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Happy Memorial Day 2023!

The Portly Politico10 Comments

In time-honored TPP tradition, I take Memorial Day off from writing movie reviews.  Memorial Day marks the last day off from work until summer break, which literally starts in about three days for yours portly.  It makes the day off somewhat superfluous, but, really, the next two or three days of work will be largely superfluous, too.  We’ll finalize grades for our classes by department, and by the time you’re reading this brief post, I should be done with report card comments (all 100 of them, exactly!).

But for today, I’m (hopefully) kicking back after a busy weekend of Spring Jamming and graduation-attending.

What of Memorial Day itself?  Back in 2021, I wrote the following:

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.

That pretty much sums it up.  Here’s to hot dogs—and liberty!

God Bless,

TPP

10 thoughts on “Happy Memorial Day 2023!”

  1. How weird is that?! I’m on TCW talking about food and there you are, with a sausage waiting to be devoured! Mmmm-good! 👍😄

    Spoiled though by all that sauce. Greens shouldn’t be near it either. If you’re not eating the sausage on its own, it goes well with fried egg and/or bacon. Never taint good meat with sauce and rabbit food! 😂😂😂

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    • Hahaha, I wish that was me! That’s just a generic Pexel’s free photo. I like my hot dogs with mustard and sometimes relish—very simple. Ketchup is good, too, but a sausage dog in particular is best with just mustard.

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      • Tina would probably agree with that even though she does eat meat free hot dogs. I’m pretty basic. Marg on your bun and a proper butcher’s grade sausage. I had a sausage baguette at our CW meet on Saturday and it was alright considering they didn’t put marg on the bread. That seems to be a Norfolk thing – you’ve got to ask for it. Up North, where I’m originally from, not putting marg on a bap is as controversial as having a Devon scone without cream or jam! It’s just not cricket! 😂😂😂

        By the way, I had a look at Fripp Island earlier. It looks every bit as idyllic as you described. 👍

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        • Meat-free hot dogs? Poor Tina. I like your sausage baguette approach with marg much better.

          It’s pretty amazing! My grandparents sold the property to my uncle, and we don’t get down there nearly as much as we used to do so. I was spoiled with access to such a beautiful place for most of my life.

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  2. I don’t find it ironic or disrespectful. I’m told that my father loved a good party and that I get my grilling from him. The men I left behind also loved to cut loose when they could. I’m pretty sure that they like that we use what they died to keep for us and tried to bring to others.

    Myself? I think of it as a recurring wake.

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  5. Well!!! Sorry once again! I seem to have commented on The Portly Politico when I meant to comment on NEO! I think I need a nap …

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