Help! The Dog Ate My Ice Cream ~ Thoughts on Memorial Day

Written by Candyce Fulford


I rememberrepparttar Memorial Day celebrations from my childhood. This wasrepparttar 111620 day that signaledrepparttar 111621 beginning of summer! Asrepparttar 111622 parents grumbled about us being out of school for so long, we kids were planning games like "Kick-The-Can" marathons well intorepparttar 111623 night hours. But first, we had to get that dreaded 'parade' over with!

You knowrepparttar 111624 parade I mean. That Memorial Day parade, where we had to stand for what seemed like HOURS inrepparttar 111625 hot sun all dressed in our clean and pressed Girl Scout uniforms, while some unknown dignitary spoke volumes about unknown soldiers and fallen comrades. How boring it all was to a ten-year-old girl. And, what did all of that have to do with me?

Inrepparttar 111626 wake of September 11th, (2001), I see evidence every day that brings to life that unknown dignitary's words. It may berepparttar 111627 bravery I see inrepparttar 111628 faces of those who now face disaster, as they enter burning and crumbling buildings. It may berepparttar 111629 pride I feel when I see my young granddaughter rise and place her hand over her heart whenever and where ever she hears "The Star Spangled Banner" being played. Memorial Day now holds such a different definition.

We are living in a changed world, and it took a great shock to our nation for us to realize just how changed it has become. Patriotism has been reborn! In our small New Hampshire town, every pick-up truck worth its name flies 'Old Glory'. It is no longer considered 'corny' to stop and be silent asrepparttar 111630 National Anthem is being played at sporting events. Evenrepparttar 111631 high school senior class has changed its class colors to red, white and blue.

TINY GREEN THUMBS

Written by Arleen M. Kaptur


Gardening is considered one of America's greatest pastimes. People enjoy going out and communing with nature. They likerepparttar feel ofrepparttar 111619 earth between their fingers andrepparttar 111620 excitement of seeing tiny sprouts and plants opening up to drink inrepparttar 111621 sunshine andrepparttar 111622 warmth. It just makes you feel good inside.

How about letting your child experiencerepparttar 111623 joys of gardening? No matter where you live, you can introduce gardening andrepparttar 111624 miracle of plant life to your child. They will thrill to see their seeds sprout and grow. That very first strawberry, pickle, or parsley leaf will bring true delight and amazement to them. You would be instilling in your child a love of nature, an appreciation for life, andrepparttar 111625 knowledge that with a little work and care, you can grow food, flowers, and other things of beauty.

Begin with small, fast-growing plants. A child's attention span is still limited so long, slow growth may lose its appeal. Strawberry plants are a perfect way to introduce your child torepparttar 111626 wonder of how that ruby-red berry in his/her cereal grew. A small patch of ground that will allowrepparttar 111627 plant to grow and spread its "fingers" will amaze your child with each day's accomplishments. Then when that first flower appears,repparttar 111628 prospect of a strawberry grows, and then finally that first berry becomes a reality. Aw,repparttar 111629 taste ofrepparttar 111630 first berry you ever grew contains untold feelings of victory.

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