Summer and Memorial Day and Summer
Did I forget to post this week? Yes, I did. Would I have remembered if Esther didn’t call to remind me. I’m not sure. Probably not. Permit me to offer all kinds of excuses. First, I’m getting over Covid. Remember Covid? Apparently, it’s not a thing anymore, so my getting it for the first time is not noteworthy. Yet, I find myself lethargic and with a runny nose two weeks after. Oh, I love to whine when I am even ever so slightly unwell.
And it’s Memorial Day Weekend. As is our custom in the United States, we turn the most somber day imaginable into the first beach weekend of the year. Since I am lucky enough to summer at the beach, Memorial Day always finds me with a house full of people. This year was no exception. Since, as noted, we are post Covid, there was a big parade and boardwalk festival in Bradley Beach for the first time in several years and many other summer related activities. The crowd left this morning, and I indulged myself in a nap and nasal irrigation. I knew you would want to know.
Whenever I forget something reasonably important like it’s my turn to post, I find myself assuming the onset of dementia. This is the after effect of losing my mother to Alzheimer’s, a horrible way to go, and a burden I do not want for my children. But enough of my morbid musings.
It is Memorial Day. My father was a World War II veteran, and my grandfather was a veteran of the first World War. Luckily, they both survived. Many did not, and we humans appear to continue to have no interest in ending war. A few years ago, I travelled to Normandy following the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. My father, who served in the Merchant Marine was there on D-Day, plus 2. He never talked to us children about the war but shared with my stepmother his recollection of the many bodies floating in the water, an image that even second hand I find terribly haunting.
In remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives I share a poem a wrote about my visit that appears in Poetica.
In ALTE news, our next issue of ALTE will be website only. The theme is disguise. We have already received a few wonderful submissions. If you have something you would like to submit, artwork would be most appreciated, please email it to altetogether@gmail.com by no later than June 7. And do check out the website: www.altegettingoldtogether.com. Take a listen to our last issue which is all music.
Wishing you a delightful summer.