Veterans Day

Went for a bike ride this afternoon. My excuse was to drop off a prescription at the pharmacy. Anything that works!

My PLAN for the holiday was to ride out to the cemetery at Fort Rosecrans, but getting up late, a dentist appointment (not mine!), and general slothfulness put the kibosh on THAT!

After the pharmacy I headed over to Grossmont College, but apparently they do not have a holiday today, as the parking lots were quite full. I looked for a couple of Geocaches along the way, but not having a GPS makes THAT a bit difficult!

I could count the flags out on two hands. One house had two, most houses had none. What's up with THAT? Of course, I don't have one. If I had a house, I have a flagpole. But that's no excuse!

Jay Bookman told a story about his father, the flag, and a flagpole. I linked to it last year, I think. Check it out if you haven't heard it before.

As a Vietnam-era veteran I've always felt a little left out. I didn't go to Vietnam, I didn't go ANYWHERE. I didn't get a ribbon, I didn't get shot at, I didn't get traumatized, I didn't get spat at. Just three squares, a roof over my head, and some training on how to change light bulbs. So, I designed a bumper sticker for the rest of us, the ones who didn't go. I hope using the Vietnam service badge colors doesn't offend anyone. I thought of it as a link to the guys (and gals!!) who went over there.


And, of course, it features my trademarked attempt at humor.

I want to leave this next paragraph in, even though it's a bit (a LOT!) unformed and slightly incoherent. I want to put it out there and see what YOU think.

I know a couple of guys who served in combat. They don't talk about it. I was thinking today, that if you didn't get shot at, or see people die, or have to take care of the wounded and dead, that maybe your duty wasn't so strenuous. And while you probably worked dang hard and it may have been dangerous and important, it's not combat. It kind of irks me to hear veterans who were never even NEAR combat talk about their great sacrifice to be in the military. Hey, if you're not getting shot at, it's pretty much just a job!

Well, that's just my opinion. It's sure to torque somone's jaws, I'm sure.