(image courtesy of happysankranthi2015.net)
What we now celebrate as Memorial Day, was originally called Decoration Day. This day is in honor and remembrance of those who lost their life in service for the United States of America. Many towns have claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day over the years but President Lyndon B. Johnson, declared Waterloo, NY the official birthplace in May of 1966
Memorial Day reached official proclamation on May 5th, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, on the the first Decoration Day. On this day, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.
Please take a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate these heroes.
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In My World
I always enjoy sharing a story or two with you about my adventures but this time I am going to leave it up to your own imagination and interpretation. I have learned (rather slowly, I may add) that there are many items that you should not leave in the same area when you are visually impaired.
List one: Eye drops and breath drops
List two: Air Freshener, Lysol and Hair spray
List 4: Comet, Bartender's Friend and No Salt Salt Substitute.
List 5: Cinnamon, Cayenne and Crushed Pepper
I don't think I need to say anything else :)
Other Happenings
As many of you already know, I lost my dear friend Barbara Wilcox last month. She is deeply missed by family and friends but her spirit is spotted around so many corners.
I am excited to continue testing so many wonderful visual aids to enhance the lives of those affected by vision loss. I look forward to sharing some of the reviews with you in the near future.
Blessings
I know that we can all find ourselves struggling through life sometimes but I always find some peace and a gentle reprieve when I take a few moments each day to just reflect on life's blessings. Take a look out the window and breathe nature in. Isn't it a miracle? One of God's greatest!
Take a moment or two to share your blessings with others that may be struggling. It costs nothing to offer a word of encouragement or to send a smile. Drop by and visit a friend, visit someone in a nursing home or share a cup of coffee with a stranger. Your life will be far more blessed than theirs.
I leave you with the Writer's Corner...until next time.
The Writer's Corner
Featuring Ruth Poteet, pseudonym -Reason
I am a retired teacher
with a love of poetry. I have three grandchildren who are the loves
of my life..13 years, 9 years, and 14 months old. Such a joy to see
the interaction between the three which ranges from jealousy to love
to competition. My belief and faith in God through the sacrifice of
His Son, Jesus, is the focal point of my life. I have been writing
poetry since 1963 but mostly since I retired in 2001.
I am sure you will enjoy Ruth's work as much as I do.
Spider's Purse
Admire her casting, lines of silky floss;
survey as artist drafts her masterpiece.
Enclosing space invisibly across,
then single-handedly, she will increase
the center parts to form unseen valise.
A purse of unsuspected, vicious taint -
its straps in hand, she naps - a wily feint.
Artistic beauty flows which soon will ebb
when tender insects clutter her restraint.
Artiste awakes to wealth within her web.
survey as artist drafts her masterpiece.
Enclosing space invisibly across,
then single-handedly, she will increase
the center parts to form unseen valise.
A purse of unsuspected, vicious taint -
its straps in hand, she naps - a wily feint.
Artistic beauty flows which soon will ebb
when tender insects clutter her restraint.
Artiste awakes to wealth within her web.
© Ruth Poteet, 4 years ago
small town graveyard
small town graveyard
in the pauper's field
wild cornflowers
in the pauper's field
wild cornflowers
© Ruth Poteet, 4 years ago
Whole 'Nother Worlds
In other worlds out there,
kids hide and say a prayer.
Mom needs the mornings to snooze.
This child gets up alone,
her hunger to postpone;
Dad's only care is his booze.
She must go to the bus
without making a fuss;
there's no sense gettin' a bruise.
In other worlds out there,
kids scowl and say a prayer.
"but everyone's got a Rebelle!"
This child grumbles in bed -
taking short breaks instead
from rising to throw a spell.
She picks at the menu
no matter the venue.
School is where she catches hell.
In other worlds out there,
kids toil and say a prayer.
Their sponsors relish hard work.
This child shifts to wheelchair
from his bed to prepare
for days with many-a-jerk.
After being spoon-fed,
a helmet on his head,
it's school where real trials lurk.
In other worlds out there,
kids smile and say a prayer.
Dad helps with homework and play.
This youngster rejoices,
mom cooks his best choices,
pancakes for breakfast, hooray!
He goes to school filled up,
and comes home to a pup
who brightens his sunny day
kids hide and say a prayer.
Mom needs the mornings to snooze.
This child gets up alone,
her hunger to postpone;
Dad's only care is his booze.
She must go to the bus
without making a fuss;
there's no sense gettin' a bruise.
In other worlds out there,
kids scowl and say a prayer.
"but everyone's got a Rebelle!"
This child grumbles in bed -
taking short breaks instead
from rising to throw a spell.
She picks at the menu
no matter the venue.
School is where she catches hell.
In other worlds out there,
kids toil and say a prayer.
Their sponsors relish hard work.
This child shifts to wheelchair
from his bed to prepare
for days with many-a-jerk.
After being spoon-fed,
a helmet on his head,
it's school where real trials lurk.
In other worlds out there,
kids smile and say a prayer.
Dad helps with homework and play.
This youngster rejoices,
mom cooks his best choices,
pancakes for breakfast, hooray!
He goes to school filled up,
and comes home to a pup
who brightens his sunny day
© Ruth Poteet, March 26, 2011
Robes of Righteousness
a kyrielle
Your Master’s righteous cloak is not
a bold retreat from evil’s plot.
In peaceful times and in discord,
You shall know that I am the Lord.
In busyness or when you’re bored,
in argument or in accord,
in health or in a hospice ward --
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Noah, a man, perfect and just,
built the ark displaying his trust
in full view of a mocking horde.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Daniel, confident, skilled and wise,
kept on praying without disguise,
sentenced by a conniving board.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Job, upright, blameless, God-fearing,
endured his friends’ steadfast jeering,
the goad to curse God, he ignored.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
These three, Noah, Daniel, and Job,
God, deemed righteousness as their robe.
Thru famine, wild beast, plague, and sword,
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 14: 12-23
Your Master’s righteous cloak is not
a bold retreat from evil’s plot.
In peaceful times and in discord,
You shall know that I am the Lord.
In busyness or when you’re bored,
in argument or in accord,
in health or in a hospice ward --
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Noah, a man, perfect and just,
built the ark displaying his trust
in full view of a mocking horde.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Daniel, confident, skilled and wise,
kept on praying without disguise,
sentenced by a conniving board.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Job, upright, blameless, God-fearing,
endured his friends’ steadfast jeering,
the goad to curse God, he ignored.
You shall know that I am the Lord.
These three, Noah, Daniel, and Job,
God, deemed righteousness as their robe.
Thru famine, wild beast, plague, and sword,
You shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 14: 12-23
© Ruth Poteet, Septermber 1, 2012
Alex Jordan's World
a roundel
One small part of his world of kitschy things,
Jordan's unique House on a Rock unfurls
a red merry-go-round mid angels’ wings -
one small part of his world.
Chandelier lights, some twenty-thousand, swirl,
while a mechanical orchestra pings.
Two hundred sixty myriad beasts twirl
but nary a single horse rides the rings.
Stand back a little, put your mind awhirl,
the world's largest indoor carousel brings
one small part of his world.
One small part of his world of kitschy things,
Jordan's unique House on a Rock unfurls
a red merry-go-round mid angels’ wings -
one small part of his world.
Chandelier lights, some twenty-thousand, swirl,
while a mechanical orchestra pings.
Two hundred sixty myriad beasts twirl
but nary a single horse rides the rings.
Stand back a little, put your mind awhirl,
the world's largest indoor carousel brings
one small part of his world.
© Ruth Poteet, August 19, 2013
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