SMALL TOWN PARADES

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Over the years, I have come to realize how enjoyable small town parades are. In some instances, the best!

Two small town parades stand out in my mind. One is the Fourth of July parade in Chatham on Cape Code. I not only enjoyed the parade, I had an overwhelming sense of patriotic pride as I watched it. The other is Key West’s Christmas Parade. You have not seen a Christmas parade till you have seen Key West’s. It is miles long. Children everywhere.

I have never seen Key West’s Veteran’s Day Parade. Hopefully this afternoon at 4 I will.

Veteran’s Day. A special day set aside to honor those who sacrificed for our country. Actually, sacrificed for you and me. I never served. I was part of the Korean War generation. The war ended my senior year in high school and I went to college instead of into the Army. By the time Vietnam was in full swing, I was a practicing attorney with a wife and four children.

Some things bother me about our soldiers and veterans. Permit me to share a few with you.

Our government talks a good game, but plays a poor one. The number of veterans with disability claims not being paid attention to is enormous. About half a million. Money is the problem. The House of Representatives should be ashamed to have forgotten these warriors of yesterday. House members talk a good game about supporting the military. In reality, they fail.

I worry that we now have a professional army. Such makes a military take over of the government easier. Anything is possible today.

Contractor soldiers. Our shadow army. Private mercenaries in the pay of the United States. Wrong that we use them. It is the military complex having become stronger. The controls over them are significantly less than over the real military. They answer not to government. Rather to the corporations for whom they work.

Finally, we cannot fight everyone’s battles. In the last decade, we have had boots on the ground in too many countries. Many of these involvements were none of our business. We paid not only with money, but also the lives of our young men and women.

Consistent with the previous thought, we cannot bring democracy to other nations. They are and will be what they want to be. Our system of government is not for everyone. True democracy is leaving people alone to decide for themselves what type of government they wish.

I spent six hours yesterday finishing this week’s KONK Life column. Doolittle’s Raid. I wrote it for two reasons. First, it is Veteran’s Day time. The second is that most people under 50 probably do not know what Doolittle’s Raid was. It concerns me that many are unaware of their history. I learned of Lexington and Concord, the steam engine, and whatever else, in grammar school. Are students similarly taught today? What is taught concerning World War II?

Dinner last night with Lisa and the family. Always a joy!

I am a lucky man. Lunch 2 out of 3 days with the grandkids. I am babysitting today.

Enjoy your holiday!

LUNCH WITH TOMORROW’S LEADERS

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I enjoyed lunch yesterday with two of tomorrow’s leaders. My grandchildren, Robert and Ally. Always an experience!

We ate at Lobos. First time for all of us. Lobos is that little outdoor place with picnic tables on the pathway from Duval to the parking lot behind Antonio’s. We keep looking for new places to eat.

Lobos has to be a gold mine. The place is small, but was packed. Mostly tourists. Drinking beer and wine one after the other. One table of ladies champagne. Bottle after bottle.

Some clever/interesting comments arose during the luncheon. Everything originated in their minds and came out of their mouths. Like why do people always give the President a hard time? Perceptive, I thought. We want a Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving. Mom never makes one. Why Butterball, I asked. Because there is a ball of butter in it, replied Robert.

Sleeping Thanksgiving weekend will be a bit of a problem. Cameron will be home from college. Robert has taken over his bedroom. Robert will have to move into his sister’s bedroom and sleep in the bunk bed. He was not happy! Plus, the grandparents will be sleeping in the upstairs bedroom.

Spent some time in the afternoon working on the KONK Life column for this week. A little nationalistic pride. The topic is one few people are aware of. I only know because I am old enough to. Most who came before me are dead.

The topic is the Doolittle Raid. A World War II tale of pride and heroism.

I received an email from the publisher of my soon to be published book. The World Upside Down. The email had attachments consistiong of a 6″ x 9″ formated manuscript, the jpg cover, and the back cover text. Exciting! Another closer to publication!

Syracuse beat Maryland 20-3. Unexpected. I am proud of my alma mater. Syracuse is now 5-4. One more victory and Syracuse will receive a bowl bid.

I was unaware the game was to be televised. It was no big deal so as to be on national or regional TV. But there it was! I watched the game from 4 to 8. Never went out of course. The game kept me glued to the TV set.

I thought Syracuse played well. The best I have seen them play this season. The defense played especially well causing some fumbles and interceptions. I read a post game review by a sports columnist in a Maryland paper. His take was that Maryland handed the game to Syracuse because of their sloppy play. He had it wrong. The Syracuse defense caused Maryland to play poorly.

Go ‘Cuse!

Enjoy your Sunday!