Thursday
Yesterday was Remembrance Day in my part of the world.
I'm not sure young people give Remembrance Day much thought but, as we age, I think, it becomes more real to us.
As I came up out of the train station I saw a retired soldier sitting in a chair on the pavement. He was playing patriotic music on a trumpet and I could very well have had a little cry right then and there. I managed to avoid getting misty and put a dollar in his cup.
It was an up and down kind of day. An assistant I like had a hard time and this rankled me. I got my hair cut and it looks swell but my stylist had been duped by someone the night before and wanted to unload re the injustice of it all. I missed having lunch with my friends at work but one of them gave me spring rolls which I happily devoured. I left the office early to see two venues for the holiday party which I am not excited about organizing but happy to see to (does that make sense?).
On my way home, I found myself standing next to a soldier in full dress uniform. We were stopped together at a cross-street waiting for the light. I screwed up my courage and said, looking him in the eye, Thank you for your service.
To which he replied, You're welcome, Ma'am.
And I saw, in his face, in his eyes, that he was barely older than my Youngest and I was awfully glad that the light changed at that very moment because I burst into tears.
I could not have felt older.
He could not have looked younger.
A million feelings knotted up my heart.
And so, today, I cannot complain about the problem with the health insurance, or the bully at work or not knowing what to wear tomorrow at the Swanky Restaurant, knowing that Someone's Youngest is in full dress uniform and will not be safe until he is HOME.
I'm not sure young people give Remembrance Day much thought but, as we age, I think, it becomes more real to us.
As I came up out of the train station I saw a retired soldier sitting in a chair on the pavement. He was playing patriotic music on a trumpet and I could very well have had a little cry right then and there. I managed to avoid getting misty and put a dollar in his cup.
It was an up and down kind of day. An assistant I like had a hard time and this rankled me. I got my hair cut and it looks swell but my stylist had been duped by someone the night before and wanted to unload re the injustice of it all. I missed having lunch with my friends at work but one of them gave me spring rolls which I happily devoured. I left the office early to see two venues for the holiday party which I am not excited about organizing but happy to see to (does that make sense?).
On my way home, I found myself standing next to a soldier in full dress uniform. We were stopped together at a cross-street waiting for the light. I screwed up my courage and said, looking him in the eye, Thank you for your service.
To which he replied, You're welcome, Ma'am.
And I saw, in his face, in his eyes, that he was barely older than my Youngest and I was awfully glad that the light changed at that very moment because I burst into tears.
I could not have felt older.
He could not have looked younger.
A million feelings knotted up my heart.
And so, today, I cannot complain about the problem with the health insurance, or the bully at work or not knowing what to wear tomorrow at the Swanky Restaurant, knowing that Someone's Youngest is in full dress uniform and will not be safe until he is HOME.
Comments
But then I read what you said about bursting into tears and just reading it I nearly burst into tears too! He was indeed, Someone's Youngest.
I think, unless it is called to their attention, teens don't tend to think of what the soldiers before them have given for their countries. I don't think kids are capable of appreciating the magnitude of it.
But I don't blame for for being narked...
My Dad and his best friend joined together at 18 and both served 40 years. That's 3 years younger than my youngest.
I don't know how their Moms sleep at night.
There was a great turnout at our Remembrance Day ceremony yesterday - which was heartening to see.
It was admirable of you to thank the Young Soldier. Nobody ever thinks about that. I would have cried right in his face though.
Paola
Don't watch any of these then. Particularly the last one. *Cried like a baby*
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324
Bless your heart.
God willing, years and years and years from now, that soldier will think back to the time he was young and a perfect stranger looked him in the eye at a red light and thanked him for his service.
LM
xoxo
As a mother of a youngest, wearing similar boots in a different location,I would like to say Thank You.
This was the first of many Remembrance Days with my father buried at Ft. Logan. It was a difficult day.
Then one should be in your Top Ten, as mentioned above.
Puffy Heart
V
jbhat