Charlotte, NC

Memorial Day. To many, it’s a “day off from work.” But to the countless thousands who’ve lost loved ones in service to our country, it’s a sacred holiday, an honorable tradition.
There are so many men and women here in the MeckCo area who’ve served — and made it back home alive. But within them lie memories of their buddies who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. To them, we pay a special respect, knowing that, in fact, part of them died on the day their buddies did.

One special Memorial Day celebration stands out in The Relic mind, though.

It was May, 1989. Daddy had just picked me and my son, Mike, up from K-Mart in Starmount Shopping Center, and was heading home to ready for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Pineville Cemetery (he was Commander of VFW Post 9091 in town). About thirty minutes before he was to go — though he was dressed in his uniform — he reached over to tie his low-quarters. He stayed there, bent over, for a moment, and mama went to check on him.
He looked up, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t tie his shoes. He’d had a stroke. Of course, he was taken to the hospital as Jack Crump took his place at the podium.

May, 1991. The most amazing man in the world — Eola Hinson (pump repairman, deacon, caring father, loving husband to mama) — had passed from this world nine months before of lung cancer (they found it as he was in the hospital two years before). At the ceremony that Memorial Day, Jack read the names of all veterans who were buried there, and handed out flags to members of his or her family.
When he got to the name “Cecil Eola Hinson,” something strange happened: Jack’s voice cracked and trembled, and the people in attendance sighed and, in some cases, had tears as mama slowly walked forward, tears in her own eyes, to accept the flag for his grave.

It’s a day I’ll never forget … and it made me so proud that Daddy (as others there in that cemetery) was a patriot — a true American in every sense of the word. He’d served in the Second World War as a commo sergeant (Top Sergeant), and was thankful that he’d been given the blessing of returning home.

May we, as Americans, pray for that blessing for ALL our men and women overseas!

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

If you remember, last post told you about my fave cat, Contessa, as she is dying. Even as I write this, she’s beside me as I’m still comforting her and dabbing her little mouth with water, nutritional paste (vet-recommended), etc.
Yet, in the other room, another lovely feline of mine (Indian Summer) has just given birth to five beautiful little kittens! After helping with their births (I think she’s finally gotten the knack of feeding them!), I then come back to the office and check on Contessa. Believe me, it’s a strange feeling.
But it’s sort of like the song by Blood, Sweat and Tears (and when I die, and when I’m gone, there’ll be one child born in this world to carry on*). And it’s an eerie feeling.
At the moment, Tessa is apparently resting, while the kittens are doing well. Just keep the brood in your prayers, okay? Thanks.
* And When I Die performed by Blood, Sweat and Tears

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

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