Tag Archive for anniversary

Let It Never Happen Again–to Anyone

January 29, 2019 Comments Off on Let It Never Happen Again–to Anyone

The ultimate example of man’s inhumanity to man was put to an end 74 years ago, on January 27, 1945, when Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp, was liberated.  It imprisoned people who were torn from their families and lives simply because they were Jewish.  It was a place of unspeakable conditions, torture, and death.  It used human beings for ghastly experiments because, after all, these weren’t people  in the Nazi mind but sub-humans, so it didn’t matter if they suffered.  Some 200,000 people were able to leave the camp, but not without physical, emotional, and spiritual damage that has lasted even to today for those thousands of survivors still alive.

Auschwitz is still fresh in our minds on this anniversary and, to many, every day.  As it should be–so that we never allow that to happen to any group of people ever again.

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It’s a Special Day for Me: a Personal Note

July 19, 2018 Comments Off on It’s a Special Day for Me: a Personal Note

Today would have been my 37th wedding anniversary. The years were filled with “for better” and “for worse,” “sickness” and “health.” We shared bringing new life into this world and seeing cherished loved ones move onto the next. We had some fierce disagreements and did a lot of forgiving–of each other and of ourselves. We enjoyed adventures together and, as we aged, commiserated with the fact that, more and more often, our bodies laughed at us and asked us, “You think you’re going to do WHAT?!”  We comforted each other over the estrangement of a friend or relative, then rejoiced with each other over reconciliation with them.

We helped each other adapt to severe changes in our lives, cried mutual tears of joy at our son’s wedding–and grieved over his divorce–exchanged laughter and knowing looks when hearing a young person’s exact, well laid-out plans for the future, and had our hearts melt at a wagging tail, four paws, and big brown eyes that say, “I’d love you even if you were to beat me.”  We worked as a team through hardship, tragedy, heartbreak, and financial difficulties and came out closer as a result.

The “worse” and “sickness” we vowed to get through was not fun or easy, but we got through it because we had one other. Besides, we always focused on the “better” and the “health,” letting the other simply fade away. That’s called Living Life.

We had only 35 years together here on Earth. He has moved on, leaving me with memories and family who carry on his love for me.

I miss you, Frank, but thank you for the years we did have.  And for the memories that sustain me.

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Personal Note: Anniversary

July 19, 2017 Comments Off on Personal Note: Anniversary

Today would have been my 36th wedding anniversary. The years were filled with “for better” and “for worse,” “sickness” and “health.” We shared bringing new life into this world and seeing cherished loved ones move onto the next. We had some fierce disagreements and did a lot of forgiving–of each other and of ourselves. We enjoyed adventures together and, as we aged, commiserated with the fact that, more and more often, our bodies laughed at us and asked us, “You think you’re going to do WHAT?!”  We comforted each other over the estrangement of a friend or relative, then rejoiced with each other over reconciliation with them.

We helped each other adapt to severe changes in our lives, cried mutual tears of joy at our son’s wedding, exchanged laughter and knowing looks when hearing a young person’s exact, well laid-out plans for the future, and had our hearts melt at a wagging tail, four paws, and big brown eyes that say, “I’d love you even if you were to beat me.”  We worked as a team through hardship, tragedy, heartbreak, and financial difficulties and came out closer as a result.

The “worse” and “sickness” we vowed to get through was not fun or easy, but we got through it because we had one other. Besides, we always focused on the “better” and the “health,” letting the other simply fade away. That’s called Living Life.

We didn’t have another 35 years together here on Earth, not even an additional four months. He has moved on, leaving me with memories and family who carry on his love for me.

I miss you, Frank, but thank you for the years we did have.  And for the memories that sustain me.

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Still Fresh in Our Minds After 79 Years

January 27, 2017 Comments Off on Still Fresh in Our Minds After 79 Years

The ultimate example of man’s inhumanity to man was put to an end 72 years ago today, when Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp, was liberated.  It imprisoned people who were torn from their families and lives simply because they were Jewish.  It was a place of unspeakable conditions, torture, and death.  It used human beings for ghastly experiments because, after all, these weren’t people  in the Nazi mind but sub-humans, so it didn’t matter if they suffered.  Some 200,000 people were able to leave the camp, but not without physical, emotional, and spiritual damage that has lasted even to today for the roughly 100,000 still alive.

Auschwitz is still fresh in our minds after 79 years on this anniversary day and, to many, every day.  As it should be–so that we never allow that to happen to any group of people ever again.

 

 

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35 Years of…Life (Personal Note)

July 19, 2016 2 comments

Today is my 35th wedding anniversary. The years  have been filled with “for better” and “for worse,” “sickness” and “health.” We’ve shared bringing new life into this world and seeing cherished loved ones move onto the next. We’ve had some fierce disagreements and did a lot of forgiving–of each other and of ourselves. We enjoyed adventures together and are now  commiserating with the fact that, more and more often, our  bodies laugh at us and ask, “You think you’re going to do WHAT?!”  We’ve comforted each other over the  estrangement of a friend or relative, then rejoiced with each other over reconciliation with them.

We’ve helped each other adapt to severe changes in our lives, cried mutual tears of joy at our son’s wedding, exchanged laughter and knowing looks when hearing a young person’s exact, well laid-out plans for the future, and had our hearts melt at a wagging tail, four paws, and big brown eyes that say, “I’d love you even if you beat me.”  We’ve worked as a team through hardship, tragedy, heartbreak, and financial difficulties and come out closer as a result.

The “worse” and “sickness” we vowed  to get through was not fun or easy, but we got through it because we had one other. Besides,  we have  focused on the “better” and the “health,” letting the other simply fade away. That’s called Living Life.

We don’t have another 35  years here on Earth. That’s okay, though, because we’ve had these 35 and, God willing, will have some more time together.

Happy anniversary, Frank, my love.

 

 

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Challenge and the Challenger Astronauts

January 28, 2016 Comments Off on Challenge and the Challenger Astronauts

President Ronald Reagan mourned the loss of our Challenger brothers and sister, then told us how to honor them:

“Our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on an immense reservoir of courage, character, and fortitude, that we are still blessed with heroes like those of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Man will continue his conquest of space. To reach out for new goals and ever-greater achievements, that is the way we shall commemorate our seven Challenger heroes.”

…A Thursday Thought for today, on the 30th anniversary of the disastrous loss of the Space Shuttle’s crew.

 

 

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Interesting D-Day Facts

June 6, 2014 Comments Off on Interesting D-Day Facts

D-Day was the largest-scale over-water attack in the world’s history.  Today is its 70th anniversary.  Read other interesting facts about this historical event by going to an article in the Constitution Daily.

 

 

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A Tortured Anniversary

January 7, 2014 Comments Off on A Tortured Anniversary

Saturday is an anniversary worth taking note of: 12 years ago on Jan. 11 the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay.  It’s still operating 5 years after the executive order that should have closed it.

Why is this important? Because its existence points to America’s hypocrisy.  That is, we abhor cruelty, lack of due process, and torture when it’s done by others, yet condone it on a daily basis at one of our own prisons.

You have a few days before this anniversary. Please use them to urge President Obama to transfer most of the prisoners out of there—he has the power.  Decreasing the population at Guantanamo is a large step toward its closure…and allows us to hold up our heads again in the world.

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I Celebrate the ADA

July 22, 2013 Comments Off on I Celebrate the ADA

For those of us with disabilities, this is a week to celebrate.  It’s the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  During those years we’ve seen businesses and offices look at us as customers who are important enough to them to make access into their buildings a reality for people needing mobility devices.  We’ve seen potential employers listen to our qualifications instead of dismissing us offhand because of what they assume we can’t do or because we don’t have a “look” that they’re comfortable with.  Those of us with hearing loss can enjoy a concert or stage play, and we can participate in civic meetings, all because we can ask to borrow one of the available hearing devices, and those who are blind can expect to find braille signs and dots on walkways to warn us that we’re close to a curb cut.  If we have a child with a learning disability or other special need, we can expect our education system not to just shuffle him off to an isolated program but help him become part of the school’s culture now so he can become a productive member of a society that values what he has to offer.

Yes, the ADA is truly something to celebrate!

 

 

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Personal Note: 32 Years

July 19, 2013 2 comments

Today my husband and I have been married 32 years.   Like everyone else, we’ve had our ups and downs.  Unlike many Hollywood couples, we took the downs and used them as building blocks for a stronger marriage and partnership. Together we overcame spiteful ex-spouses, financial hardship, deaths of loved ones, serious illness, and other life changes we didn’t plan for or want.  Also together we regained financial stability, built a successful business, matured in a variety of ways, changed directions for the better, and made it into our later years without killing each other or heading for divorce court–all of which strengthened us as a couple.  And together we produced and raised Brian, a rather remarkable human being who never stops making us proud.

That’s not a bad record for 32 years.  We don’t have 32 more, of course, but that’s okay.  We’ll accept what we have and enjoy the ride together.

Happy anniversary, Frank, and to all others who share this anniversary date with us.

 

 

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