Both inspired a day of Remembrance.
Our little town held a Ceremony on the Square and a huge number of folks were there to show their respect. Did the heart good.
I think perhaps that single thing that inspired me the most over the weekend was a trip to Home Depot on Saturday. I was there to pick up some flowers, herbs, and potting soil. Was in a hurry and getting a bit impatient standing in the check out lane. “Come on people ! Quit chatting with the pretty checkout gal and lets get this line moving !” I didn’t say it, but that’s what I was thinking!
In the check out lane next to me was a woman in a motorized wheelchair. ( Thank God I had not gotten in line behind her!) Waiting for her to get through the check out lane was going to be even slower. She got up to the cashier and handed the clerk a couple small items from her basket. Suddenly, she started getting out of her wheelchair. I say started, because she weighed something over 300 lbs, in her late 50’s or early 60’s I was guessing and obviously had a number of serious medical issues.
First, and this was no small effort on her part, she managed to get herself turned sideways. Slowly, as in take up another 30 seconds, she was able to put one foot on the ground. Another 30 seconds and her second foot touch down and she struggled to rise from her chair. Slowly, slowly, she stood up, and took two steps forward, away from the cashier who had already placed her items in a plastic bag and was waiting for payment. Where was she going??! What was she doing? After wasting all this time had she suddenly decided she di not want the items? You got to be kidding me !!
One more step, and then she bent down. Appeared more like she was falling down in slow motion. What was she doing??!! Oh my god, she is picking up something off the floor. I was about to blow a gasket and then has she slowly stood up again she was holding a small American Flag. With the greatest of loving care she gently dusted the dirt from the flag, and bent over one more time to return it to the orange 5 gallon bucket where it had fallen from. It was then I noticed the bucket was full of little American flags, and one had got knocked out onto the floor.
I felt stupid, I felt immensely and overwhelmingly foolish. I was so happy that I had kept my mouth shut the few seconds before. I wanted to applaud, to clap my hands, to say SOMETHING to her for her brave and arduous act of patriotism. I was too humbled, to shocked, to say or do anything. And for that I was ashamed. We both paid for our goods and exited the store. Her I’m sure with a feeling of pride. Myself, humbled and ashamed.
It set the tone for the rest of the Holiday Weekend for me. It kept before me, the purpose, the reason of why we ‘Remember’.
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