. Not for a moment.

Vikki

The Amazing Trips said...

I don't know when exactly Memorial Day stopped being the time that I hit all the big sales and had a huge BBQ to commemorate the start of summer, but more recently it is a day I spend in reflection of those people who have sacrificed their lives for our country.

This is a picture I took of our children last Memorial Day (just before our 4th was born). I really hope to impress upon them the significance of this important day...

http://amazingtrips.blogspot.com/2007/05/memorial-day-2007.html