Concert

I don't know how many of you might have watched the National Memorial Day Concert last night. I'm sure some of you did. Once again, it was very good. The music was as good, even better, than any I remember. I had forgotten that orchestra conductor Eric Kunzel (not sure about the spelling) had died in the last year. I had heard of only two singers (Lionel Ritchie and Brad Paisley) before, but they were all top notch. Had some trouble understanding all the words that Katherine Jenkins was singing to two widows (from two different wars), but the very nature of the song was very moving. Very moving also were the views of the overseas cemeteries. To some families it has been important to have remains returned home. All those crosses reminded me that millions have thought otherwise. And the song, Mansions of the Lord, was played as we saw them. Wow! I had never heard that song before. I was prompted to look it up today, and I listened to two different versions, one at Reagan's funeral. Mom always liked watching the concert, so I missed being with her. I had left her asleep in her room at 7:30. If you've never watched the concert, near the end all veterans are asked to stand when their service song is played. She always insisted that I stand when Anchors Aweigh was played, so I did again last night.

This message was forewarded to me by Bob Jurgensen, who sends me some very funny stuff. I forwarded it to some, but couldn't resist the temptation to post it here.


I don't care who you are or what you believe in,
this is funny.
Gun Control

Barack Obama at a recent rural elementary school assembly in East Texas, asked the audience for total quiet. Then, in the silence, he started to slowly clap his hands once every few seconds, holding the audience in total silence. Then he said into the microphone, 'Children, every time I clap my hands together, a child in America dies from gun violence.' Then, little Richard Earl, with a proud East Texas drawl, pierced the quiet and said:

"Well dumb ass, stop clapping!"

Hail

Sarah,
Your city was in the TV news again. There was a shot of a guy holding hail stones as big as baseballs. Did any of you, your house or cars get bombarded?

TN Flood

Flood waters rose last week. This has been one of the worst disasters since Katrina. Sadly, there hasn't been much coverage. Our county was among those listed as a disaster area. Personally our home is fine. Last week school was out all week and many main roads including highways closed which made it time to just stay home. This weekend our family and folks from church went to help with clean-up. We focused on the Salvation Army because they had lost EVERYTHING. So the people who help the people had no where to feed or house people. We worked in a lot of disgusting muck. I'm most amazed and proud of my two teenagers who worked for hours (Alex 3 days in a row and Hannah 2) without complaining once. That was the best mother's day present ever!

I wish I had actual pictures of the flood but you can see them at www.leafchronicle.com That is our local paper and they have LOTS!

Emma earns her orange belt

Last night, Emma earned her orange belt in Judo!