Yesterday Owen asked if we were going to go out to the cemetery on Memorial Day. It hadn't really been on my mind to do that but I liked that he asked so agreed. We checked the time of the Memorial Day ceremony and it was 11:oo. Given that they are teenagers now we had to do some prodding to get them up and dressed in time but we managed to take off as planned. We got there just before it started. It is a gorgeous sunny day with picture perfect puffy white clouds.
We stood and watched, the Knights of Columbus in their feathered hats and satin lined capes, the junior high band that bleated out the national anthem. Ernie pointed out that the crowd seems to be smaller every year we go. The crowds smaller, the veterans older. The whole thing moves me to tears evert time. The boys stood attentively and clapped politely and I was proud of them. Afterward we walked over and put some flowers on the gravestones of Ernie's parents and my folks.
We'd just been talking last night about finally going to Colorado to spread Judi's ashes. Owen had asked why we didn't have a headstone for Judi and I told him just because it was her wish. So today I asked the boys if they would want a headstone for us when we die. My sweet Leo spoke up quickly and said, "Oh course we would." How I love those boys. Owen asked if we wanted one and I told him I didn't really care, it was for those that would be left, so if they wanted one, we would have one.
They were sweet and patient today. I think they were glad we went. My sweet peas.