When the cold rain of the Pacific Northwest starts in November it marks the start and end of many things. The growing season is mostly finished, and the lawn needs more raking to get the leaves to the gardens. The holiday season is starting. All the stores have begun to put out the Christmas candy and decorations, and we start look for just the right gift for everyone.
I am thankful that I no longer need to live outdoors in this as I did for most of the 20 years I spent in the Army. It seemed that some idiot always planed an exercise during the wettest, coolest time of the year. The rain would drip off the rim of my helmet and run right down the center of my back, I still get a chill thinking about it. But then I would think of my father fighting in Europe in 1944 and my cousin Carolyn's husband that served with the Marines at the Chosan in 1951, and realize I had nothing to complain about.
During this last summer when it got close to 100 I thought of our men in the middle east fighting in the heat and wearing full battle dress, and knew I had it easy and had nothing to complain about.
Make sure you thank a vet this week, and pray for the men and women of our armed forces and their families.
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