Like last year, I’m taking this Memorial Day off from Monday Morning Movie Reviews and blogging.  Depending on how productive I was Sunday, I may or may not be writing comments for final report cards today; otherwise, I’m kicking back and taking it easy.

Memorial Day is a bit of a curious holiday to me.  As I wrote last year:

Memorial Day typically marks the beginning of summer.  Given that it’s a day to remember those who have died for our liberties, some might see it as somewhat ironic, or even disrespectful, that we spend the day at the beach eating hot dogs.

I prefer to think of it another way:  it’s a celebration of everything for which those men died.  Hot dogs, pool parties, family, good music, good times; in essence, freedom, the kind of freedom that Americans savor.

That freedom was bought with a heavy price—and it’s been bought over and over again.  Indeed, the fight continues here at home.

Don’t take these freedoms for granted.  Take a moment—between bites of hot dog—and give thanks to those men for our liberty, and to God that we live in the United States of America.

I’ll definitely be enjoying hot dogs and freedom today—I have an abundant supply of the former from The TJC Spring Jam and Recital, and an abundance of the latter thanks to our forebears.

Here’s wishing you a restful day, too!

Happy Memorial Day!

—TPP