I wouldn't normally do this because I think I'm a pretty thankful person on a daily basis in my own little world. Granted, I don't tell the people closest to me that I'm thankful for them often enough but I still tell them pretty often. What I mean by being thankful is that there isn't often a day that goes by that I don't realize how lucky I am. I'm lucky and I'm thankful for a lot of reasons and on the way home from my parents' house tonight, I realized that today is the day to let some people know that.
First on the list has got to be my lovely wife. She does more for us than she knows, more for us than any one person could be expected to do and she does it with a happy heart if not always a happy face.
Obviously next, would be my kids. I'm thankful for N because, with his special needs, I've gotten more fathering in over the last 8 years than most men do. I'm thankful for K because she's given me the chance to be a daddy for the past 3 years and for many years to come, even if she does call me Dad about half the time now.
Next, believe it or not, is the rest of my family. I'm not always outwardly thankful for them but they did teach me an important lesson whether any of us knew it at the time or not. That lesson was how to take the best traits of the people that I know and make them my own.
Finally, (or not so finally) we come to my friends. This category has to be broken down into two sub-groups. The first group is the group from college also know as A7ers or EdFesters. I know they don't this but they very likely may have saved my life, if not literally, definitely metaphorically. I am the man I am today because of them as much as anyone. They stuck by my side and saw things in me that I didn't see myself. For that, I am forever grateful.
The second group is the people I met because of the A7ers. Spouses, friends, relatives of A7ers that are made of the same stuff as the originals. I know I've accepted them as de facto members of A7 whether they like it or not and I count them as good friends no matter how long I've known them or how much time I've spent with them. I hope they all know that I appreciate them and that I would do anything for them just as I would any of the original A7 crew.
It's taken me 37 years to realize that I'm an extremely lucky man. It's time I let those around me know they are the reason I feel that way.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veterans Day
I hope everybody who knows a vet, is related to a vet or even just saw a vet today said thank you to them. We all chipped in for pizza at work for our resident sailor and someone even baked cupcakes. I know it's not much or enough but I know he appreciated the effort and the food.
All day long on the radio, the DJs were talking about the day and just being grateful for the sacrifices made by all those that have served. That and these 2 blog posts (here and here) got me thinking about what the day really means and what we should really be doing when we recognize the effort our soldiers and sailors have put forth for all of us.
I think that second link led me down the path I eventually followed. And that is this:
I think this day commemorating the end of WWI should be about more than thanking our vets. While I don't know if anger is the right emotion, I think we owe it to our troops and ourselves to make a tremendous effort to keep our troops out of harm's way. And I think today, of all days, should be set aside to reflect not only on their sacrifice but also on our duty to them.
You see, I don't think we're upholding our end of the bargain. Sending them to battle as anything less than a last resort or without a clear mission with clear goals isn't respecting their sacrifice. Telling all other Americans to go about your daily lives as if nothing had changed while soldiers are fighting and dying in their name is amoral. Thumbing your nose at the basic tenets of our country, its origins and its foundations while telling young men and women to defend your actions in battle is unconscionable. This is what we, the civilians being protected, need to contemplate on this day.
And so, I say to all current and former servicemen and women, to all families of those killed and those deployed and those that have returned, thank you. Next year, I hope we are more worthy of your service than we are today.
All day long on the radio, the DJs were talking about the day and just being grateful for the sacrifices made by all those that have served. That and these 2 blog posts (here and here) got me thinking about what the day really means and what we should really be doing when we recognize the effort our soldiers and sailors have put forth for all of us.
I think that second link led me down the path I eventually followed. And that is this:
I think this day commemorating the end of WWI should be about more than thanking our vets. While I don't know if anger is the right emotion, I think we owe it to our troops and ourselves to make a tremendous effort to keep our troops out of harm's way. And I think today, of all days, should be set aside to reflect not only on their sacrifice but also on our duty to them.
You see, I don't think we're upholding our end of the bargain. Sending them to battle as anything less than a last resort or without a clear mission with clear goals isn't respecting their sacrifice. Telling all other Americans to go about your daily lives as if nothing had changed while soldiers are fighting and dying in their name is amoral. Thumbing your nose at the basic tenets of our country, its origins and its foundations while telling young men and women to defend your actions in battle is unconscionable. This is what we, the civilians being protected, need to contemplate on this day.
And so, I say to all current and former servicemen and women, to all families of those killed and those deployed and those that have returned, thank you. Next year, I hope we are more worthy of your service than we are today.
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