Memorial Day

Most people today think of Memorial Day as a long weekend, the last of May. I will always think of Memorial Day as May 30th.
My Father always took us to parades and talked to us about the importance of remembering those who have given their lives for our Freedom. As a result of this I always fly the US flag on this day and salute the members of our armed forces past and present which includes my husband.
Thank you to all who care enough about my freedom to give service. Also to the families, especially the children, who live in an uncertain state until that parent walks through the door and into their arms. God Bless you all and God Bless America!!!!!!

On a much lighter note------ The reson I always remember May 30th!!

The weekend of May 18, 1968, I was asked by the then ASSPC President to be the "camp nurse" at a weekend camp for inner city children to be held at a horse camp in Cle Elm, Washington. This request came through his girlfiend who lived on my floor in the dorm and knew I was a Sophomore Nursing student. ( translation knew very little about nursing, but they were covered, as the had "a nurse"?!?)

Friday evening, I was introduced to the other staff, Jon, Suzie, Julie, and Harold Delamarter.
The cute guy with a great smile and terrifc blue eyes. My first memory is him standing at the top of the stairs laughing and teasing me about who knows what. !!!
Saturday dawned, we spent alot of time at the pool. Me in a borrowed 2 piece bathing suit. Borrowed, because my own Mother did not think 2 piece bathing suits were ever appropriate.
I was girls counsellor with Julie and kept talking to her about how much this guy named Harold was flirting with me. Ha----more about Julie later.

Harold was the wrangler of the horses and supervised the kids horse back riding. It was the first camp of the spring so the horses were a bit squirlly, not having been ridden for the winter.
As it happened, 2 girls fell off their horses and right into the barbed wire fences. CALL FOR THE NURSE!!!
Stitches needed------ my evaluation.
Harold volunteered to be the ambulance driver----- in his bright red 1965 Mustang ( the first year they were made)
Into Ellensberg we went with 2 girls in the back seat, must have had releases, not sure . I was just 19 myself.
Came back to camp, girls with stitches in place, me giggling as Harold is very funny. What girl can resist a guy that makes her laugh?
Seats were saved at the dinner table, which was in progress . I was to sit next to Jon and his girlfriend, Harold was to sit next to JULIE. Seems they had been dating and they came together!!!!! Not only could she could she ride horses BUT she could play the piano too! One of my biggest envies.
This is the girl I had been talking to about Harold!!!!! I think I even told her I thought he was cute!!!
Went back to Seattle to the dorm. My best friend had a room over looking the parking lot and you can't hide a red Mustang among college kids cars!! Knew when it went ; Knew when it came back!!!
A few days later, I was sitting on my bed praying. I said" God, I would really like a date this weekend either with ....... ......... or Harold Delamarter"
Before I finished the prayer, the phone rang. "Hello" "Hi, This is Harold Delamarter. What are you doing for Memorial Day"?
'ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, what did you have in mind?"
Our first date was May 30, 1968. We went to Whidby Island , on the ferry to the home of his cousin's boyfriend's parents for a large group barbeque.
I was nervous, he made me laugh, I broke one of his 8 track tapes, and he didn't kiss me!!!
But I still remember the stories he told and how I laughed. Still do on remembrance!!
40 years have come and gone since that first date! I can't believe it.
A stint living in Germany with the Army, 3 kids, 2 daughters in law, 1 son in law, 4 1/2 grand children, building a business together------- now turning 60!!!!
How quickly those 40 years have passed!!!

I am blessed with great memories this Memorial Day, 2008

and that Julie----- Well----- I've heard that he made the right choice!!!