Continued Confessions

as time flies by

Coulda’ shoulda’ woulda’ is a phrase we all use, but I actually looked it up today to see its derivation. Turns out at least part of it has been around since the 1600’s. So now that I am better informed, I can explain why it is pertinent. I happened to mention to someone that I should have done something earlier, and he immediately came out with this phrase. And since we both try to live in the present we agreed that I would not dwell on a missed opportunity. And it turns out that I had a wonderful Memorial Day meander as a result.

Because the hedge man was making a lot of noise on the holiday morning (for which I apologized to my closest neighbor who thankfully was going out to the movies), I unexpectedly left the house about 10:30 on Monday morning with no particular aim other than to avoid the din. Luckily it was cloudy enough to facilitate my driving eyesight, and I ended up wandering for the next couple of hours.

What made it particularly interesting was that I happened to turn into a cemetery up in Norwich just to get off the main road. As I slowly drove around the deserted paths, I saw a rather large statue of Jesus on the Cross at the back of the land. Upon further investigation, I learned that the statue had been erected by the local V.F.W. Post and dedicated August 31, 1935 “IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FOR THEIR COUNTRY’S CAUSE SERVED AND DIED ON FOREIGN SOILS AND HOSTILE WATERS” although the plaque itself is topped with an eagle with a scroll which says “1941 HONOR ROLL 1945.” A second tablet “is placed here to honor the parishioners of Sacred Heart Church who gave their lives for our country in World War II Pro Deo et Patria” with a list of 12 names. Rather a fitting Memorial Day outing, I think.

And again serendipitously, thanks to technology I had a lovely long chat with my sister in California while sitting by the side of another country road, and then I spied a clam shack which said it was open for the season. Whole belly clams are my absolute favorite summer treat, but it was a good thing that this shack took cards—I had no idea I had such expensive tastes.

And frankly the best part of the day out was that I avoided current politics for the entire time! I highly recommend such a sabbatical for anyone else who is consumed with saving democracy.

RESIST ALWAYS

TTFN