Dan,
Just saw this post, so responding is kind of late. The note I sent you the other day (V-day) was a kind of round about way of acknowledging those who served and particularly those who gave their lives. Some people are filled with pride on Veterans Day and rightly so. Mostly I feel a sadness. I'm going to paste in my note to you and share it with others. We may not all say things right out as it is a kind of awkward thing sometimes, but I think a lot of us feel deeply for all of you and want to express our gratitude... just might not know how.
"My friend,
Snow is falling so there is a new dusting covering everything. A woodpecker clings to the side of a large birch tree, searching for lunch. There is some high wind in the forest canopy, but not much. It is quiet, as am I, as snow swirls to earth.
I would go to town to do laundry, perhaps buy makings for soup, go to the library for book renewals but it is veteran's day so much is closed. Maybe it is fitting that there seems to be a large pause with nothing happening but the fall of snow to earth. I don't like to think of all the fallen soldiers of all the wars, all the young who died too often to little purpose. I could have been one of them, but for some reason was spared that. So I am here to think about them and to witness the falling snow..
A cup of coffee or tea sounds good. And another log on the fire. Moosh lies sleeping, perhaps dreaming of a red squirrel like the one I just saw scurry across the new snow... finding a pine nut to quickly eat... and then hurrying on.
Winter settles in with the falling snow and I am here to bear cold witness.
Silverbear"