It is a holiday to commemorate the men and women who died in military service for my country. <\/p>\n
Though being a day to honor the memory of those passing in service,<\/p>\n
For some, <\/p>\n
It also brings to the forefront personal memories of loved ones passed, <\/p>\n
Regardless of military service. <\/p>\n
I was very close with my Grandpa and Grandma Hairdy,<\/p>\n
My paternal grandparents.<\/p>\n
I was close with my maternal grandparents too,<\/p>\n
But they passed when I was much younger,<\/p>\n
And still lived in Tennessee,<\/p>\n
So I just didn\u2019t have the opportunity to spend that much time with them.<\/p>\n
I did however,<\/p>\n
Spend a lot of time with my Grandpa and Grandma Hairdy.<\/p>\n
I lived with them one summer during college when I found a job for the summer months in their hometown,<\/p>\n
Sometimes I\u2019d take a bus to their place for the weekends during college when we\u2019d all meet up at their house for family gatherings,<\/p>\n
And their house was a halfway point on my way home from college,<\/p>\n
So I always stopped at their place on my way back to see Mom, Dad and Baby Brother ,,,<\/p>\n
For some high quality Grandma nourishment.<\/p>\n
And every now and then …<\/p>\n
On those occasions when I was going to crash at their place,<\/p>\n
After feasting on one of Grandma Hairdy\u2019s masterpieces,<\/p>\n
Grandpa and I,<\/p>\n
And sometimes Grandma,<\/p>\n
Would toss back a few shots of whiskey.<\/p>\n
Just a few,<\/p>\n
Mind you,<\/p>\n
While we would talk,<\/p>\n
Grandpa and Grandma would tell me of my ancestry,<\/p>\n
Stories and events of family past.<\/p>\n
To this day,<\/p>\n
I speak much better Czech when I\u2019m totally sauced up,<\/p>\n
Than not. <\/p>\n
Go figure. ![\":-)\"](\"http:\/\/picturelli.com\/images\/emo\\smile_smile.gif\")
<\/p>\n
And to this day,<\/p>\n
I honestly feel close to Grandpa and Grandma Hairdy.<\/p>\n
They passed before getting the chance to meet Me Ver. 2.0<\/em>,<\/p>\n But I really don\u2019t think they have a problem with it.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think it came as any surprise to Grandma Hairdy,<\/p>\n And if it did,<\/p>\n She\u2019d be “so what<\/em>“.<\/p>\n Maybe in his younger day Grandpa Hairdy might have been … <\/p>\n “Huh?<\/em>“<\/p>\n But my<\/em> Grandpa Hairdy,<\/p>\n Would ask me a bunch of questions,<\/p>\n And when he was sure I had considered everything,<\/p>\n Would say something along the lines of …<\/p>\n “Well, sounds like you covered everything. Wanna do a shot?<\/em>“<\/p>\n Now I don\u2019t just go visit Grandpa and Grandma Hairdy on Memorial Day,<\/p>\n But Mom, Dad, Baby Brother and I made the trip to their cemetery Saturday,<\/p>\n And I …<\/p>\n Did what I always do when I go see Grandpa and Grandma:<\/p>\n