The New American Digest

Jean asked “What kinds of things hmmm?” as a comment to my post: “Just Because I Felt Like It“

Here’s a list of a few of today’s headlines:

Zelensky Rejects Victory Day Truce, Doubles Down on Threats to Moscow’s Parade Packed With Foreign Dignitaries – Russia’s Medvedev Hints at Nuclear Retaliation

Pakistan Test-Fires Nuke-Capable Ballistic Missile As Tensions With India Soar

Pentagon ‘Covering Up’ American Casualties In Yemen War: Intercept Report

Leftists Declare It ‘Frightening’ That “Children Will Be Taught To Love America”

Trans Teen Freed After Tesla Firebombing, Judge Cites Lack Of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ In Prison

FAA Starts Probe After Two More Near-Misses With Army Helicopter At Washington Reagan Airport

9 Signs That Conditions Are Ripe For A Major Economic Crisis In The US

All quiet on the Western Front, eh?

Trouble is, it’s more or less the same thing every day.
I need to stop reading the news because personally, things are going fine. Beautiful day out, no local worries, my wife’s not mad at me and her garden goes well.
Life is good all in all.

I’ll try for more pleasant tomorrow. Trains and critters? 🙂

Captured this image last night on one of my trail cams deep in the Oxbow of the crick I live on. It has a certain look that appeals to me cause of the time it was taken, and because the Great Blue Heron have that prehistoric look.

First published October 5, 2008

Elizabeth’s sister
isn’t the same anymore.
Her husband went to war.

He came back whole
but aching inside.
He sits in shadow
and cries.

“There’s no one left.” says he.
“I’m still here.” says she.
“I can hear their pain.”
“Your son wants to play.”
“This isn’t what he should see.”

“We want you at home. Please,
don’t leave us alone.”
“I’ll be back when I can.”
The door closed.

Elizabeth’s sister
isn’t the same anymore.
She sits in shadow.
And cries.

April 30, 1975. Saigon. We’ve been refining the technique ever since with Afghanistan the current culmination of our efforts.

Did they die in vain? Seems so. There’s still a burn deep inside; the fire subsided long ago but every once in a while, an ember starts to glow.

I’ll not go further other than it’s easier to win wars if the politicians that put us into such actually wanted to win.

So, here’s to Paul and Randy and Bill and Jim and all the others I knew and didn’t know.
To those that didn’t come back, to those that did, and especially to those that did but didn’t.

No, I’m not a vet. I got picked in the lottery towards the end, got my physical, was 1A, then got my notice – but Nixon got caught doing something and they changed the call-up. My orders were rescinded. I had a low number but it turned out high enough. Doesn’t mean I didn’t know others my age or so that weren’t so lucky – if that’s what it is.
On the other hand, while the combat troops were at the pointy end of the stick, I spent many years helping put the stick together.