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Archive for the ‘History’ Category

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.  It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.
    —    James Baldwin
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On This Day In:
2022 But You’re Still Looking?
2021 Misunderestimated
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery (Leader Of The Band)
Four Fifths Of Music
2020 Doctor’s Orders
Make That Seven Orders… (Good Lovin’)
2019 Innocent
2018 Ripost
2017 Just Asking…
2016 And 4
How Tall Do You Stand?
2015 More Prejudice
2014 Say What?
2013 Daring Errors
2012 Are You Comfortable?
I Just Have To
In Flux
2011 True New
2010 A Job Well Started Is A Job Half Done
I See With My One Good Eye

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2023 Veterans Day Poster
The image / poster was taken from the Veterans Administration web site:  http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp where you can see each of the posters since 1978.
[To all who are serving, to all who have served, and to all those who have waited patiently for their return, “Thank You!!
If you have the time, take a minute to read:  What Is A Vet?    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022 Veterans Day – 11 November 2022
2021 Veterans Day – 11 November 2021
Service Can Be As Simple As Standing Up When Called (You’ve Got To Stand For Something)
2020 Veterans Day – 11 November 2020
Thankful (Arlington)
Remembrance Day – 11 November 2020
2019 Veterans Day – 11 November 2019
2018 Veterans Day – 11 November 2018
2017 Veterans Day – 11 November 2017
2016 Veterans Day – 11 November 2016
2015 Veterans Day – 11 November 2015
2014 Veterans Day – 11 November 2014
2013 Veterans Day – 11 November 2013
2012 Monkey Business
Veterans Day – 11 November 2012
In Others
2011 Veterans Day – 11/11/11
Deeply Confused (Still)
2010 We are not from fearful men and I Am Not Afraid!!
Veterans Day – 11 November 2010
2009 Narrowly missed first weight goal, but still happy…

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Once again another 9/11 rolls around and my thoughts return to the innocents in the attack at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.  I remember (and celebrate) the courage of those first responders who gave their lives trying to save others simply because it was their job and what they’d chosen to devote their lives to.  I roll forward to those who spent weeks and months in the toxic rubble clearing the site(s) and looking for anything which might bring some closure to those who lost family and friends that day.  I think of the government which told them it was “safe” to work there and then delayed assistance when the workers started experiencing toxin related illnesses.  Finally, I think of those who did their sworn duty and went half a world away to keep our homeland safe(r).  The killed.  The injured.  The traumatized.  Those to whom we still owe a debt of honor (and gratitude) which “some” – with the increasing distance of history – are unwilling to fulfill.
To all of you:  “You are in my prayers.”  And, as trivial as it may seem to those who’ve sacrificed so much more than I have:  “Always remembered.”
2023 Update:  Always remembered…
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On This Day In:
2022 Thoughts
2021 Current Heroes (II)
Glued To The TV – 3,000 Miles Away (Where Were You)
2020 Current Heroes
I’m Mid-West Born, But California Raised (Good Vibrations)
Appropriated To Her Being
2019 All In Good Time
Day 13: Pause & Resume
Ghrelin And Leptin
2018 Gratitude And Warmth
Remembering Loss, Sacrifice And Service
Making Little Ones Out Of Bigger Ones
2017 Never Forget
2016 It’s All Greek To Me (Well, Latin Actually)
2015 Truism
2014 Thank You
2013 Really
2012 Ordinary Five Minutes Longer
2011 The Wealth Of Sons (And Daughters)

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…The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.
    ––     Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.
    ––     Attributed to multiple sources
Image of Fulton County Inmate P01135809

Image of Fulton County Inmate P01135809 taken on 24 August 2023

Step 9:  Freedom or Incarceration  (Pending)
Step 8:  Release or Sentencing  (Pending)
Step 7:  Jury Vote – Innocent or Guilty  (Pending)
Step 6:  Trial by Jury  (Pending)
Step 5:  Preliminary Motions and Discovery  (Pending)
Step 4:  Arrest and Booking of Accused  (Check)
Step 3:  Indictment Decision by a Grand Jury  (Check)
Step 2:  Presentation of Investigation results to a Grand Jury  (Check)
Step 1:  Criminal Investigation  (Check)
Donald J. Trump will go down in history with another of many firsts…
[Please keep in mind that in the United States a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of their peers.  Investigation, indictment, arrest and booking do NOT make a person guilty.  That is for the jury to decide after the presentation of evidence and the evidence must be sufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
We live in a country subject to the rule of law.  It isn’t always fair or just, but it is far better than the rule of the mob or that of might over right.  We are living in an unfolding moment of history and the eyes of the world are watching us…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022 What If I Don’t Want To Know Myself?
2021 But Verify
I Feel Like Slow Dancing (When I Need You)
2020 In 50 States And Voting Against Trump
A Two Steps Comparison (Come A Little Bit Closer / Gimme Three Steps)
2019 My Last Must Be My Best
2018 Making Friends
Day 28: A Normal Loss And A Headache
2017 Sea Worthy
2016 Rising Integration
2015 No Worries
2014 Devouring The Present
2013 But So Far…
Twice Moved
2012 Just Like Bubbles
2011 Caring and Driving
Achieve Greatly
2010 Unwise To Trust
Attitude
If The Mind Is Not Tired
Irrationally Crazy
2nd Pair – Shoe Review
Ahnu – Gesundheit!
2009 As for me…
Health Care Reform Now!!

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First: In America, everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law before a jury of their peers.
Second:  The indictment of a former President on alleged crimes concerning an attempted coup via a conspiracy to reverse the results of a free and fair election is equally historic and unprecedented.  Most of the evidence / testimony which led up to this indictment was gathered by means of grand jury testimony submitted freely or under subpoena and under oath by life-long Republicans who not only favored the former President’s re-election, but who also actively promoted his re-election.  It is significant that not one of these individuals has come out to say their testimony was in error or misinterpreted by the grand jury or in this indictment.
I encourage everyone to open and read (the attached link) a copy of the indictment of former President Donald Trump and his six “presently un-named” co-conspirators (in PDF format):
read-trump-indictment-related-to-various-conspiracies-against-the-us
Note:  the above link is a U.S. government web site at the U.S. Department of Justice.  The specific address link to the above document is:  US vs Trump: https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump_23_cr_257.pdf which can be used to copy / paste in your browser address line if the link does not click-thru for you.
Third:  ANY government official who calls for (“incites”) violence before, during or as a result of this trial should be removed from office by their peers.  You / they have the right to express an opinion about the indictments validity.  You / they have the right to express a desire for peaceful protest against the indictment, trial, conviction or any sentencing resulting from this indictment.  However, you / they have a duty / obligation to support and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.  If you cannot meet that duty, you should leave office.
Fourth:  The judge in this case should rule immediately that all proceedings will be televised for the benefit of people of the United States.  The Supreme Court should immediately and unanimously affirm that ruling.  The allegations in this indictment go to the very core of our democracy and republican form of government.  The people have a right to see the testimony and evidence in real time and without it being filtered through a media of partisan televised commentators who may attempt to twist the testimony to the benefit of their respective network and / or political leaning.
As an opponent of almost all of President Trump’s policies, I am thrilled he has been indicted for a third time.  In the near quarter millennium of our nation’s history, there has never been a less qualified nor more poorly suited for office individual person elected to be our Chief Executive.  Hopefully, this indictment continues to affirm that in America, no one is above the law.  As an American, I am deeply saddened by the necessity of the actions our government has been compelled to take to restore the rule of law (as I was by the two impeachments trials and two prior indictments).  When the personal ethics of our elected leaders fail and they break the law, it is the duty of law-enforcement and the judicial system to hold these leaders accountable.  So, while saddened by the historical significance of this tragic event, I am equally proud it is happening.  For now, the system is working…  Former President Trump will have his day in court.  I hope it will be a day which is viewable by the American public.
Please encourage EVERYONE you know (including Trump supporters) to read the indictment and (at the very least) watch the news to follow this important event in our history.
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On This Day In:
2022 Fundamentally Rooted Routine
2021 And Due To Be More Fluid
Still Reading Between The Lines (I Want To Know What Love Is)
2020 A Humbling Learning Process
They Are All Good (For The Good Times)
2019 Another Thought On #45’s Poor Education
2018 As Long As You Survive Each Experience
WordPress to Facebook Test…
Day 7: Oh, Yeah!
2017 A Good Habit
2016 The Minds Of Trumpism
2015 Expressing Nonsense
2014 A Real Fight
2013 Unravelling
2012 I Resolve
2011 Practice, Practice, Practice
2009 Phoenix Trip (July ’09)

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I do not know of any salvation for society except through eccentrics, misfits, dissenters, people who protest.
    —     William O. Douglas
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On This Day In:
2022 I Really Have Tried
2021 Your Best Heat
Memphis Group (Green Onions)
2020 Me Too
2019 No Regrets
2018 In Times Of Crisis
Genes, Desire And Luck
2017 The Voice Of Experience
2016 Who And When
2015 Change Process
2014 What Is Still Possible
2013 Strength Is There
2012 Beyond Reasonable Doubt
2011 Celebrating Values
2010 Is it just me, or is it suddenly dark around here?
Dance!

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Revolutions go not backward.
    —    Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Actually, in the long history of mankind – and equally true of most species with hierarchical command structures – authoritarian rulers are almost always replaced by other authoritarian rulers.   They revert to form because the “new” revolutionary leaders believe they are the only ones who know the one right way to a better society.  Sometimes it just takes a little longer to happen…  Democracy is a fairly rare flower with a normally brief bloom period.  This is why EVERY generation is tasked with defending freedom.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022 So Why Not Try?
2021 One Likely Consequence
Just A Carousel (People Make The World Go Round)
2020 Know Love
2019 Spoiler Alert
2018 Tic-Toc
2017 Explaining Working Class Support For Donald
2016 Not In My Experience
2015 Effort
2014 Honest Wants
2013 Faith, n.
2012 Surprise Me
2011 Confused With Truth

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First:  In America, everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law before a jury of their peers.
Second:  The indictment of a former President on crimes concerning national security is equally historic and unprecedented.  Some of the evidence / testimony which led up to this indictment was gathered by means of a judicial decision that stipulated there was sufficient evidence of a crime having been committed to warrant the Department of Justice moving forward with its investigation.  This means it is not “just” the Executive Branch (under President Biden) acting to uphold the rule of law.
I encourage everyone to open and read (the attached link) a copy of the indictment of former President Donald Trump and his aide Waltine Nauta (in PDF format):
read-trump-indictment-related-to-mishandling-of-classified-documents
Third:  Waltine Nauta held the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy before he began his duties at the White House.  It is beyond belief to think Nauta was not aware of the significance of documents marked “confidential”, “classified”, “Secret” or “Top Secret”.  As a veteran (myself) who possessed a security clearance, it is staggering to think Nauta permitted the casual handling of ANY documents marked as such.  At a minimum, Nauta should have advised the former President that his actions were inappropriate and unlawful.  Nauta did not even have to read the documents to “know” this.  He could make the determination simply by observing the documents covers.  Nauta should have then reported the documents location to appropriate national security officials.
Fourth:  ANY government official who calls for (“incites”) violence before, during or as a result of this trial should be removed from office by their peers.  You / they have the right to express an opinion about the indictments validity.  You / they have the right to express a desire for peaceful protest against the indictment, trial, conviction or any sentencing resulting from this indictment.  However, you / they have a duty / obligation to support and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.  If you cannot meet that duty, you should leave office.
Fifth (and finally):  While the documents were received in the course of his elected term of office as President, and during which time he had a legal and legitimate right to possess and / or know this information, the former President (and his aide) has demonstrated a careless and criminal level negligent disposition to the handling (and potential compromising) of the information contained in these documents.  If convicted of these charges, both the former President and his aide (Nauta) should be remanded to a maximum security facility with minimal outside access, as they (particularly the ex-President) already have direct knowledge of highly classified national security information.  This incarceration should last (at least) until such time as the government can determine the information they have been exposed to, and had control over, is of no threat to our national security or to that of our allies.   I would hope a damage assessment of these documents and mitigation is already under way by all of the relevant originating agencies and allies.
As an opponent of almost all of President Trump’s policies, I am thrilled he has been indicted.  In the near quarter millennium of our nation’s history, there has never been a less qualified nor more poorly suited for office individual person elected to be our Chief Executive.  Hopefully, this indictment demonstrates that in America, no one is above the law.  As an American, I am deeply saddened by the necessity of the actions our government has been compelled to take to restore the rule of law (as I was by the two impeachments trials).  When the personal ethics of our elected leaders fail and they break the law, it is the duty of law-enforcement and the judicial system to hold these leaders accountable.  So, while saddened by the historical significance of this tragic event, I am equally proud it is happening.  For now, the system is working…  Former President Trump will have his day in court.
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On This Day In:
2022 Laying A Sound Foundation
2021 A Little…
Bringing Back Memories (State Of Mind)
Think Global – Act Local
2020 Was #IncompenentDonald Born To Be A Diplomat?
2019 Have You Planted Lately?
2018 Something / Nothing
2017 Kindness
2016 Dealing With It
2015 Too Many Choices!
2014 Vini, Vidi, Vici
2013 Heroes
Education, n.
2012 Who I Want To Be
2011 Mythic Forgetfulness

(more…)

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Personally, I would be delighted if there were a life after death, especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others, if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out.
    —    Carl Sagan
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On This Day In:
2023 I (Too) Hope My Curiosity Endures
2022 Traveling Faster Than ‘c’
2021 Maybe “Creation” Wasn’t That Difficult After All
C’est Chic (Le Freak)
2020 #45: Time Is Ticking Away
#45 Claims COVID-19 Defeated To Open The Economy
2019 Belief Buffet
2018 Change Is Law
2017 A Dog Day Of Summer
2016 Chances Are
2015 Truer Spoken
2014 Not Quite There Yet (Either)
Many Colors
2013 Distance, n.
Less Can Be More
2012 Rise Up!
The Gift
2011 Artful Courage
2010 A Handful of Lessons…

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The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice.
    —     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2023 And Pretty Viscous Without Review
2022 Going Beyond
2021 Shapely Ankles
Beyond Thar Be Dragons (Puff The Magic Dragon)
2020 Skyin’ (Keep Your Head To The Sky)
2019 I Hope He Has A Lot Of Room Down There
2018 What Time Is It?
2017 Gifts
2016 30 Seconds
2015 Success
2014 Create The Fact
2013 Overpowering Curiosity
2012 On Planning The Invasion Of Iraq…
2011 This And That
I’m Bettin’ On The Bible

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Man is about to be an automaton;  he is identifiable only in the computer.  As a person of worth and creativity, as a being with an infinite potential, he retreats and battles the forces that make him inhuman.  The dissent we witness is a reaffirmation of faith in man;  it is protest against living under rules and prejudices and attitudes that produce the extremes of wealth and poverty and that make us dedicated to the destruction of people through arms, bombs, and gases, and that prepare us to think alike and be submissive objects for the regime of the computer.
    —    William O. Douglas
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
[Resistance / dissent is – probably – already futile…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023 The Dissent We Witness
2022 End The Filibuster
2021 Be Creative, Question Assumptions
By No Means (King Of The Road)
2020 I’ll Eat To That (Gemütlichkeit)
To The Front
2019 #ContinueToResist
Except Willful Ignorance And Prideful Stupidity
2018 More Executive Time For #DumbDonald
2017 Watched The Inauguration
Two Geniuses
2016 Come Dance And Laugh With Me
2015 Looks Good To Me
2014 Desire For The Sea
2013 The Fierce Urgency Of NOW
Happy Inauguration Day!
2012 One Path
Sorrow And Joy
The Seven Year View
2011 Emergent Practicality

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Today’s review is for the book: “My Ántonia” (1918©) written by Willa Cather.  This book is considered her first masterpiece.  The book was given to me by Craig Carrozzi, a high school friend / football teammate, who is himself a published author.  I reviewed one of his books (“The Curse of Chief Tenaya“) and he felt this book had a similar “feel” to his work, so he gave it to me when we recently went to lunch. The work is loosely based on Cather’s own experiences growing up on the Nebraska prairie and those of a actual immigrant (Annie Pavelka) who worked as a “hired girl”.
The book revolves around two main characters:  James (Jim) Burton – the books narrator, and Ántonia Shimerda. “Jim” is a recently orphaned boy from Virginia and Ántonia is a slightly older (by four years) girl recently immigrated from Bohemia (currently Czech Republic) with her family as they all start their new lives in a farming town in Nebraska at the end of the 1900’s and through the early 20th century.  The narrator tells the tale of his growing up and his friendship with the “girl next door” and some of the changes they see in the American West.
The book begins with an introduction (narrated by the author) of Burton which (unknown to the reader) provides the framework and conclusion of the main narration – although I did not fully realize this until after the book was finished.  It then reminded me of watching an episode of “Columbo” – a TV detective / police series from the 70’s / 80’s known for starting each episode of the show with the crime and the audience knows who the culprit is so the only question is whether the “bumbling” detective can figure out how the crime was done and who is the guilty party.  Thematically, the author and the narrator meet on a train ride and spend time discussing their shared childhood.  The discussion passes to Ántonia and the author asks the narrator to tell Ántonia’s story because he (Burton) knew Ántonia so much better.  Ultimately, the boy grows up to be a wealthy New York attorney (we are led to believe unhappily married and childless) and Ántonia grows up to be a poor farmer’s wife and mother of almost a dozen kids.  Having written and presented his version of events as instructed, the narrator gives his text to the female passenger who then decides not to write her version.
Post “Introduction”, the book is Burton’s narrated story(ies).  The novel is divided into multiple(5) “books” and each of those broken into multiple chapters of – normally – two to five pages.  My version of the book totals 136 pages, in fairly small print.  The book is a very fast read, but I broke it up over several days because I was enjoying it and wanted to savor the words as much as the story.
So, is this book any good?  Is it insightful or “just” entertaining?  And, of course, do I recommend it?  Yes, this book is good!  It is both insightful AND entertaining.  And, I highly recommend it!
This is not my typical taste in reading.  Although nominally, describing the full lives of two individuals and a few other minor-characters, it doesn’t “really” have a build up and climax.  It just kind of rambles on like the “Great Plains” themselves.  This, in itself is interesting because the book supposedly describes the settling of the American “West”.  In point of fact, this is what we (Americans) now consider the “fly-over” portion of the country – the plains and Mississippi-Missouri river valley separating the Rockies from the Appalachian Mountains.  In any case, the natural beauty of the land is lovingly described in picturesque detail.  As mentioned above, I enjoyed the vivid descriptions so much I slowed down my reading so I could dawdle over and savor the words and sentences.  Every page is used to capture the sights, colors, smells and textures of whatever is being described – from mud holes, to linen sheets, to grains waving in the winds, to snow and ice turning to mush.
Final recommendation:  Very highly recommended!  Living in our current day and age, with all of our modern conveniences, it is near impossible to comprehend how difficult it must have been even just 100 years ago, to come to a new country / state and start (in some cases literally) from a cave dug into the ground and then to go on and make a life for yourself and your family.  It was a bit transfixing to read about this struggle and think for that generation, there was nothing else to do but to get on with it – and they did…
Final Note:  This book is out of copyright and available for free downloading at / from several web sites in several formats.
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On This Day In:
2022 Large, Reasonable And Important
Prairie Life
2021 The Question Is Courage
Never Change (Hello It’s Me)
2020 Two Quotes Which Remind Me Of Our Lame Duck President
Still Running (Running On Empty)
2019 I’m Up For Trying
60 Day Health / Weight Update (Nov 2019)
2018 #PresidentBoneSpur
2017 My Staggering Confusion
Zapped!!!
2016 And Bloggers?
2015 Ethical Energy
2014 Are You Likely To Defend It?
2013 Might As Well
2012 The Long And Short Of It
2011 Bravery

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2022 Veterans Day Poster
The image / poster was taken from the Veterans Administration web site:  http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp where you can see each of the posters since 1978.
[To all who are serving, to all who have served, and to all those who have waited patiently for their return, “Thank You!!
If you have the time, take a minute to read:  What Is A Vet?    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022 Veterans Day – 11 November 2022
2021 Veterans Day – 11 November 2021
Service Can Be As Simple As Standing Up When Called (You’ve Got To Stand For Something)
2020 Veterans Day – 11 November 2020
Thankful (Arlington)
Remembrance Day – 11 November 2020
2019 Veterans Day – 11 November 2019
2018 Veterans Day – 11 November 2018
2017 Veterans Day – 11 November 2017
2016 Veterans Day – 11 November 2016
2015 Veterans Day – 11 November 2015
2014 Veterans Day – 11 November 2014
2013 Veterans Day – 11 November 2013
2012 Monkey Business
Veterans Day – 11 November 2012
In Others
2011 Veterans Day – 11/11/11
Deeply Confused (Still)
2010 We are not from fearful men and I Am Not Afraid!!
Veterans Day – 11 November 2010
2009 Narrowly missed first weight goal, but still happy…

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The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you.  But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.
    —     Warren Buffett
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On This Day In:
2022 More Like 60 To 70 Years
2021 Hold That Thought
Got Love? (Let’s Hang On)
2020 Everyone I’ve Ever Met
A Secret Chord (Hallelujah)
2019 A Big “IF”
2018 Silence Presence
2017 Feeling Small Standing In Front Of My Shelves
2016 Show Willing
2015 If He Only Knew…
2014 Dared To Love
2013 Strong Kung-Fu
2012 Two Tribes
2011 Made Any Assumptions Lately?

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Thoughts

Once again another 9/11 rolls around and my thoughts return to the innocents in the attack at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.  I remember (and celebrate) the courage of those first responders who gave their lives trying to save others simply because it was their job and what they’d chosen to devote their lives to.  I roll forward to those who spent weeks and months in the toxic rubble clearing the site(s) and looking for anything which might bring some closure to those who lost family and friends that day.  I think of the government which told them it was “safe” to work there and then delayed assistance when the workers started experiencing toxin related illnesses.  Finally, I think of those who did their sworn duty and went half a world away to keep our homeland safe(r).  The killed.  The injured.  The traumatized.  Those to whom we still owe a debt of honor (and gratitude) which “some” – with the increasing distance of history – are unwilling to fulfill.
To all of you:  “You are in my prayers.”  And, as trivial as it may seem to those who’ve sacrificed so much more than I have:  “Always remembered.”
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On This Day In:
2022 Thoughts
2021 Current Heroes (II)
Glued To The TV – 3,000 Miles Away (Where Were You)
2020 Current Heroes
I’m Mid-West Born, But California Raised (Good Vibrations)
Appropriated To Her Being
2019 All In Good Time
Day 13: Pause & Resume
Ghrelin And Leptin
2018 Gratitude And Warmth
Remembering Loss, Sacrifice And Service
Making Little Ones Out Of Bigger Ones
2017 Never Forget
2016 It’s All Greek To Me (Well, Latin Actually)
2015 Truism
2014 Thank You
2013 Really
2012 Ordinary Five Minutes Longer
2011 The Wealth Of Sons (And Daughters)

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