Memorial Day

   Today is Memorial Day for all the soldiers who gave their lives for the United States. May they rest in peace. Today would have been my brother's birthday so for me its a different kind of memorial day and somewhat ironic. Its been six months since my youngest brother passed away. I still miss him very much, but the reality has more than set in. Life has moved on. I feel like taking time out to remember him helps keep him alive.
     My youngest brother was a creative person. He had eclectic taste and would have made a wonderful dad or uncle. He was fun to be around and had great life hacks. I always think of him when I travel because he was the king of packing light. He lived a short  but good life and he tried to live life to its fullest which is all anyone can do. No one really knows how long one has but we have more control over our attitude and how we try to spend our lives.
     My youngest brother was a ray of sunshine on this earth. Ray was his middle name and I think that its quite appropriate because he was a ray of sunshine when he was alive and his memory brings a ray of sunshine to those who knew and loved him. 

Chag Sameach

     I really enjoy legal holidays like Memorial Day because I have off of work then and can do whatever I want. This year I am going to be cheated out of that experience since Shavuos and Memorial Day coincide . I suppose it is good for people who have trouble getting off for Jewish holidays but since baruch Hashem that is not my issue I just miss having two separate holidays off of work instead of one  combined. I guess there is always next year.... Sigh.
     Anyway folks, have an chag sameach and a happy Memorial Day.
      

Memorial Day

     As a kid Memorial Day was just a fun day off of school. I didn't really think much about what it stood for. Now that the gulf war and 9/11 have happened I have more of a reverence for those who have served our country.
     This week in New York was fleet week which is the week where navy boats dock by the intrepid and various other spots in NYC. I did not manage to get to the intrepid this Memorial Day, but I did go to Staten Island to view the USS Cole and  the USS McFaul. It was quite interesting. Sailors gave tours of the boats.  It gives you respect for anyone in the military . They go through so much to keep this country safe.

memorial day

as a kid i never realized what the meaning of memorial day was. to me memorial day was just another welcome day off from school. as an adult i have thought about it . as an adult i am more aware of the wars that the united states has been involved in. i have become more aware of who has died defending the honor of their country which is the country that i live in.
because the plight of israel and war in israel has been so prominent in my life it overshadowed the reality of war anywhere else. the gulf war and 9/11 changed all that. it dawned on me that hate and destruction could happen anywhere and that it is important to appreciate those who have lost their lives trying to defend our right to freedom and our right to feel safe in our country of residence.