I walked across a bridge one day

When it was still around

I wondered what it's steel might say

If its voice could sound

The many wheels and hooves and feet

That trod upon its floor

How I'd love to see the faces

Who have gone before

It used to whisper in the wind

Though it was hard to know

If the creaks were signs of age

Or stories needed told

Now the bridge has been replaced

By something that is new

I bet its years will not outlast

Those trusses that were true

How I hate to see them go

The treasures of our past

Though structures may not endure time

Their memories will last

I have been around disability in one form or the other for most of my adult life.  These days I find myself in a job that serves people with disabilities!  I cannot say it is an easy job, but I can say it is rewarding.  Some days are more difficult than others.  Some days other people are not very kind towards people with special needs.  And then some days I can only sit back and smile because I am simply amazed at what I learn from experiences with very special people.

Recently I took a client to a park for some sunshine and exercise.  This particular individual is older than most kids on the playground, but for some reason, it is one of his joys to swing, slide and run around with young kids.  Because I am not at liberty to reveal names of the folks I serve, I will call him "Sammy".  As we pulled up to the playground area and got out of the car, Sammy hit the ground at a dead run, yelling at the top of his voice all the way to the swings.  Many of the kids were a little startled and stopped to stare a bit at this bigger "kid" who was very boisterous and loud.  Some hid behind their parent or playground equipment!  But Sammy laughed and went as high on the swing as his legs would pump, inviting me to join him in the swing beside him.  So there we were, swinging and laughing, loudly and freely, much to the amazement of many who were just standing with a look of unbelief!  

Finally, some of the kids began to warm up to the idea.  Sammy's joy seemed to be a bit contagious as one or two moved a little closer.  Sammy was not a bit shy about saying hello and ran to climb the ladder to the third level slide where there was a large platform and 3 different slides to choose from.  It was hard for Sammy to decide, so he stood at the top motioning for other kids who would eventually come up the ladder, hop onto their slide choice and disappear.  After enjoying the others shoot off down the tubes, Sammy picked one and went down with a dramatic yell and laugh, causing more stares from the other kids and parents alike!  

As I watched Sammy, a part of me chuckled at his pure and naive joy.  The other part of me wondered about Sammy's future and my heart began to swell with compassion and questions as to why God allows such vast differences in individuals.  I also couldn't help but wonder what Sammy's life would be like if he didn't have the challenges he had.

Then Sammy scooted up to another little boy and with a big grin, tagged him on the shoulder shouting, "You're it!"  The little boy started chasing Sammy and around and around they went gathering several other kids along the way who also ran as fast as they could to catch the big fun guy!  After quite awhile of tag mayhem, I asked Sammy if he was ready for something to drink and maybe some lunch.  Sammy began telling each youngster goodbye and offered high-5's to the little boy who had been brave enough to begin playing with him.  The little boy's mom walked over and gave Sammy a hug and several other kids continued to run up to do the same.  Once again my heart grew inside my chest and I suddenly was satisfied that Sammy was exactly who God wanted him to be.  As we walked to the car, Sammy was asking to stop at the gas station for a carton of milk and wanted to go home to make oatmeal for lunch.  This ole' girl laughed (out loud), shook her head, and admired that Sammy was much more adjusted with his life than I may ever be.  How refreshing!  What a lesson.

So many things have been said in honor of our beloved men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country.  Memorial Day is set aside as a tribute to those whose lives were lost.  Though we celebrate our freedom and are indeed thankful for it, the price has been great, and Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it originated, is a time to observe and recognize those who died while serving our country.  In 1868, after the American Civil War, the organization of Union veterans founded Decoration Day and declared it a day for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers.  By the 20th century the Union and Confederates who had celebrated on different days had merged, and Memorial Day became the day to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.  

Though I know few well who have served, and even fewer who have died, I cannot possibly know the pain of saying goodbye to a loved one going off to war.  The heartache of them never returning?  Unimaginable.  The funny thing about me is that my heart is simply captured with honoring these brave heroes of our freedom.  The commemoration of their lives unto death grips me in a way that even I do not understand, and so I will always express highest respect and gratitude on their behalf...especially on this particular holiday.  

I know there are thousands of lives that have been changed forever as the result these courageous men and women who were lost.  Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers....few have been immune to the grief of losing a loved one as our nation has and continues to defend its own.  Lord, surround these families with a cloak of your comfort.  Thank you for those brave champions we will ever honor as the heroes who have bravely paved our road to freedom. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Does anyone remember a place called Kohler City?  It was a thriving business when I was a young girl.  Just north of Herculaneum and south of Arnold on the old highway 61/67 sat this rather pieced-together building.  It is indeed still there, but more or less losing it's curb appeal if you compare it to today's standards!  It was one of those stores that my dad was attracted to like a bee on honey!  It had every what-not and thing-a-ma-jig known to humanity!  If you were looking for something unusual, unique, or unexpected, every junk-hearted, nit-picking, curious clansmen went to Kohler City!  I suppose I need to do a Google search and add some info here when I have time, but for now, I simply had to post these nostalgic reminders of a day-gone-by.  Of course this road was the main highway "to the city" from my small town of Potosi Missouri.  There were a couple of Motels, Diners and even a drive-in ice cream place between my home and the city lights of St. Louis, if my memory serves me correctly.  It was not only a fun place to stop, but also a reminder that we were almost to our city destination in those weeks before Christmas when a trip to the big stores (Venture, Zaher, Corvette, Crestwood (outdoor) mall, and White Castle) was an annual event.  Kinda miss those days....