Category Archives: Holidays

Star Wars and Tequila 2022

As I write this post, it is May 4th, Star Wars Day!! Why, because “May the Fourth be with you!” If you don’t get it, I’m sorry. The local baseball AA team , the Tulsa Drillers has a Star Wars day on the 4th, if they are playing a game, and lots of people show up in costume.

Star Wars and Baseball! Can’t beat that.

Thursday is May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday celebrating their victory over France in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In the US, it is mainly an excuse to dring margaritas. That’s okay isn’t it? I will now have a musical interlude on one of my favorite country songs: “Tequila a Little Time” by Jon Pardi. The video is filmed at my wife and I’s favorite beach bar, Florabama, on the border of Florida and Alabama.

If you don’t get the play on words, then I can’t help you.

We’ve spent a lot of time at Florabama. We don’t drink too much tequila.

Our beverage of choice are bushwhackers, kind of a rum and ice cream concoction. Our limit is two and we always stay within walking distance.

Anyway, you enjoy both holidays, responsibly!!

Thanksgiving 2015

This year we loaded up with MIL Nana and Brother Bob and headed off to western Oklahoma for Thanksgiving.

We got there Wednesday afternoon and the it was warm if a little windy so Logan, Brother Bob (way back there) and I found a nature trail to stretch our legs a little bit.

A little bit later and we started a pre-celebration. Thanksgiving is not something you want to get into without warming up to it.

Among other things we celebrated Nana’s birthday. She likes bling, and among other things she got a blingy cap to add to her collection.

She even had a crown on her cake.

We had a great time with the family and met one or two new members, played a game or two and ate a lot of food. And then we booked it Thursday right after dinner to beat an ice storm bearing down on us from Colorado. You know people are too worried about Syrian immigrants coming into the US. I say bring them on, put them to work, we could use hard working people here. What I want is for Colorado to keep all their winter weather at home. Is that asking too much?

How was your Thanksgiving??

Honoring our Veterans

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” – President John F. Kennedy

"In this place where valor sleeps, we are reminded why America has always gone to war reluctantly, because we know the costs of war..." President George W. Bush

Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has a great Memorial Day tradition. They fly the donated casket flags of the veterans who are buried at the cemetery. They are raised on the Friday before by JROTC members from area schools, family members, and Floral Haven staff. They are taken down the day of Memorial Day by area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. In addition, the American Legion places a small flag on each veteran’s grave. There are also ceremonies, speeches, and remembrances. Check the link for the details.

Each flagpole has a brass plate idenifying who the flag is flying for. I think this whole thing is just wonderful. This year there are a little over 3000 flags. I think that it is a great way of honoring our deceased veterans.

“On Memorial Day, we honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. And while our commitment to those who serve and their families remains important every day, Memorial Day is the perfect time to offer a simple act of kindness to our veterans and military families….”

President Barack Obama

Happy Birthday America

It’s July 4th and I spent some time looking for an appropriate poem, song, prayer, quote, blessing and all that expressed how I felt about today. I couldn’t find quite the right thing. I’m just hoping that just for this one day all Americans can come together and celebrate our country.

Happy Birthday America.

Fourth of July

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July

Lets remember all those who sacrificed so that we can be free.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Prayer*

In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing…

You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone…

Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs…

Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice…

Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace…

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts…

Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.

Amen.

* by Austin Fleming, Priest of the Archdiocese of Boston.
A Concord Pastor

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving in Oklahoma was pretty this year. I went for a run mid morning and the weather was beautiful.

Later we congregated at my Mother in Law’s (“Nana”) house for Thanksgiving Dinner.

SuperPizzaBoy. No, he didn’t get turkey pizza but I don’t think that he was disappointed.

My Dad, Gramps, down from Idaho.

Ada, from the office joined us this year.

Left to right, Nana and Sweetie getting everything ready.

We didn’t have a whole lot to eat. Of course you don’t see the side table where everything else is.

I hope that if you are somebody who celebrates Thanksgiving, that you had a good one. We certainly did.

For desert I got pumpkin pie and a Dallas Cowboys victory over Oakland.

YogisDen.us

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