“In the time of your life, live- so that in good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding-place and let it be free and unashamed. Place in matter and in flesh the least of the values, for these are things that hold death and must pass away. Discover in all things that which shines and is beyond corruption. Encourage virtue in whatever heart it may have been driven into secrecy and sorrow by the shame and terror of the world. Ignore the obvious, for it is unworthy of the clear eye and the kindly heart. Be the inferior of no man, nor of any man be the superior. Remember that every man is a variation of yourself. No man’s guilt is not yours, nor is any man’s innocence a thing apart. Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness or evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle… and have no regret. In the time of your life, live- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it. - William Saroyan, ”The Time of Your Life” (1939) (From Here)
Some words to live by on this Memorial Day Weekend.
And a little mood music.
Cuzzin Ricky and I made the rounds to the cemeteries the other day. And in keeping with the somber spirit of remembering those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom, I paid $75.00 for a tankful of gas in the old truck because the price-gougers decided to raise the price 30 cents per gallon over night. Nice way to remember the war dead, especially the recent dead and injured. Because you know damn well much of what's been going on over in the Middle East is about a cheap supply of petroleum.
You need to think about the real cost of that gas when you're filling up the tank. In fact, when you're making travel plans you might want to include one of the national cemeteries. I've been to several of them, along with many of the Civil War battlefield sites, rather somber. I didn't realize there is a Confederate section at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. I've been there on several occasions. I'll have to check out the Confederate section next time I'm there. It's a shame that they are trying to eliminate all the monuments recognizing the sacrifices made by the Confederate soldiers. Lot of brave men died and wounded on both sides, and of course, it's never just the men who suffer. Crown Hill is actually a beautiful place to visit and if you have time you can check out the art museum next door.
Please take a moment this weekend and remember the war dead and the sacrifices made by so many so we can still have our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment