A Memorial Day To Remember

May 30 was a balmy, breezy day to go to the cemetery. As I drove through  Glendale with my two sons (the oldest was working), I was filled with emotion over the familiar names and people associated with those names that I had known in my life. Friends, relatives, parents of friends and grandparents- perhaps not well-known, but familiar nonetheless.

Of course the cemetery was filled with cars, many out-of-towners, all looking for long lost relatives on Memorial Day. All the soldiers' graves were marked with bright new American flags designating their service to the country. Many graves were marked with bright new flower arrangements for the occasion. For a graveyard, there was a festive air about the place. There is a pond that has geese, ducks, swans and a  new addition this year- a crane.

Emotions rolled through me like the breezes. Warm and happy one  minute to sad and longing the next. Tears rolled down my face at my parents grave as I still miss them so much, and emotion overtook me. My son who is autistic looked puzzled at me, not sure if they were tears of joy, he chuckled. Then he gave me a hug and wiped a tear away with his finger, and stared at the droplet roll off his finger. My youngest son gave me a hug as we finished our prayers, and told me that he missed Grandma and Grandpa too.

The stark truth stared directly at me that someday my children would be looking down at my grave, mourning their loss. The circle of life is complete in the next generation for the following generation to come to pass. And so life goes on.

Since we were on the west side of town, we went to the only Micky D's that serves chocolate soft-serve ice cream cones. My youngest son's favorite treat ( and mine, too!).

We drove around the neighborhood where I grew up and went to school(s). When we drove by Roosevelt High School, I had to explain what "Alma mater" meant to my youngest son. What a strange idiom "other mother" is when explaining a school that you attended.

We drove by the house where I grew up. I pointed out the Maple tree that I had dug out of the bushes many years ago. It was only a straight pencil sized stick with roots when I planted it in the old spot where the huge elm used to stand. Now it is a stately tree of its own, shading the house and looking nice.

Just before we moved from 46th Street, I had stuck another Maple stick with roots in the ground on the south side of the front yard, doubting if this tree would make it at the time. But it is still there though not nearly as stately. It looks like the runt of the litter for trees. I still immensely enjoy driving through my old stomping ground as it provides a sense of comfort and a time of stability.

We ended our holiday weekend by having my oldest son's girlfriend over for dinner when he got off work. We grilled steaks outside and ate on the porch and enjoyed a light Mimosa with our dinner. We had cake and ice cream for dessert.

All in all, it was a pretty good day.