Today started out pretty normally. Some last-minute shopping for Monday's New Year's dinner, taking advantage of special after-Christmas coupons, with a little bit of talk about dead presidents and the weather.
But our quiet pizza dinner was punctuated by loud and regularly occurring booms. So, we know they're calling for rain tomorrow, but it's too early to have fireworks. But that sure is what it sounded like. My dad and I went outside to investigate the house-jarring sounds. As soon as we recognized they were coming from the West, we knew what it was. Gerald Ford had landed at Andrews Air Force Base for his final tour of Washington. What we heard what his 21 gun salute.
It was kind of surreal. I know nothing about Ford's presidency other than his then unpopular pardon of Nixon. If for nothing else, he is deserving of honor for that. His staff was against him to the man, but he did it anyway. He new in his heart it was what the country needed. In hindsight, the country knew that too.
The TV went on, and we watched the happenings taking place maybe five miles away, moments ago. I think we should all hope to leave this incarnation that way. Surrounded by people who respect us for the decisions we had to make. The arrival ceremony was somber but not mournful. This was about honor. How strange it is that so few people ever come close to attaining it.
Oh no! - 31 Amigurumi in October Continued
5 years ago
2 comments :
You put a lot of thought into my head with that post. And what a cultural place to live. :-) Someday we will visit you.
I hope so! Just give me (a lot of) time to clean up a bit. Or expect it to be a mess and us embarrassed about it. :)
Last night, I had a strange dream that involved the death of an unnamed former president. A friend of mine had worked closely with him (in the dream) and was very distraught at his passing. She was so upset that I couldn't stop weeping, and in the dream I knew it was her tears coming through me.
But I woke up crying and feeling an amazing loss. But that's rather true, in a sense, whether the dream had some reflection on current events or not. We've all lost something precious. Someone who had the courage to follow his heart instead of popular opinion. Very well done, Mr. Ford.
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