Can you hear the cicadas where you live? When I’m cycling down the bike path, or walking along the river, there is a persistent thrum almost like alien spaceships on The Twilight Zone episodes we watch every New Year’s Eve. These aren’t locusts, I’m told, the insects of the eighth plague from which Pharaoh begged Moses to be free. These are specific broods of cicadas, and that is about all I want to know about them.
When I went to the public library to pick up a few books I had on hold, the children’s section had free coloring sheets from the Illinois Extension of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Always appeasing the child within, I picked up a few pages and happily spent the morning with it and my colored pencils.
But, there is a more serious aspect to this weekend. Memorial Day brings a somber mood to me. I grew up with the Vietnam War very up close. Our neighborhood suffered the loss of several young men, in what seems a cruel, and pointless war. (Aren’t they all?) Some of my dearest friends went to college so they would not be drafted.
My father came home from the Korean War. My son escaped the war in Afghanistan when he was a Marine. But, so many have not come home, have not escaped. I remember their sacrifice. This is not a weekend for only enjoying picnics and parades. It is to remember that we are the country which is the land of the free, and the home of the brave, because of those who have fought to keep it that way. May we always remember.
"like alien spaceships", absolutely, and so so close, they have landed!
ReplyDeleteSome days, I can't read outside, the noise is too loud and high-pitched, it can reach 100 decibels at times I have heard (the noise level of a sledge hammer).
But they actually only do good things for nature, whereas locusts devour everything.
Well Hello to you my long lost friend! I suppose I lost you somewhere among the transitions we made with blogging platforms. I too settled back on the free and uncomplicated Blogger format. It's so nice to read your words again. I hope we shall not lose touch in the future. I too was in the U.S. Marine Corps and have a soft spot for Jarheads and their families. Best wishes to you and I look forward to hearing from you.
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