Memorial Day Weekend

-
I planted the garden, as I do each and every year, and I enjoyed family, friends, and the great weather - it seems the long weekend is always filled with blue skies and the first real heat of the year.

I also played a round of golf and felt the ache in my legs as I started hacking it up on hole 16. Don't even ask me about the little par 3 on 17 where I finished with a generous 10. Shut-up Renaldo.

I had a few drinks,some good food - my wife set up the party and did all the cooking, and both sides of the family stopped by to acknowledge that Matt is 16 and wants to get his driving permit. God help us.

The Yanks won big. The dogs ran around in the backyard, and thoughts of the coming work days were way off in the distance.

Yet the pain was still there, lurking, waiting to drop the hammer with each and every idle moment. Waiting, sneaking up, and dropping down - oh how he would have enjoyed my misery as I hit ball after ball after ball out of bounds on 17.

And Kathy's cooking? It would have taken a royal beating no matter how good it was, and Matt being teased about possibly driving, forget about it - the kid might never have recovered.

And yet there was a moment with my father when I begged him to pick himself up off the ground and continue to walk with us. The journey is completely different, but the ultimate goals remain the same.

And I think of Memorial Day and all that it means to every free person in this country, and I decided that I needed to memorialize the fact that the train continues to roll, through the broken fields, and down the dirt rounds, and around the uneven corners - just chugging along - still on the tracks - and we're still on board - hanging out the windows, and holding on for dear life:

But still moving...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more