one small voice saying thank you

memorial day is a USA holiday dedicated to honoring those who have given their lives in service of the country. that is, people who have died in wars. i'm sure i am not alone in extending the honor to police, firefighters, and others who are generous and brave enough to stand in the gap between danger and the rest of us. the trust we have is these folks is so innate we don't even feel it, cannot even really acknowledge it. they are simply there. it's like turning on a light switch and expecting electricity or turning on a faucet and expecting water or sitting in a chair and expecting to not hit the floor butt-first.

we trust them so much that it's easy to take them for granted. today's the day to try to remember not to do that. today's also the day for big sales at the mall, and swimming pools opening officially for summer. it's hard not to get distracted.

memorial day was originally known as decoration day. most accounts report that the practice of gathering in the springtime to decorate the graves of the fallen was the bright idea of some southern ladies right around the time of the civil war, but i am here to tell you they didn't think it up. they just brought it over on whatever boat they came on. i mean, folks have been decorating graves since there were graves to be decorated, but just because it's an ancient tradition doesn't make it unimportant.

so, thanks go out to all those who protect us.

and, thanks again.

many, many thanks.