A Veterans Day Story

Happy Monday. It is Veterans Day today. Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States. It is a day to honor military veterans, persons who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Happy Veterans Day to all of our Veterans. Thank you so much for your service. I want to share a very special veteran and a story with you. My brother Donnie.

When I was about four years old my oldest brother Donnie enlisted in the US Army. This was during the Vietnam War. My brother Allen also enlisted, a few years later, in the US Air Force. This particular story is about my brother Donnie.

Donnie was the first of our family to leave and go away. He left for a few months for basic training, I think in Virginia, and then not long after that he was sent to Thailand. I think he got to come home one time before leaving for Thailand. We had never been separated as a family quite like this.

I never really knew how hard his leaving was for my mama until I read her diaries and journals she left behind. She wrote about how bad she missed him, and how she would smell his clothes and the soap he used just so she could feel close to him. About the only way we had to communicate was through letters. No FaceTime or cell phones or anything like that existed. We did have the occasional land line phone call but it was very rare. The rates were unbelievable and the timing of where my brother was stationed just didn’t work out a lot.

I started first grade right about the time he had to leave for Thailand. I went to school and told everyone about my big brother and how he was a soldier and how brave he was. It’s really all we could think about at our house. We all missed him so badly. My parents stayed glued to the nightly news to hear updates about everything going on with the Vietnam War.

Every morning when I went to school we had a little assembly time where we would gather with a couple of other classes. We met in the cafeteria and sang songs. I will never forget the day I heard them singing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” I thought they were singing “When Donnie Comes Marching Home”. WHAT??? They had written a song just for my brother!!! Oh I was beyond proud. I stood up straight and tall and vowed to learn every word of that song by heart. I could not wait to tell my mama.

As soon as I got off the bus that afternoon I ran straight into the kitchen where my mama was cooking dinner. Guess what? Guess what? I told her there was a song written just for Donnie, and they sing about how happy everyone will be when he comes marching home. I sang a few lines for her. She knew the song I meant, but she didn’t say anything. I thought she would be so happy but she had the saddest look on her face. It was several months later that one of my classmates pointed out to me that it was not Donnie, in the song, it was Johnny. It still didn’t change the meaning to me and I would still replace Johnny with Donnie every time I sang it. I vowed to do this until the day he really came marching back home.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, is a song from the American Civil War that expressed people’s longing for the return of their loved ones who were fighting in the war. It was first published in 1863.

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah, hurrah
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then,
Hurrah, hurrah
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies, they will all turn out,
And we’ll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

It was many years later, after reading my mama’s diaries, that I realized why my mama looked so sad every time I sang that song. It was because she didn’t know if he would make it back home. Many people did not. Lots of people we knew, neighbors, friends, did not make it back home to their families. It was an unbelievably sad time for so many.

Last week we celebrated my brother Donnie’s 77th Birthday. He has been through so much in the last few years. He had tonsil cancer and has had some heart issues. He never lets it slow him down. He is the hardest worker I have ever known, many times having two jobs at a time. He can do anything. He does everything for his family. He is a true hero.

Today is the day we celebrate our heroes but really we should celebrate them every day. They are the reason we are able to live our lives in freedom.

Have a wonderful week and Always remember,

Love your day your way!!!

Wordless Wednesday Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, Preston MN

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

Hello November

Can you believe that November is here? The end of the year is quickly approaching. Daylight Savings Time ended this past weekend. We got an extra hour of sleep. I am one of those people, and I have been called strange because of it, who likes this time change. I love that it gets darker and cozier early in the evening. I love that the sun comes up earlier in the mornings. There is just something about the winter sun this time of the year that makes everything look softer and cozier. Yes, that is the second time I mentioned being cozy. I guess you can see where my mind is at this time of year. Warm fires, blankets, books, hot coffee or cocoa, you get the drift.

***Just look at these warm temps. It feels like spring outside. Come on cold air!!!***

***Sunrise this time of the year is especially beautiful!!***

I told you last week that I bought a new car. Well, new to me anyway. The car has tinted windows. I really didn’t notice how dark they were while I was test driving it. It was a sunny day and I just didn’t notice how dark the windows actually were. I guess I was just focused on how well the car drove. That is until I had to drive home late one night last week and I COULDN’T SEE!!!! It was so dark!!! The side windows are so dark I can’t see my rear view mirrors at night. Not only were the windows extra dark but we live in a rural area where there are zero street lights. It was very scary. I decided to call the dealership and see what they could do. They have been very helpful and they are going to take the tint off and bring my windows back to factory standards. I am so relieved and I can’t wait to get it done. I am just being extra careful at night when I have to get out.

This past weekend was a lazy one. Other than driving my car back to Knoxville and getting it checked out, and having lunch with my sister, I was very lazy. I worked on my nephew’s afghan and watched it grow a little bit. I finished a hat I had been working on and immediately started another one. I then decided to start a pair of socks. I like variety and I like to be working on more than one thing at a time. That way if I get bored with one I just switch to another.

Tomorrow is Election Day. I already voted. I early voted a couple of weeks ago. Once again we live in a very rural area, and for our district, if I don’t vote early at our local election office, I have to drive several miles out into the country to place my vote. I just have to add here, please pray for our nation. A lot of changes are coming, either way the election goes.

***The weather Sunday was almost perfect. If you look close you can see shimmering sparkles on the lake.***

Hubby’s birthday is this week. He loves pie. He will want his favorite pumpkin pie. If he can choose between cake or pie he will always choose pie. I myself am a cake person.

I leave you with a picture of Gus. He was stretched out in one of his favorite spots without a care in the world. And that is just the way it should be.

Have a wonderful cozy week and always remember,

Love your day your way

Friday Favorites

Hello and happy Friday!!! I have a few Friday Favorites to share with you.

Remember on my previous post I was decoupaging the pumpkins? I finally finished and I guess I’m ok with the way they turned out. I didn’t finish them until the week before Halloween but I think they look fallish. So I will keep them out through Thanksgiving.

I love winter weather folklore. I always find it interesting, all the ”signs”, that the old farmers use to predict planting and just how cold it is going to be. Have you heard this one about the caterpillars. This one is from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

I also love making chili when it gets cold outside. I made some last week. We always have plenty for leftovers. I also love putting chow chow on mine.

I can’t remember if I showed you this carry-on bag that I got a few months ago. This one holds quite a lot and it can be put under your airplane seat. It has wheels so you don’t have to lug it through the airport. My arms and shoulders are saved. I also added the bigger suitcase. Of course you know I would pick the ones with cats.

Have you ever tried these Sea Salt Caramels? I get them at T.J. Maxx. I know a lot of the food they have is questionable. I have tried some things from there and not liked them. But these caramels are delicious. I always have to get a bag when I am there. See? I already tore into them before I took the picture HA!

Yesterday was Halloween and several of us at work decided to dress as Care Bears. I was the pink Care Bear. I bought a pink sweatshirt at Walmart and ordered the ears and the rainbow iron-on from Amazon. It was super easy.