Post-Thanksgiving Thanks

I'm thankful the Muppets were created:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

What are you thankful for?

Life Detritus

"Detritus - the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up."

I'm noticing a lot of "life detritus" has accumulated in my house. For example, every time I would get a drinking glass from the cupboard, I saw a mug I had bought years before at the urging of my then boyfriend. It was a "pay $5 now, and refills are $1 for life" kind of deal.

The sight of it always reminds me that I had not ever used it after buying it. It also reminded me of the boyfriend. So, the sight of the mug was a negative memory of a waste of time and money (for both the mug & the boyfriend). But yet, it sat in the cupboard, high on a shelf - since 2005!

I'm working on getting rid of "life detritus" - the mug was the first to go.

Veteran's Day

In Canada, where I grew up, it is expected that everyone wears a poppy on their coat by Nov. 11, to mark Veteran's Day. The poppies are a symbol of Flanders Fields - it is also expected that every Canadian schoolchild reads "In Flanders Fields."

Strangely enough, there's a good link and history found through the Arlington Cemetery website:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

Perhaps someday, we won't need to be reminded that WWI was not the war to end all wars.

Today is not that day.


In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

A friend introduced me to "Green Fields of France" - v. touching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrQnnZJ68Xo

"Leaving" Things Alone

Ok, this was to be my rant about the increasing rudeness and stupidity of people, especially in airports and flying. But, as I drove home from the airport Sunday, I was struck by the colors of the last few leaves - one small tree on my street still proudly displaying its red flames while the other trees are already bare.

And I let my rant go and simply appreciated the little bits of beauty.

Enjoy the last moments of fall.