Here we go again... the one day of the year of true recognition, true acknowledgment, true and genuine Honor... Father's Day.  Father's Day is the one holiday that real gratitude is given and heart-felt feelings are received. Daughters are overjoyed and overwhelmed that their firm and strong fathers (as stoic as they may be) are about to tear up with a gratitude that can only be expressed on this day (amnesty.) Wives feel very proud that their choice for co-creator has lived up to their end of the bargain in spite of her best interest to change him.

  Teenage sons are continuing the nonchalance that is the their usual demeanor whilst being forced to show some sort of honor (real apathy there!) Mothers look at the choices their sons have made and feel so proud that these grand children have been raised with the same love and care that she doled out when she was young. And finally, Dads that are also honored look upon their 'chip-off-the-ole-block', their 'fruit-of-their-loins', their 'apple-of-the-eye' and realize that maybe... just maybe they did something right!

  I'm not knocking Mother's Day but mothers get recognition for just 'spitting' out another person (oh, a miracle... I'm sorry!) The Fathers' role is much more expansive and diverse. Do we hug the boys? what's too much coddling? how tight do we hold on to our daughters? when do I show the 'boyfriend' my gun? how do I tell the boy good job for winning the fight and I'm proud, but letting him know that he shouldn't do it again?

   If everyone could only see that no one person or group has the answer to fatherly child rearing. We are all collectively trying our best to not screw up and Father's Day gives us a chance to sit and look, dare I say examine the choices we've made!

  But, what do I know... I'm just someone's Son, someone's Brother, someone's Husband, and a Father... oh, and I'm also just Some Guy!

In Memorial of the memorial...

Land of the Free...?

     I know this is a little late but when I was a kid there was a lot of hub bub about holidays... especially those that pertained to the military like Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. There would be a PSA on the television that showed scenes of heroism and patriotism in some foreign land or scenes of men and women in uniform fighting, protecting and guarding our freedoms. Where did those commercials go? Since when have we become so squeamish about showing excellent service for our country? Where are the patriots and patriotic spirit of old?

This makes me wonder whether there is an inverse relationship between media portrayal of patriotism and duty during the times of peace vs. the feelings of apathy and discouragement shown in the media during the times of war.

We do not get the opportunity to see men and women of the branches in action when they are actually in action... we must wait until the rest of the world decide to take a break! We should not cower our spirit for no one! We should not put our stars and stripes up for sale for no one.

  We should not put the memory of soldiers on the back burner for the sake of a 'We Are the World' mood! Bring back the Memorial part of Memorial Day. Honor them properly!


- but what do I know... I'm just Some Guy!