A thank you from a grateful American

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I am an American. I am very proud of my country. I feel quite privileged and honored to live here. I say this not to diminish any other country. I would expect someone born and raised in Germany, Canada, or France to be able to say the same thing about their country.

I have lived in peace. I have had plenty to eat and drink. I have been free to learn, to explore, and I have been exposed to many wonderful things.

I have lived without fear. I do not fear my government or anyone or anything else.

At this time in history we are blessed with luxuries unfathomable to those who lived in generations past. We have health care, entertainment, employment, housing, food, and a blank check of sorts to pursue anything we choose.

I realize it is not this way everywhere. Parts of the world are in poverty or oppressed in some way. I thank God every day for the blessings I described above.

One of the reasons I enjoy such freedoms and privilege is because there has been a steady stream of young men and women who have stepped up to protect our way of life.

War is a bad thing. It is responsible for the untimely demise of the best a civilization has to offer. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are not made up of conscripts, but volunteers who want to defend America.

These defenders protect the right of everyone to voice their opinion. You can protest the war. That right was bought with the blood of your fellow Americans. You can criticize the government without the fear of imprisonment; another assurance that was also purchased with their blood.

There are those in the world who want us dead. It is too bad we cannot simply model behaviors of tolerance and peace and have it make a difference. Such behaviors are seen as weakness and only invite the enemy to kill more of us.

For those of you who have served in our military, let me say most sincerely; thank you. Thank you for serving and for defending our way of life. Thank you for putting your own life on the line to protect me and my family. Thank you for the time you spent away from home, for the inconvenience and suffering you may have endured in the process.

To those of you who have lost a loved one in the military - thank you. You know the cost all to well. Please know that my thank you is more than words, but an expression of a very deep feeling of pride and respect.

Memorial Day is a time for cook outs and mini vacations. Folks lay on the beach and soak up the sun; they enjoy the land and all of the things America has to offer. I hope at some time during this holiday weekend, you take the time to offer a prayer for those who cannot celebrate with you. I hope you feel a bit of a responsibility to make something of yourself and your country since your opportunity to live in a free country with all of its convenience and opportunity was purchased with our best young men and women.

It is the very least we could do.

The cost
JM Forever A local marine who died 11/04 fighting in Falujah. He later received the bronze star V. Our community is well aware of the cost of war.

Bobby Warns Tribute This video will make you cry. It will make you appreciate Bobby Warns. He is one of many who have answered the call and paid the ultimate price.

God bless America and God bless those who answer the call to defend her.

Until the next time
John Strain

Fields and dreams

It happens every year and in every town. You see them under the lights and behind the chain link fences. The green of the grass glows like an emerald in the night. They gather to play baseball and to keep alive at least one thing from their childhood.

I am not talking about organized baseball. These boys have been through all of that. Maybe one or two of them still play in college, but they all play for fun and because they like it. They play to be with each other, to laugh, and to enter that world they first experienced as little boys. It is a world of timelessness, simplicity, and innocence.

They are grown now, most in their 20's; they have witnessed each other's lives and are the holders of each other's histories. They are connected to each other by geography, time, and the game of baseball.

They choose up sides and play. They laugh and they harass each other in the good-natured way boys do. They compete and try to win as if it were the World Series while acting like none of it matters.

Their language would make their mother's blush. Their father's know what they are doing, because they have done it themselves.

It is quite a privilege to grow up in one place and to have friends you can remember in the first grade. It is quite a nice thing to still be connected to them and to play baseball with them every Thursday night in the summer.

Small towns are nice. Someone knows the guy who can turn on the lights and the game is on. They play on that familiar field of so many childhood games. They reminisce about past heroics and blunders alike.

No matter what direction their lives are going now, be it work or school; Thursday night baseball brings them all together. They are again that group of kids who played little league on the same spot.

Even at their young age of 21 or so, one of their number is gone - a causality to the war in Iraq. Another one or two have died in auto accidents. These are stark reminders to the value of life.

I'll bet there is such a group near you. If you get a chance, watch them for a while and observe the beauty of time, relationships, and connections.

It happens here on Thursday night when our boys play on their own field of dreams.

Until the next time
John Strain

Stress? What stress?

by Bear

Hi everyone, it's me Bear.

I told daddy to take it easy and I would post today. He has been gimping around with a bad back, but I think it's getting better.

When he walked me the past couple of days, he was really slow. I had to pull him, but then he got mad. Sometimes he would just stop and say some of those words mommy gets mad at him for saying.

He's tough and he'll get over it. Daddy is in a bit of a pickle, because anytime someone complains about something, daddy says they are wussies or whiners. Now that he has a problem, he is afraid to complain too much or he might get some of his own medicine. Hehehe. I think pried is funny.

I wanted to show you a couple of pictures from my big river adventure last weekend. LJ, me, and Daddy took the boat to the Tchefuncta River. I think they pronounce it (cha fung ta). It kind of sounds like those words daddy uses when his back grabs him.

I love the wind in my face

I think I'll grab a bite and then take a nice nap

The river ride was fun. It was a beautiful day. We saw lots of turtles and some big white egrets. There were lots of fish jumping too. I just liked having the wind blow on me. There are so many smells to sniff.

When we got back to shore, daddy and LJ threw my tennis ball in the river and I swam out to get it. I like that game. I made them laugh because I would run real fast and just when I would get to the water, I would lay out. I made big splashes.

You can see a picture of what it looks like if you click my funny picture in the sidebar.

Well, daddy wants to take me for my morning walk, so I will be signing off for now.

Off for now.

Do you get it? I said signing off for now . . . anyway.

Have a nice day. It was hot here yesterday, but a man came to our house and stayed most of the day yesterday. He was in the attic a lot, but after he left, it got nice and cool. I think daddy said he was the air conditioner man or something.

The man left a yellow piece of paper on the table. When daddy got home and looked at it, he said some more of those words mommy gets mad at him for saying. I wonder what that paper said.

Bye for now.
Bear

Knock on wood

I was talking to a patient the other day about bad backs. We had a few things in common. I told him about how every now and then my lower back goes out on me. It starts with a little twinge that can occur while I am doing something strenuous or just walking down the hall.

The tightness then washes in and depending on variables of which I am not aware, it can become minor pain all the way to excruciating spasms. Blah, blah, blah. I finished the conversation by saying I haven't experienced the problem in a couple of years. Then I said, "I am probably dooming myself by saying that."

It was about time to leave work. John called me to go to Lowe's to get some materials to brace his basketball goal. Since Katrina destroyed the goal, I haven't fixed it. Last week, I ordered a new rim and backboard, but needed to replace the brace to keep the pole from wobbling - thus the trip to Lowe's.

As I stood there bent over looking for the right clamp, I felt a twinge; the irony of it all. Within a few hours, I was walking slowly and my posture resembled a question mark. That was Monday. I had to sleep in almost a 90 degree angle. Any slight movement caused a spasm and I was miserable.

No running Tuesday, painful day, sleepless night Tuesday. No running Wednesday, but things are not as bad. No grabbing pain, just soreness and I can tell I will be able to run tomorrow.

One reason I am so thankful for health is that I know how quickly it can go downhill. At the zenith of my pain, Barbara was slightly amused as I tried to get out of a chair and walk. She isn't cruel, I thought it was funny too. I said to her, "I ran the Boston Marathon a month ago." That night, I couldn't run one step. How quickly the strong can become weak.

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Last week I was thinking about how we haven't had any problems with our central air conditioner in a few years. I usually have the AC man come maintain it every other year. In this part of Louisiana and all over the south, an air conditioner is as important as running water and lectricity. (I spelled electricity that way on porpose) (I spelled purpose that way on purpose.)

Anyway, last night after bracing up the basketball goal, I came inside and thought it was a little warm. I walked over to the thermostat and it was 80 degrees, but the little needle was set to 78 and nothing was happening.

I flipped on the fan switch and nothing. I walked outside and the compressor was running. I checked the breakers and all was well. Back inside, I flipped the switch and I heard a hum, but no fan kicked on. Shucks.

I am guessing the fan motor is burned out. I called the AC man and am praying he can come out today and fix it. Usually, he has to order a part and we will be without AC for one to three days.

Since Katrina, we have had a window unit AC in our bedroom, so I turned it on to get our room cool and sleeping last night was fine - except for the back pain.

I am going to start knocking on wood a bit more or stop thinking about bad things happening. My body and my checkbook can't take it.

Until the next time
John Strain

Why old people cry so much

The older I become the more I know. There are at least two forms of knowing. One is to know a fact about something. I learned about weddings from television, talking to people, and even in seminary about how to conduct them.

Then there is the kind of knowing that comes from experience. Knowing something by fact is good, but to have experienced that thing is to bring in your senses and feelings. I remember how my heart pounded the first time I asked a girl on a date. I remember how my words were not so smooth and that the feeling of calm and relaxed was far away at the time. I can remember how I felt when my son was born and the first time I saw mountains. I know from experience what it is like to do a lot of things.

The older we become, the more experiences we have. People list their "100 things about me" on blogs and many of those things are experiences.

I attended weddings as a child, as a member of the wedding party, as the friend of the bride and/or groom, as the minister officiating the service, as the groom, and now I am attending weddings of the friends of my son. It makes me realize I will soon be the father of a groom and as I scan the room for other parts to play in the future, I see grandparents and great grandparents.

Each roll has its own significance. Each part has its own lines and spot on the stage with more or less prominence, but a part with all kinds of personal meaning nonetheless.

Case in point, when we arrived at the wedding, we asked one of the grooms friends if Josh the groom were nervous. The reply was Josh was fine, but some of the groomsmen were pretty nervous. My son John was in that number and he was a bit nervous about what he was supposed to do, where to stand, when to walk, and so on.

As one who has officiated weddings I can tell you the minister is thinking about what he is going to say, do, and what all he has to do to perform his duties. Every actor has a part and it is an important part. Every part carries its own fun and satisfaction.

John learned that the groomsmen get a small gift for their trouble. He learned how much a tuxedo costs to rent, and he got to take some pictures looking his best on an otherwise normal Saturday in the bright Louisiana sunshine.

I think something that goes on at weddings is the actors look around and place themselves in the rolls of other actors. I am sure little girls in the crowd see the bride as some sort of princess and dream of their own special day. They imagine what it will be like and who they might marry.

Young men might wonder when their time will be, but for the most part, they are scanning the crowd for pretty girls. I was watching the parents of the bride and groom. I have a deeper appreciation for what it would mean to place the hand of your little girl into the hand of some young punk and I don't even have a daughter.

I could sense their pride and celebrated with them such a milestone. It made me think of 23 years ago when Barbara and I just started out. Josh and Lauren's lives are in front of them. Somehow that causes a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

I watched the young ushers escort the older family members down the aisle. One lady was in a wheelchair another was about half as tall as her escort and she moved slowly. Their lives have been mostly played out. They are the ones who can sit and take it all in. They have played all of the roles and perhaps they are playing their last scene.

A wedding isn't my idea of how I would like to spend a Saturday afternoon. I have to stop in the middle of the day, clean up, dress up, and spend a few hours of my time. OK, that is the selfish side, but when I got there, none of that mattered anymore. I really enjoyed taking it all in.

Every wedding requires so much work and planning. The two families spend the better part of a year attending to every minute detail and then it is all over in about 20 minutes. Baptists get a wedding over in about 20 minutes while Catholics go for an hour or so.

At any rate, it is a lot like Christmas. When it is over you are left with that hollow feeling like, "Is that it?" "We did all of that work for all of that time and now it's over?" There were some tense moments in the planning. Apparently the shoes selected for the bride's maids had 3.5 inch heels. The straps were causing blisters on the girls and some were having trouble walking in them. One girl was upset because they caused her to tower over her shorter escort. On the day of the wedding, the bride's maids came down the aisle barefooted.

From my vantage point, it was a beautiful wedding. It had a relaxed feeling and those who gathered were there to celebrate the union of two wonderful people. Family and friends alike joined to share the joy. Even the third grade school teacher was there. She couldn't talk without crying she was so proud to have had a part in shaping Josh. We were all actors in the play of life. The older you get, the more roles you play and the more experiences you have inside you. All of this builds and it enriches the experience each time.

This is why old people cry so much, because they have experienced so much and feel deeply. Life is like that, you live and experience things. Hopefully those experiences make you a better person. A better person is someone who uses what they know to make the lives of those around them better.

It was the most happiness I have been around in a long time. I can't think of a better way to invest some time - can you?

Here are some photos from the wedding.

Josh and Lauren exchange wedding vows

The first dance as a newly married couple.

These kids grew up together. From left to right:
Roy (John's roommate), John, Will (the clown), Josh (the groom),
and Ben (home on leave from the Navy).

Barb, John, and I

John and Mandy

As the bride's mother gives her daughter a bon voyage hug,
the groom's father snaps a photo. Josh is being pelted by his "buds."

Another photo of the couple's exit. Now the groom's mother is visible
in the pink next to the grooms father with the camera.

The happy couple are leaving the party.

Another shot of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs

As the Carpenter's song says,
"A kiss for luck and we're on our way - we've only just begun."

Here’s to you Josh and Lauren. My best wishes for a happy life together.

Until the next time
John Strain