craftivism: wee, yet mighty!

memorial day.

The other night I caught a PBS documentary about WWII doctors. I almost threw up at first, but then was entranced by the calm manner in which these once young soldiers, now elderly gentlemen, retraced their own histories. A few times you could detect the interviewee getting a bit misty and shaken remembering the trauma, horror and uncertainty they experienced over half a century ago.

I was reminded of my grandfathers (as well as numerous other male relatives) own WWII stories that I grew up hearing, not really sure how to process them. As a child growing up in the early 80s where Pong was a super fast action game, I didn't have video games to remanufacture a battlefield. I can only imagine the disconnect that must occur to children today when they hear war stories... 'oh, that's just like Level 5 on....'

What did I do today? I went swimming at the lake. My only act of bravery was forcing myself to dive headfirst into water that still gave me goosebumps. I also drank a cream soda, but that was mainly due to thirst brought on by swimming and by the fact that it was tasty.

I also brought my knitting and discovered some rogue embroidery floss in my wallet along with a Peace Rally bus ticket from 2003.

I was reminded of this

(more information here )

as my thoughts drifted in and out during the day of veterans and peace and war and crafting and cream soda and bravery and the luxury that is the 3-day weekend.

Here it is, 12:26am, the day after Memorial Day. I didn't call my grandfathers, even though I meant to. Instead I read a bunch of magazines on a friend's lakeside dock, chatted and paddled around on a bright green raft.

I watched the 11 o'clock news with grim stories of war and hate and horror that was patched together with video shots of Memorial Day festivities from neighborings towns. I just wanted to call my grandfathers and say 'thank you.' As well as my cousin who got back from Djibouti last fall and my second cousin who is currently in Baghdad. But I didn't.

I didn't because I knew that it would eventually turn into some political debate regarding current politics that would disrupt the phone calls' original intentions. Because sometimes I'm rendered speechless by the way that "peace is patriotic" and "I support our troops" sound in the same sentence. It sounds awkward and clumsy, even though I believe both sentiments wholeheartedly.

I just hope that in 60 years time, someone does a documentary on the current war and that the elderly men and women who served our country in this current war can hold their heads up high- although whatever the outcome I know I will be holding their hands close.

Posted by betsy at May 31, 2005 12:38 AM