Friday, November 12, 2010

This blog entry is being typed on my iphone because I have the best husband.

I'm spending the weekend at a beautiful bed and breakfast that the Timmy picked out. So far, so good.

It's been a wonderful year with such a wonderful husband. Here's to the next 49 being even better.

Have I ever mention that I love that man very very much? I do.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

Today is Veteran's Day. It's not just a day for Active Duty military, Reserves or Veterans to get deals and discounts on meals. It's not a day to take advantage of sales at the stores. It's a day to remember (and thank) those who are and those who have served our country to protect our freedom.

I found the following story on this blog and I knew I had to share it on my blog with whomever out there who chooses to read it.

I Knew You’d Come: A Remembrance Day Recollection

~Author Unknown

He was very old now, but could still hold himself stiffly at attention before the monument. His war, the one to end all wars, now just a fading part of history. Very few could remember, first-hand, the savageness of the ordeal that had sent millions of young men to their deaths. Cannon fodder, they’d called them, sent before the guns to be mown down — blown apart by chunks of metal which had decimated their frail bodies. The cream of a generation; almost wiped out. He was haunted by the faces of the boys he’d had to order into battle, the ones who’d never come back. Yet one nameless ghost was able to bring a measure of comfort to his tormented mind. At the sound of the gun signaling the eleventh hour he was mentally transported back to the fields of Flanders.

::

The battle had raged for over two hours, with neither side gaining any advantage. Wave after wave of soldiers had been dispatched from the muddy trenches and sent over the top. So many had died already that day that he decided he could not afford to lose any more men before reinforcements arrived. Perhaps they’d give the remnants a few more days of life. There came a slight lull in the battle due to the sheer exhaustion of the men on both sides.

During this interval, a young soldier came up to him requesting that he be allowed to go over the top. He looked at the boy who couldn’t have been more than nineteen. Was this extreme bravery in the face of the enemy or was the soldier so scared he just needed to get it over with?

Why would you want to throw your life away, soldier? It’s almost certain death to go out there.”

“My best friend went out over an hour ago, captain, and he hasn’t come back. I know my friend must be hurt and calling for me. I must go to him, sir, I must.” There were tears in the boy’s eyes . It was as if this were the most important thing in the world to him.

“Soldier, I’m sorry, but your friend is probably dead. What purpose would it serve to let you sacrifice your life too?

At least I’d know I’d tried, sir, he’d do the same thing in my shoes. I know he would.

He was about to order the boy back to the ranks, but the impact of his words softened his heart. He remembered the awful pain he’d felt himself when his brother had died. He’d never had the chance to say goodbye.

“All right soldier, you can go.” Despite the horror all around them, he saw a radiant smile on the boy’s face, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“God bless you, sir,” said the soldier.

It was a long time before the guns fell silent for the last time and each side was allowed to gather their dead and wounded. The captain remembered the young soldier. He looked through the many piles of bodies. Young men. So many as to give an unreal quality to the scene before him.

When he came to the makeshift hospital, he looked carefully through the casualties. He soon found himself before the prone body of the soldier, alive, but severely wounded. He knelt down beside the young man and gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, son. I knew I was wrong to let you go.”

“Oh no, sir. I’m glad you did and I’m glad you’re here now so I can thank you. You see sir, I found my friend. He was badly wounded, but I was able to comfort him at the end. As I held him dying in my arms, he looked me in the eyes and said: “I knew you’d come.”

The young soldier faded between consciousness and oblivion for some time before he too finally slipped away.

The captain stayed by his side until the end, tears streaming quietly down his cheeks.

::

As the bugle sounded “Taps”, the old captain envisioned once again the young soldier’s face. Looking up, he could almost hear the stone monument calling out to him: “I knew you’d come.”


I know so many people who I would love to thank for what they have done and what they do every day. To my grandfather, both of my brothers, friends, family and even my lovely husband I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made. I wish people would thank you all every day, not just holidays like veterans day, memorial day or the fourth of July. You deserve it.


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

What's on Beth's Phone ? Wednesdays!

"What's on Beth's Phone? Wednesdays" is going to be a weekly installment where I post a picture or two (or twenty) that I have snapped on my phone in the past week.

Hopefully, this will get me started taking pictures again. I used to love photography. In fact, I have had a couple of pictures in juried art shows before. Perhaps I can do better this go around and earn that million dollars that the Timmy says I'm going to make us someday. :)

Well, enough chit chat. Here's this week's photos!


I didn't know our dog Ellie had her own beer!



It's beginning to look a lot like fallllllllll, everywhere you go.




I love fun graffiti like this building had.

The following weeks will probably have less, but who really knows. I'll try to keep the images to a minimum, I suppose.

One last picture:


I still want to pull it.