Memorial Day

A United States poster advertising World War I Liberty Bonds (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today I am forced to remember people who have touched me with their service in the Armed Forces. My father served in the First World War. He rarely mentioned it, but it gave me a sense of pride even when I had no memory of that event. My parents had friends who were serving in the Second World War. Then, my mother was active in the Red Cross and my father sold War Bonds. I remember the ration stamps Mama had to use for buying some items, like sugar and the meatless Tuesdays. Now I have a more personal connection to the military. Two of my children and several of my grandchildren have served.  Military service in defense of my country is a personal matter when it involves family members.

I don't always agree with government actions and political slogans, but I find it hard to blame the men and women who serve with these ulterior motives. They have a different perspective on war and service than those of us who lurk back here behind the lines. Being in the line of fire changes the truths you look at and the potential for personal sacrifice.  

Today I'll think more about the people who have committed their time and lives in service to our nation and less about the speakers and the flag waving, more about the country's support of the military and less about the support of Congress or the President. The current scandal over Veterans getting health care is an on-going problem. I question so many aspects of health care already; adding the regard for veterans to the already insurmountable mess the health care industry is already in leaves me thinking we need to view this as some different battle and take it out of the government control. It was a huge mistake to surrender health care to government in the first place. What else is at risk with government take-over?  

What Are You Reading?

Deutsch: Viktor Frankl (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. Deutsch: Winston Churchill, 1940 bis 1945 sowie 1951 bis 1955 Premier des Vereinigten Königreichs und Literaturnobelpreisträger des Jahres 1953. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

George Vaillant

Cover of C.S. Lewis

An acquaintance asked me to give a book review. I agreed to do it, but then I got cold feet. The books I read are often not the ordinary kind of thing most people want to hear about. I  recently read Viktor E. Frankl Man's Search for Meaning. I work on George Vaillant's Aging Well repeatedly. George Vaillant has a new book out entitled Triumphs of Experience, but I think it will be similar to his previous studies of stage development. I'm guessing every audience will think I am both slow and boring.

I am also working on C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet, and
Winston Churchill's The Gathering Storm. I shouldn't have agreed to give a book review. I'm pretty sure nobody will want to hear what I read.

The works by Frankl, Churchill and Lewis are certainly not new material. Mostly they were published in the 40's and 50's. It really dates me. But somehow in this kind of company I don't mind. Vaillant is current. His new book was published in the last year, but it's about getting old, at least about the new research on getting old.

If I don't back out, I'll probably do the Vaillant book. Every since I first studied Adult Development for my degree, I have been fascinated by the subject. It's wonderful to know that as long as you live there are still stages to achieve and wonders to comprehend. I have no doubt that Frankl, Churchill, and Lewis never stopped growing and learning, but Vaillant describes it and illuminates the process so that you never have to be bored with life, even when you have retired or you abandon a career. It ain't over till it's over,  folks.