It is hard to believe that Erin is 26 years old! It seems like yesterday that she was just a baby - then toddling - and now ...Happy Birthday ErinEliz!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Erin!
It is hard to believe that Erin is 26 years old! It seems like yesterday that she was just a baby - then toddling - and now ...Happy Birthday ErinEliz!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The First Saturday in December
The first Saturday in December the battlefield at Antietam comes alive with luninaries – one for each casualty of the bloodiest one day of the Civil War. Last year, unknowingly, I happened upon this wonderful celebration of these lives. I went for a hike and found a national treasure.
Erin Eliz having an Antietam Adventure
Last Saturday, my daughter Erin and I, together with my friend Toby, went for a hike in Antietam. Like last year’s hike, this was a Sierra Club sponsored event. The hike started at 11:45 am and we strategically parked our cars near where the drive through the luminaries would begin 6 hours later. It was a cold day and we layered and bundled in an effort to keep warm as we walked. The hike followed the same path as last year and wandered through the farms and fields, Dunker Church and the bloody cornfield and after seven miles we were back to our cars. At this point, the hike continued south to the Burnside Bridge – only we discovered that Erin had worked a nice blister on her foot and opted to sit out the last 4 miles in our warm car.
When we returned to the car we discovered a flyer from the Antietam Café – you know those windshield flyers – I usually throw them away without a second thought. This one however said that they would deliver hot chocolate and sandwiches to our car – can you imagine? So we ordered pulled pork sandwiches and hot chocolate – all to be delivered to the eighth car in a five mile long line of cars! It was wonderful – it felt decadent – and we were warm and happy. About this time we discovered a woman in the car behind us that had also opted out of the last four miles of the hike – she was sitting in the car without the benefit of a running engine and heat – so we invited her into our backseat where it was warm – and ordered more food from the Antietam Café!
About 6:00pm the parade of cars began to enter the Antietam Battlefield – the battlefield we had hiked during the day while volunteers placed paper bags with sand and candles in neat and space rows. It was much different after dark as we slowly passed rows and rows – hundreds and hundreds – of candles. One candle for each casualty – one for each of the 23,000 killed, missing or injured in that one day battle in September 1862.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Gas Prices in Maryland
In late October, I was quite pleased that gas had gone from near $5.00/gallon to about half that.
... A month later, the price keeps falling...
I feel violated!
... A month later, the price keeps falling...
I feel violated!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Star Spangled Banner
The National Museum of American History reopend after two long years of renewal and renovation. Wow, it was so crowded today - but it was nice to walk through the refurbished exhibits - and having seen several versions of the Star Spangled Banner exhibit (beginning in the mid '70's when it was still hanging in the museum and then a refurbishment exhibit with fiber workers on a scaffold over the flag making repairs and adding a new linen backing) I found it still quite awe inspiring.
I think I will wait awhile - avoid the crowds - before continuing my explorations in this museum. It is wonderful to have it back again!
Snow
Yesterday we had snow flurries - nothing stuck for long, but it looks like perhaps winter has begun.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Justin's Mom
Today I went to Arlington Cemetery with my photo group, Shutterbug Excursions. This is a wonderful meet-up group and we have taken a number of wonderful adventures. Today we went back to Arlington Cemetery for the Veteran’s Day ceremonies. Actually we thought this was the holiday where the put out all the flags, but we were misinformed.
Today parking was free as were shuttles up to the Amphitheatre and Tombs of he Unknown but with free comes lots of restrictions – like no big bags, no water bottles, and security check points everywhere together with military in dress blues – guess you need that when there are live dignitaries in the cemetery. But with the realization that there would be lots of people at the ceremonies and lots of security checks, we decided to venture off to Section 60. Actually I suggested it as an alternative and no one else had ever been there.
I am emotionally moved by Section 60. Always. And today was no different. As I entered, I met a young man who lost his dad to a parachute accident in Arizona after three tours in Iraq. His name is John, his dad was Tom. He and his mother and sister often visit Section 60; today his grandmother was along as well, she was Tom’s mother. John loves military aircraft and would like to fly someday. He’s not sure he wants to join the military, but he wants to fly. He was a wonderful young man. I believe he said that he was 11 years old.
As I wandered on, I was attracted to a stone with a birthday balloon. This was Justin’s grave. A little distance away was a woman about my age and several others folks as well. I asked if she was Justin’s mom – but I didn’t need to ask, I knew. What a wonderful woman. She lives in New Hampshire and was here for Justin’s birthday – November 10th – yesterday. Justin would have been 24 years old.
His mother talked about what a wonderful son he was, about how he planned a proposal to his girlfriend, how he loved the army, about his anticipated return home, and his position as a gunner on a Humvee – until it hit an IED on a fateful day in March 2007. She lost her son that day, and six other.JPG)
mothers lost their children in that same incident. She shared that when the army returned his personal effects, his digital camera had an untouched memory card; apparently these are usually cleaned before returning; his had photos and a recent video. Through these, she was able to be a part of his last days. I am sure those pictures and especially the video of free time antics will be treasured always. Justin’s mom, Rhonda, is a special mother.
This is not my first visit to Section 60. I always leave emotionally drained - last time I was angry - this time I felt a relationship with Justin's family. I felt personally touched - no kicked in the butt - by this war ... and I hurt.
Happy Birthday Justin
Today I felt Veteran's Day, and it didn't feel very good.
Today parking was free as were shuttles up to the Amphitheatre and Tombs of he Unknown but with free comes lots of restrictions – like no big bags, no water bottles, and security check points everywhere together with military in dress blues – guess you need that when there are live dignitaries in the cemetery. But with the realization that there would be lots of people at the ceremonies and lots of security checks, we decided to venture off to Section 60. Actually I suggested it as an alternative and no one else had ever been there.
I am emotionally moved by Section 60. Always. And today was no different. As I entered, I met a young man who lost his dad to a parachute accident in Arizona after three tours in Iraq. His name is John, his dad was Tom. He and his mother and sister often visit Section 60; today his grandmother was along as well, she was Tom’s mother. John loves military aircraft and would like to fly someday. He’s not sure he wants to join the military, but he wants to fly. He was a wonderful young man. I believe he said that he was 11 years old.
As I wandered on, I was attracted to a stone with a birthday balloon. This was Justin’s grave. A little distance away was a woman about my age and several others folks as well. I asked if she was Justin’s mom – but I didn’t need to ask, I knew. What a wonderful woman. She lives in New Hampshire and was here for Justin’s birthday – November 10th – yesterday. Justin would have been 24 years old.
His mother talked about what a wonderful son he was, about how he planned a proposal to his girlfriend, how he loved the army, about his anticipated return home, and his position as a gunner on a Humvee – until it hit an IED on a fateful day in March 2007. She lost her son that day, and six other
.JPG)
mothers lost their children in that same incident. She shared that when the army returned his personal effects, his digital camera had an untouched memory card; apparently these are usually cleaned before returning; his had photos and a recent video. Through these, she was able to be a part of his last days. I am sure those pictures and especially the video of free time antics will be treasured always. Justin’s mom, Rhonda, is a special mother.This is not my first visit to Section 60. I always leave emotionally drained - last time I was angry - this time I felt a relationship with Justin's family. I felt personally touched - no kicked in the butt - by this war ... and I hurt.
Happy Birthday Justin
Today I felt Veteran's Day, and it didn't feel very good.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Whiteside Mountain
When I was in Highlands last week, I wanted to get away and hike Whiteside. That mountain has been a source of insipration for me for oh so many years. I was in Highlands to bid farewell to Joyce Hetzel. And it was Joyce that first introduced me to the magic and beauty of Whiteside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
