A Few Random Thoughts

Hey Crew,
  Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend.  More on that in a minute.  First of all. I would like to send out all of our thoughts and prayers to the good people of Joplin Missouri.  What an earth-shattering week they have had.  From loosing every possession they had, to loosing loved ones who can never be replaced. As a Wiccan, I have the utmost respect and awe in Mother Nature. She can be the most beautiful, magickal essence that one will ever encounter, and she can be a brutal, dare I say it, evil  force that can be unleashed at a moment's notice. It  is something that mere humans just cannot wrap their minds around, no matter how hard we try. It has been so great to see people from all over the country drop their own lives and come to Joplin to help the people there try to put their lives back together.  We Missourians are a hardy resilient  bunch, and Joplin WILL be back better then ever.
  While everyone is busy enjoying an extra day to sleep in, barbecuing, and the opening of swimming pools everywhere, let's not forget the true meaning of this day.  We are able to enjoy all of those things thanks to the men and women of the United States Military who have gone to far away places and put their lives on the line, been wounded, lost limbs, and of course, given the ultimate sacrifice so that the United States of America remains the land of freedom and opportunity for not just those of us fortunate enough to be natural born Americans, but for people from all over the world who desire a better life for themselves and their children, and who very often risk their very lives to get here because they know it is worth the struggle.

  American soldiers are a unique breed. They go where they are ordered to go. They carry out the missions they are ordered to carry out. They leave their own lives and families to do so. They know that there is always a possibility that they will not return. But they know that is part of the job. And it is not just a job, it is a calling. They are the best trained, best equipped military force in history. They are the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen of the United States Military. On this Memorial Day, let us honor them and thank them for the job of protecting America that they do so incredibly well every day.