Da Goddess

The best part of traveling for me these days is returning home. As much as I’d like to really enjoy being out and about, the simple fact is my body doesn’t agree with my head and my heart.

After I recovered from the faire, we had the drive to contend with. It was exceedingly painful. My shoulder was frozen up again. My right leg and hip were locked and painful. My left leg and hip were grinding as if there were glass on raw nerve once again. I medicated for the drive and was shit for company for poor King Arthur the entire way home. God bless this man! He puts up with so much of my physical pain beyond what most people would. I cannot begin to tell you how very much that means to me. Yes, he gets mad and yes, we argue about it, but when all is said and done, he’s exceedingly patient and helpful when I’m going through the worst of it. If I didn’t already love him so much, that would certainly seal the deal.

Because the meds I’m taking do a number on my dreams and sometimes on my partially-sleepy mind, and because of a few recent events, I got to thinking about what I’d want to have happen at my memorial should I die. Don’t go getting worried! I’ve always been this way. I plan for the future.

One thing I want to have happen at my memorial service (and I hope there would be one!) is to have a playlist already picked out. You know, music that means something to me. Music that moves me deeply now. Music that would hopefully lift the spirits of those in attendance. (You have to plan these things or else someone who doesn’t know you puts together the most dreadful stuff!) Of course, all that got me thinking about what kind of legacy I’d leave behind and, you know what I got? Nothing. Instead of depressing me, it gave me pause. It makes me wonder how I’d be remembered, leaving me feeling as if I’d betting get my priorities in order and start being the sort of person who would be missed after I go.

Weird, huh? But that’s where I’m at. And I’m okay with that. It’s given me a great deal to think over.

What about you? Any plans on how you’d like to leave this mortal coil?

It’s not that I feel any less horrified by what happened on 9-11-2001, in fact, the more time goes by the more it hurts my heart. But I find myself at a greater loss for words these days and all I can ask is that we never forget, that we never stop reaching out to one another; that we never forget that simply reaching out to our neighbors — known or unknown — is the first step to bridging the gap between us.

A year after the attacks on the U.S., President Bush the nation:

September 11, 2001 will always be a fixed point in the life of America. The loss
of so many lives left us to examine our own. Each of us was reminded that we
are here only for a time, and these counted days should be filled with things
that last and matter: love for our families, love for our neighbors, and for our
country; gratitude for life and to the Giver of life.

We resolved a year ago to honor every last person lost. We owe them
remembrance and we owe them more. We owe them, and their children, and
our own, the most enduring monument we can build: a world of liberty and
security made possible by the way America leads, and by the way Americans
lead our lives.

If you wish to honor those who were lost or those who continue to protect our freedoms, here are just a few ideas:

National September 11 Memorial

Soldiers’ Angels

Wounded Warrior Project

I also want to include the words spoken to the nation that day by President Bush. I include them because they still speak to me as strongly as they did that day:

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IN
HIS ADDRESS TO THE NATION
September 11, 2001
8:30 P.M.

Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our
very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist
acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen
and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and
neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of
terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures
collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet,
unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our
nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks
can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the
foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the
steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for
freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from
shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we
responded with the best of America—with the daring of our rescue workers,
with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help
in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government’s
emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared. Our
emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help
with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take
every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from
further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal
agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for
essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our
financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open
for business, as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I’ve directed
the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find
those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction
between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in
strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I
thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and
assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and
security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose
worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has
been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than
any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for
justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so
this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend
freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.
Source: White House Archive

Would you believe that I couldn’t find something as simple as lemonade in the grocery store the other day? Yeah. Totally. Guess Memorial weekend was The Big Lemonade Weekend. It was really weird.

Today I discovered there’s a cherry tree out in the backyard. With cherries. Only problem is that I could reach just one cherry. And it was absolutely delicious! Just one branch with all the fruit; I can’t reach any of it. Sure, I could try to use a ladder, but, c’mon. You know me and my track record. Put me on a ladder and it’s basically ensuring disaster. So I stood below the tree, bare feet on very pointy rocks, and gazed upward, praying for the fruit to fall off and into my hands. Didn’t happen.

Tomorrow I will endeavor to find lemonade and a way in which to retrieve those cherries.

What’s out of your reach these days?

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As we placed the flags upon the graves at Ft. Rosecrans this morning, it was as if thousands of silenced voices were suddenly calling out to tell their tales.

After most of the families had gone, Smash, Wayne, Little Dude, and I headed over to where one of Smash’s relatives was buried. Walking a few rows over, we came upon the graves of those killed in action in Iraq. One of them, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, was a man whose story we’d all heard. Smash said, “I don’t remember that one.” I told him I knew he’d written of the sergeant. And, yes, he had. The Danz Family has one of the best posts about this young man that goes beyond his actions as a heroic Marine, they tell the story of him as a man, a neighbor, a friend.

Again, these were warriors whose stories we knew.

Later, after Little Dude had left with his dad, Smash, Wayne, and I continued our walk through the cemetery. Part of me wanted to go home and curl up in bed. I was tired, my throat was scratchy, and my back was screaming with pain. Despite that, there was this feeling that I had to walk on. Something was calling me. So, we walked. And we walked.

Thousands upon thousands of the brave are buried at Ft. Rosecrans. Along with their families, they lie in graves marked only by a stone with little information. Who were they? What had their lives been like? Some have been gone a very long time. There is no one left to tell their tales.

Walking on, we talked about how wonderful it would be to have a database that allowed someone to read about the men, women, and children who fill our cemeteries. Their lives shouldn’t be forgotten. Everyone has a story. And, for those who wonder, their voices call to us from a distance greater than we will ever know. Listening with my heart, I heard them say “worry, not so much about who we were, instead, worry about who you are if you forget that we…just…were.”

Once a year, we honor our heroes as a nation. Every day we should honor them with our gratitude for the Freedoms we enjoy.

Taking the lyrics from R. L. Burnside’s “Eyesight to the Blind” and modifying them only slightly:

Oh, when she starts lovin’
She brings eyesight to the blind

I’d say instead, “When we start remembering, it’s like bringing eyesight to the blind”

May we not blind again.

Special thanks to Darcey of Dust My Broom for the reminder.

All photos may be clicked to open into larger images, although, for some reason, you have to right click to open in another window.