Celebrate the Small Things: Holidays (a little late!)

Holidays for our family was a busy time for us.  As divorced grandparents, we are a "modern family", our children are all we care about, and we are madly going from family to family to celebrate with everyone!

I am posting this for those of us Boomers who do have complicated lives.  And those in my age group are the first of them.  I am on the "fence" of the "old and the new" lifestyles.  I still believe in Family, and adore my "merged" family.  My only child is divorced, so this requires 2 more "Families" to visit.  My grandchildren's mother will always be my Daughter-in-Law.  My new Daughter-in Law to be is also loved.  Due to their culture, she will soon give birth to my new granddaughter.  I love my 2 grandchildren now so much, that I don't know how my heart can hold another.

But that is what I LOVE about my heart.  It grows and grows bigger with LOVE.  I can't wait for Ara to be born.  I will hold her, and love her and as she grows, she will be amazing, like Cailin and Parker.

Son Jeff, Daughter-in-Law Susan & Papa John

. Son James and Marussa.

.Our Pets L. Willard, R. Lily

.Grand-daughter Cailin

.Daughter-in law Bev, Parker, & Cailin

Is Our Nation Changing from its original Constitutional Meaning?

Is our Nation changing from it's Original Constitutional Meaning? Our suspicious concept of other nations entering our country is becoming real. Ever since 9/11, our open arms greeting other nations is part of the United States of America's Creed.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

― Emma Lazarus

quote-on-the-statue-of-liberty

I get that the United States is "full", however we need to develop a new "Creed" that is inclusive, but also knows that we are a Christian Nation, and just because we have religious freedom does not mean that Christianity should take the back burner on our Government properties, or in the Government school districts. If we want to salute the flag, and have prayer in these places, we are guaranteed to have the freedom to celebrate our beliefs, as well as the religious groups have the right to not have those beliefs. I cannot possibly express my feelings better than the following item:


AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOT SPEAKS HIS MIND No name calling, no hatred, no political agenda.

A CANADIAN COMMENT APPEARS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE AND IS MEANINGFUL. THERE ARE ALSO SOME RECENTLY ADDED BRITISH & AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS.

[This pilot hits the nail right on the head in his open letter]

A newspaper stated that a Muslim Doctor is saying we are profiling him because he has been checked three times while getting on an airplane. The following is a letter from a pilot. This well – spoken man, who is a pilot with American Airlines, says what is in his heart and says it beautifully:

YOU WORRY ME!

By Captain John Maniscalco, American Airlines Pilot I've been trying to say this since 911, ..... You worry me. I wish you didn't. I wish when I walked down the streets of this country that I love, that your color and culture still blended with the beautiful human landscape we enjoy in this country. But you don't blend in anymore. I notice you, and it worries me. I notice you because I can't help it anymore. People from your homelands, professing to be Muslims, have been attacking and killing my fellow citizens and our friends for more than 20 years now. I don't fully understand their grievances and hate, but I know that nothing can justify the inhumanity of their attacks. On September 11, ARAB-MUSLIMS hijacked four jetliners in my country. They cut the throats of women in front of children and brutally stabbed to death others, hacking their necks, over and over, with box cutters. They took control of those planes and crashed them into buildings, killing thousands of proud fathers, loving sons, wise grandparents, elegant daughters, best friends, favorite coaches, fearless public servants, and children's mothers. The Palestinians celebrated, the Iraqis were overjoyed as was most of the Arab world. So, I notice you now. I don't want to be worried. I don't want to be consumed by the same rage, hate and prejudice that has destroyed the soul of these terrorists. But I need your help. As a rational American, trying to protect my country and family in an irrational and unsafe world, I must know how to tell the difference between you, and the Arab/Muslim terrorist. How do I differentiate between the true Arab/Muslim Americans and the Arab/Muslim terrorists in our communities who are attending our schools, enjoying our parks, and living in OUR communities under the protection of OUR constitution, while they plot the next attack that will slaughter MORE of the same good neighbors and children?

The events of September 11 changed the answer. It is not MY responsibility to determine which of you embraces our great country, with ALL of its religions, with ALL of its different citizens, with all of its faults. It is time for every Arab/Muslim in this country to determine it for me.

I want to know, I DEMAND to know and I have a right to know, whether or not you love America ...... Do you pledge allegiance to its flag? Do you proudly display it in front of your house, or on your car? Do you pray in your many daily prayers that Allah will bless this nation; that He will protect it and let it prosper? Or do you pray that Allah will destroy it in one of your Jihads? Are you thankful for the freedom that this nation affords? A freedom that was paid for by the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots, who have through our history, who given their lives for this country? Are you willing to preserve this freedom by also paying the ultimate sacrifice? Do you love America ?? If this is your commitment, then I need YOU to start letting ME know about it.

Your Muslim leaders in this nation should be flooding the media at this time with hard facts on your faith, and what hard actions YOU are taking as a community and as a religion to protect the United States of America . Please, no more benign overtures of regret for the death of the innocent, because I worry about who you regard as innocent....

No more benign overtures of condemnation for the unprovoked attacks, because I worry about what is unprovoked to you. I am not interested in any more sympathy; I am interested only in action. What will you do for America - our great country - at this time of continuing crisis, at this time of war?

I want to see Arab-Muslims waving the AMERICAN flag in the streets. I want to hear you chanting 'Allah Bless America '. I want to see young Arab/Muslim men enlisting in the military. I want to see a commitment of money, time and emotion to the victims of this butchering and to our returning wounded and to this nation as a whole.

The FBI has had a long list of people they’ve wanted to interact with regarding the threats that they believe to be ongoing. Many of these people live and socialize right now in Muslim communities. You know them. You know where they are. Give the FBI a heads up as to where they may be. Better yet, hand them over to us, NOW! But I have seen little even approaching this sort of action. Instead I have seen an already closed and secretive community close even tighter. You have disappeared from the streets. You have posted armed security guards at your facilities. You have threatened lawsuits. You have screamed for protection from reprisals.

The very few Arab/Muslim representatives, like CARE, that HAVE appeared in the media were defensive and equivocating. They seemed more concerned with making sure that the United States apologize and take responsibility for actions defending our own people. They seemed more concerned with protecting their fellow Muslims from violence directed towards them in the United States and abroad than they did with supporting our country and denouncing 'leaders' like the late Khadafy, the late Hussein, Farrakhan, and the late Arafat.

If the true teachings of Islam proclaim tolerance and peace and love for all people, then I want chapter and verse from the Koran and statements from popular Muslim leaders to back it up. What good is it if the teachings in the Koran are good, pure, and true, when your 'leaders' ARE teaching fanatical interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance? It matters little how good Islam SHOULD BE if huge numbers of the world's Muslims interpret the teachings of Mohammed incorrectly and adhere to a degenerative form of the religion. A form that has been demonstrated to us over and over again.

A form whose structure is built upon a foundation of violence, death, and suicide. A form whose members are recruited from the prisons around the world. A form whose members (some as young as five years old) are seen day after day, week in and week out, year after year, marching in the streets around the world, burning effigies of our presidents, burning the American flag, shooting weapons into the air. A form whose members convert from a peaceful religion, only to take up arms against the great United States of America, the country of their birth. A form whose rules are so twisted, that their traveling members refuse to show their faces at airport security checkpoints, in the name of Islam.

We will NEVER allow the attacks of September 11, or any others for that matter, to take away that which is so precious to us -- our rights under the greatest constitution in the world. I want to know where every Arab Muslim in this country stands and I think it is my right and the right of every true citizen of this country to DEMAND it. A right paid for by the blood of thousands of my brothers and sisters who die protecting the very constitution that is protecting you and your family.

I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here as my brother, my neighbor, my friend, as a fellow American...... But there can be no grey areas or ambivalence regarding your allegiance, and it is up to YOU, to show ME, where YOU stand. Until then, " YOU WORRY ME!"

CANADIAN COMMENTS:

We Canadians totally agree with this sentiment. I hope you will forget all about the 'political correctness' mandate we've had rammed down our throats by so many on the left, and see if this doesn't ring true in your heart and mind.

For Canada , with all the multiculturalism we've been told is so important.... why should we not, as Canadians, expect that the millions of new people immigrating to our country will show their love for our country, their allegiance to our country, their willingness to obey the laws of our country, and acceptance that we are a Christian country?

Just because they are able to enjoy exercising their own religion, they should NOT expect us to be ashamed of ours.

They knew Canada was a Christian country when they came here. Why are we erasing Christianity because immigrants who are unwilling to adopt our way of life expect us to? There is just too much insanity in the world, and we have to start taking a stand.

I hope you will forward this, so that others will feel they are not alone if they are starting to feel the same.

BRITISH COMMENTS:

At last a clear non - racist example of the concerns that the vast majority of our Nations population probably share. The pilot's letter encapsulates all that is fair and just about national pride and protection of one's national culture. I fear it may be too late here in UK , BUT we too want our country back in the form that attracted all these different cultures to come here in the first place!! In all our conversations with a wide range of friends and acquaintances we have not met one that disagrees with our own views.

If only we all had the courage of our convictions to pass this on, it is a statement that should be accepted as the heart-felt feelings of someone with honest commendable national pride.

Not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists to date have been Muslims.

Stand up and be counted!

Australian Comment :

Best email I have had in years it needs to be in every paper every day until we get some answers.

McMinnville Flight Museum, Part II

Besides the huge building that houses the Spruce Goose, their are 2 other buildings, dedicated to

1)  History of Planes

The entrance to the History of War Planes, and heroes,  The last 2 buildings housed the Astronaut

memorabilia , and the History of War Planes, and development of early flight.  I have intermingled 

the pictures from both buildings.

Astronaut suited up in his space vehicle

The 1st building was the displays of both War planes, up to Space memorabilia.  2nd was Spurce goose, and the 3rd was the theater.  

An actual space suit used by the astronauts

A training capsule used by the Astronauts 

Blackbird SR 71 in as much of its entirety that I could get.  This reconnaissance plane was designed in the 1950's and would still be the most advanced spy plane in the present time if it had not been discontinued!

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Part of tbe Blackbird, SR 71

 Sikorsky war helicopter c the time of the Korean war, and Viet Nam.  Although I have many more picture from McMinnville, I think this is plenty.  I was so excited about these planes, that I got carried away!               PS. a Drone.

Spruce Goose and I

I always imagined the Spruce as a boxy, wooden plane.  Sort of a massive, enclosed soap box with wings.   Much to my amazement. it was sleek, and shiny, the largest plane to ever fly.  And it was in 1947.

                                         Me in front of the Spruce Goose

'

The Spruce Goose In it's entirety

The Spruce Goose was actually a slang term penned by the press.  The plane was really the Hughes H-4 Hercules and was designed and partially funded by Howard Hughes.  In 1942 when the War 

Department needed to transport men and material to Britain  to aid in the war effort.  The original design for this gigantic H4 Hercules plane  was created by Henry J Kaiser, and, with help from Howard Hughes. formed the Hughes-Kaiser partnership.  Long after Kaiser and then the Senate left the project, Hughes continued to finish the H-4 Hercules with his own funds. Designed to float, also, Hughes built a huge hangar, and the massive plane had its maiden voyage taxied through the,harbor and flew 70 feet above the water, and went 135  mph, remaining airborne for 1 mi, 2 years after war ended!

America the Beautiful

We were driving home from a one of our jaunts around our newly found home in Eastern Washington.

The time was just late afternoon, and the beginning of our Autumn sun color, and the harvests had begun early.  As we drove, I saw "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain"

                                   

                                           For purple mountains Majesty . . . Above the fruited plains....

                                          America,

                                                     America!   God shed His Grace on thee...

                                                     And crown thy good with brotherhood,
                                                     From sea to shining sea

Linda's Theories:

Over the years, I have developed some of my own observations:

1)The 1st one being My Theory of Fat Transposition

Adipose cannot be dissolved.  It just moves from one person to another.  Like whenever
a friend loses 10 pounds, I usually   gain them.  I can't take them off unless I find someone
else to take them.

2) My Theory of Diets.

If you lose a great deal of weight by ordering special foods and their wonderful portions and
meals they have previously prepared for you, and when you quit and gain it all back, you finally
realize that:

A few people that are either models or movie stars have a very fast metabolism.  OR

The only way to lose weight is to starve--ALL OF THE TIME.  Face it--most thin people don't
eat.  When you go out for lunch, they order a small dinner salad.  That's it  No hot turkey sandwiches
smothered with rich turkey gravy, or club sandwiches made with 3 slices of bread each 1/2, and a huge bowl of clam chower with pie for dessert.....with diet pop  .ect.  Like ordering a diet drink makes the food binge OK.

3) My Theory of Death:

I lost my father-in-law,paternal grandfather, and  maternal grandmother right before my son, my
cousin's daughter, and my other cousin's son were born.  In other words, someone is born to take
their place.  My son is a lot like his grandfather--immersed in Boy Scouts, and a scout leader,
Love to cook, fish, and hunt;  etc.

4)

PERCEPTION!

PERCEPTION!

My favorite television show "Perception" was cancelled this year!  Even though the show was quirky, I enjoyed it immensely.  Eric McCormick plays a schizophrenic who has visions of the "perp" ( I hate it when crime shows use the terms "perp"  and "vic" over and over again as though they are really trying to be just like the real guys.  It is stupid, and terrible acting).

Anyway,  Perception is a word that fits the epiphany  I just had today, in regards to my real self, and how old I really am. I was at a gathering, and a fellow Presbyterian, whom I highly respect, was telling a story of what happened at his 55th high school class reunion.  I was stunned, because "I", super young "me", had just had my 50th class reunion, and I'm not nearly that old!  I figured that he had to be at least 80!

Then, I began to do the math.  If he was speaking about his event being a few years in the past, and then I added that many years to my age, perhaps it may be 10 years or so.  I realized that I was not that far from being what I consider what his age is,  Or maybe I look older than I think I look.
A person looks in the mirror and sees only what their brain thinks they they look like.  I had better either get a face lift, or except the fact that I am old!