Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Pearl Harbor Remembered

No,born in 1942, I don't remember Pearl Harbor Day. But this date brings to mind and I do remember two very significant people in my life, both of whom were adults on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed.

One is an amazing 92 year old lady who has a birthday on December 7th. Frieda has a sharp mind, lives independently and plays a mean game of cards. She has been such a joy to have in my life.

The other,deceased years ago, a distant step-relative, a colorful irish fellow that I didn't meet until his older years. Kelly was also in the military and his ship was in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. He is such an example of how war changes people forever. Kelly physically sealed the door on a ruptured chamber in the ship that he was on that day. It saved the ship and many others, but thereby cost the lives of those shipmates on the other side of the sealed door. Even after all the years, he still had nightmares about that day and what he had to do. Tears came to his eyes when he told the story as an old man. Yes, war changes people forever. This is just one story, one soldier, one battle.

I guess I remember both Frieda and Kelly for very different reasons this Pearl Harbor Day. Both are lessons learned.

Thoughtfully,
Sandy

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this because Dan and I both forgot what today was. Hope all is well with you!

(We saw all the hot air balloons over Gallup, NM on TV last night and thought of you...you usually go to that don't you??)

sfeutz said...

We knew about the Balloon Fest in Gallup but we are still busy with getting unpacked etc. We will probably go to the one in Bluff, Utah in January. We've been the last couple of years and enjoy that one. Right now the electronic gremlins have gotten us! My camera is on the blink, can't get the printer to work, etc etc. We are checking out the galleries here to see where we can place our photography. How do you like your new camera? There may be one in my future! You are really getting some great photos.