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I’m not sure which weekend is better? Presidents Day (was Washingtons birthday), Columbus Day (we picked a day), Labor Day (our own people/workers day) Memorial Day (Decoration Day) are all big weekends. I mean we actually get three days in a row to do just as we please.
I know some of you have big plans, right? There are so many things that can be enjoyed over the long weekend. Keeping it small you can picnic and/or bbq without leaving your own back yard. Or in a nearby park, by a lake or mountain stream at little cost. Take an extra long walk or jog along a back road enjoying mother natures awakening. Maybe just lie around in the sun exposing skin that hasn’t seen daylight since, well since too long. Don’t forget to SPF it! (years ago my sisters swore by baby oil?).
If your wallet allows there are many other things in which to partake. There are sporting events enough to keep anyone in a sweat! Baseball (big and little) games, stockcar and other races are huge. Even indoor events for the sun shy are held. The summer season (our timing, not mother natures) finally starts, so anything near water is excellent. You can even enjoy sales on just about anything if you like to shop (kind of a sport, I understand?). Buying things has become really big on “The Weekends!”, one of our national obsessions. Just ask anyone living (oh so well) off Madison Avenue.
Maybe you’re going out of town to visit friends or family. Perhaps visiting a special place that holds fond memories or the possibility of new ones? The theme parks will all be making those happy “ka~ching” sounds (oops, cash registers don’t do that any more do they?). Even with the cost of gasoline pricing the poor off the roads, I’ll bet the highways will be jammed full of cars crammed full of folks going, coming and doing!
Some folks will be staying home just to avoid all the doings out there. Peace and quiet will be a welcome respite from the business of life in general. So just being left to do nothing will be relaxation enough?
I’m betting most folks have made plans of one kind or another for the big “Three Day Weekend!” Whatever you’re going to do I hope you enjoy the time off. Maybe you’re even anticipating something different from the things mentioned so far? Perhaps some few besides me, just happen to recall why we have a "Memorial Day".
It didn’t start out as a way to take three days for bbq, picnics or races. It started in the 1860s (which I don’t actually recall) as “Decoration Day”. ONE special day. Didn’t have a name then, just a purpose..., to Remember. The decorating was done at gravesides.
It was set aside particularly to remember those folks (over a million so far) who have died to keep America united and alive. For many generations it remained just that, although it had (respectfully) grown into remembering all our (dead) loved ones. Most of the “celebrating” was done just where it should have been, in cemeteries. Yes, in cemeteries!
If you want to do something actually special for Memorial Day, try doing what it was started for..., Remembering. Remember you walk on free ground with each step you take. Remember you can (and should) walk on hallowed ground in just about any cemetery. See all the little flags fluttering in those cemeteries all over this great land? The body of a veteran lies beneath everyone of them, and it is hallowed ground. Consecrated in many cases by the blood of that veteran spilled elsewhere.
You can help new generations (and old) relearn the meaning of this very special (holi)day! Make at least one of your journeys this weekend be to a cemetery. Doesn’t matter if it is a “family” cemetery or not. Remember “why” the day is celebrated and “where” the celebrating began.
Then if your schedule of very important things allows, go to a parade! Stand on the sidelines, cheer, wave or salute as the veterans march (hobble?) past you, still serving. Cover your heart as our flag flutters past, and clap loud as you can for those school kids in the bands!
All of this is guaranteed not to give you indigestion, empty your wallet, or leave you with too much sunburn. But when you’re back home Monday evening, you will feel special about the way you spent your “Memorial” Day.
I don’t know about you..., but this weekend I will visit a cemetery, Remembering.
Cal Teeple, Wayne county citizen and sole fulltime member of the Observational Cogitation Consortium, can sometimes be found three stools down from you. He may be ignored, accosted or contacted at: twinews@wayneindependent.com OR the New website at: wayneindependent.com.
I’m not sure which weekend is better? Presidents Day (was Washingtons birthday), Columbus Day (we picked a day), Labor Day (our own people/workers day) Memorial Day (Decoration Day) are all big weekends. I mean we actually get three days in a row to do just as we please.
I know some of you have big plans, right? There are so many things that can be enjoyed over the long weekend. Keeping it small you can picnic and/or bbq without leaving your own back yard. Or in a nearby park, by a lake or mountain stream at little cost. Take an extra long walk or jog along a back road enjoying mother natures awakening. Maybe just lie around in the sun exposing skin that hasn’t seen daylight since, well since too long. Don’t forget to SPF it! (years ago my sisters swore by baby oil?).
If your wallet allows there are many other things in which to partake. There are sporting events enough to keep anyone in a sweat! Baseball (big and little) games, stockcar and other races are huge. Even indoor events for the sun shy are held. The summer season (our timing, not mother natures) finally starts, so anything near water is excellent. You can even enjoy sales on just about anything if you like to shop (kind of a sport, I understand?). Buying things has become really big on “The Weekends!”, one of our national obsessions. Just ask anyone living (oh so well) off Madison Avenue.
Maybe you’re going out of town to visit friends or family. Perhaps visiting a special place that holds fond memories or the possibility of new ones? The theme parks will all be making those happy “ka~ching” sounds (oops, cash registers don’t do that any more do they?). Even with the cost of gasoline pricing the poor off the roads, I’ll bet the highways will be jammed full of cars crammed full of folks going, coming and doing!
Some folks will be staying home just to avoid all the doings out there. Peace and quiet will be a welcome respite from the business of life in general. So just being left to do nothing will be relaxation enough?
I’m betting most folks have made plans of one kind or another for the big “Three Day Weekend!” Whatever you’re going to do I hope you enjoy the time off. Maybe you’re even anticipating something different from the things mentioned so far? Perhaps some few besides me, just happen to recall why we have a "Memorial Day".
It didn’t start out as a way to take three days for bbq, picnics or races. It started in the 1860s (which I don’t actually recall) as “Decoration Day”. ONE special day. Didn’t have a name then, just a purpose..., to Remember. The decorating was done at gravesides.
It was set aside particularly to remember those folks (over a million so far) who have died to keep America united and alive. For many generations it remained just that, although it had (respectfully) grown into remembering all our (dead) loved ones. Most of the “celebrating” was done just where it should have been, in cemeteries. Yes, in cemeteries!
If you want to do something actually special for Memorial Day, try doing what it was started for..., Remembering. Remember you walk on free ground with each step you take. Remember you can (and should) walk on hallowed ground in just about any cemetery. See all the little flags fluttering in those cemeteries all over this great land? The body of a veteran lies beneath everyone of them, and it is hallowed ground. Consecrated in many cases by the blood of that veteran spilled elsewhere.
You can help new generations (and old) relearn the meaning of this very special (holi)day! Make at least one of your journeys this weekend be to a cemetery. Doesn’t matter if it is a “family” cemetery or not. Remember “why” the day is celebrated and “where” the celebrating began.
Then if your schedule of very important things allows, go to a parade! Stand on the sidelines, cheer, wave or salute as the veterans march (hobble?) past you, still serving. Cover your heart as our flag flutters past, and clap loud as you can for those school kids in the bands!
All of this is guaranteed not to give you indigestion, empty your wallet, or leave you with too much sunburn. But when you’re back home Monday evening, you will feel special about the way you spent your “Memorial” Day.
I don’t know about you..., but this weekend I will visit a cemetery, Remembering.
Cal Teeple, Wayne county citizen and sole fulltime member of the Observational Cogitation Consortium, can sometimes be found three stools down from you. He may be ignored, accosted or contacted at: twinews@wayneindependent.com OR the New website at: wayneindependent.com.
