MikeL

Xinguara, Brazil Xinguara, view from the "Morro das Torres"

It occurred to me that I should call your attention to my poem A Placed Not Far as an appropriate work to be read on this occasion. It is part homage to friends, part personal remembrance of war as seen from the home front.

I bought a poppy! Haven't seen anyone selling them for years. This morning, as I entered a supermarket, there were two Cub Scouts selling them for the VFW. So, I now have a poppy to wear to church tomorrow.

fyke (A type of fish-trap consisting of tubular nets that are supported by hoops) Three fykes at the Zuiderzeemuseum.

Growing up, I remember the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) selling poppies as a fund raising effort every November 11 (Armistice Day, as it was known then). My parents always bought them and we all wore them proudly. I served in the US Army in the years between Korea and Viet Nam. I was a "peace keeper" in Korea. My father was in the Navy during World War II, but was never sent overseas...was never even on a ship. Mom and I were able to live with him most of the time because he was assigned to Navy hospitals in California (Oakland and Yosemite National Park). A friend of my parents, for whom I am named, was a French cavalry officer who disappeared during the war. We have never been able to locate his family or determine his fate. I had three great-grandfathers who fought in the Civil War. Two of my great-great-great-great-grandfathers, one born in France and the other born in Ireland, fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. So, our family has served...always out of necessity, not as a career. None of my four sons has been in military service, for which I am grateful. My thanks to all who have served.

See my next post below.

Yap, Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia A large (approximately 8 feet in height) example of Yapese stone money (Rai) in the village of Gachpar Rich man's house

shunamitism (rejuvenation of an old man by a young woman)

ustion (action of burning or searing)

La Baule-Escoublac, France Longest European sand beach

Congratulations! Now if we could only get Dom to post another chapter to With Trust...

Love those colorful frogs!

Happy Birthday, Nephy!

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Yeah, you would think someone in the Miami office of the FBI speaks Spanish. Even an Anglo agent would suspect the word was Spanish and seek an agent who could translate.

LOL! The goat has already demonstrated his problems with numbering chapters, limiting the number of chapters in the story, and math in general. Now we find he doesn't know how to use a calendar. Does that deter him from making promises he can't keep? Nope.

RETIRED HUSBAND After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target: Dear Mrs. Harris , Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Harris , are listed below and are "documented by our video surveillance cameras": 1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking. 2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals. 3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom. 4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money. 5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway. 6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area. 7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers they could come in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged. 8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called. 9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose. 10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were. 11. October 3: Darted around the Store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme. 12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels. 13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!' 14. October 22: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed the fetal position and screamed 'OHNO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN! 15. Took a box of condoms to the checkout clerk and asked where is the fitting room? And last, but not least: 16. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out.