Memorial Day 2016

This year, Memorial Day is a bit different for me. As is so often the case, I am usually working the sales at Macy's. However, I was lucky enough not to be assigned any shifts this weekend. Okay, I took a short shift for Monday for the extra pay. That said, I'm off today, Sunday, which is rare.

Last night I declared to my family that I wanted to spend today doing something fun. All suggestions got a thumbs down and I gave up. So this morning, I woke up and decided to visit my parents' grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. I generally avoid the cemetery on Memorial Day for obvious reasons. I usually feel guilty as heck because I really should pay my respects to my father who served in the Army during World War II. Every year, I think about going and just don't. This year, I decided I would visit.

The traffic on Telegraph Road was horrible, of course. I felt bad for the local residents who are just trying to get their weekend errands completed. I guess they just get used to it after a time. Big Jack came with me on this visit and I'm glad he did. I always get confused about the location of my parents' grave and, as usual, became hysterical when I couldn't find their section. He calmly took over and requested help. The grounds keepers nearby were kind enough to help me find my parents and even gave us a flag to place on their grave.

The Boy Scouts were everywhere, but waiting for some signal from a grown up to start placing the flags. They seemed bored and wondered what the hold up was all about. I was kind of wondering myself.

A visit to my parents' grave is always emotional. As I stood there, crying a bit, I told my parents about what was going on in my life. I told them I knew they were watching over me and I knew they would be proud of me.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have fallen defending our country and our freedoms. While most people see it as a three-day weekend with barbecues and opening of swimming pools, we should all take a moment to remember the true meaning of the holiday.

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!

A recent article from the New York Times showed up in my Facebook feed. Actually, this article showed up a couple of days ago in another news publication, but I failed to catch it.

Let me ask my readers this question: Why on Earth does a high school need a major stadium and events center? Um, hello, this is a HIGH SCHOOL, not a college.

I realize that Texans love their football. I also realize that Texans love bull riding, barbecue, and big cars. Texas is a world all to their own. I get it. However. Yes, there's a however. Our country is still creeping along with an economic recovery that's not been particularly evident. The unemployment rate has gone down, but that number is rather deceiving. Why, oh, why does a high school need a $63 MILLION stadium? I fail to see the logic in this.

Here in Missouri, particularly St. Louis, our local school districts can't support this sort of expenditure. Even the wealthiest school districts (Parkway and Rockwood, for example). When my kids attended Ritenour, only family and close friends attended the high school football games and there was still plenty of room in the stands for more people. The visitor stands had even fewer people occupying them. Ritenour's football team has improved over the years - they even made it to the regional playoffs (a feat that had never happened before). But twelve thousand seats? Seriously? High school regular football season is shorter than college and pro football season. High school playoffs tend to wrap up before the holidays.

I could almost see the logic of such an expenditure if it served all the school districts in the surrounding area, not just one high school. Same with the events center. Of course, this raises the security issue which exists between rival high schools. I'm sure, here in St. Louis, Ritenour and Pattonville would not be keen on sharing space, nor would Kirkwood and Webster Groves. Maybe rivalries in Texas are more intense. I wouldn't know.

All I do understand, is that in a world where jobs are scarce, money is tight, and our educational system is at odds with the rest of the world, we really don't need mega high school football stadiums.