Just a quick post to say 'Happy Memorial Day' to all the American citizens. I will be watching military programs today. If the weather clears, I will ride over to Willamette National Cemetary to pay my respects. That is where my dad will be buired, along with my mom's ashes. Dad was a captain in Stuttgart for 8 years during the cold war. He is extremely proud of that period. I never served active-duty, but I did serve at the VA for quite a long while, trying my best to take care of our incredible veterans in the way they so richly deserve. I did my best.

I really do not think many Americans, or Europeans, for that mtter, fully grasp today just how close we all came to permanently speaking German and Japanese. We, the allies, were largely totally overmatched in terms of military competency and equipment quality--with a few obvious exceptions toward teh end of the conflict. But we somehow came together and won the war and changed the course of this planet forever. Both the Germans and the Japanese made some absolutely critical blunders that opened some doors for us. So, in truth, it was partly luck or random chance or perhaps hubris or maybe divine intervention--depending on one's world construct. And it is just worth quickly noting that we never could have achieved all that without the shocking sacrifices of the Russian people.

So, Happy Memorial Day, all. I can't really barbecue where I live now, but I will make a burger and some fake sweet potato fries, to celebrate... I am 95% vegan, but those darn burgers... Just gotta have one maybe once a month or so. I'm weird.

Hugs and love to all!!!!!!!!!!!