Little Boy Lost

A little boy was riding down the street crying for his mom.  We (my neighbor) watched him go to the end of the street and we commented because he stopped and looked both ways.  Only he didn't go anywhere but kept looking.  So we yelled to ask if he was lost and he was.  He was out riding with his teenaged brother and his brother ditched him.   He was so scared he couldn't tell us anything and he got really scared when I said I would call 911.  But we kept talking to him and how the police would help him.  So I called it in and they said to make sure that even if his family came, to keep them there until they arrived.  He didn't know where he lived nor had a phone number.

We told him stories about brothers and got him to smile and take off his helmet.  I told  him about the time my brother didn't want me to ride his bike so he loosened the thingies that hold the tires on.  So when I was riding with my sister on the back, down a hill, the tire came off and we went flying.  I don't remember any of it until I woke up at home.  A neighbor lady brought us home.  (And now my brother wonders why he is still getting payback - a sister never forgets!!!)

When the police arrived, it was an older office who was really nice and respectful and gentle with his questions.  But the poor little kid was still scared.  The supervisor drove up and he got a description of the older brother (he's my brother and his bike is orange and his name is Chris).  He told us he would go look for the brother while the office took the boy in the patrol car to find his house.   By the then little guy was ready to go home and went straight to the car.  The officer cleaned out the front seat so he could sit in front and off they went (after taking down all my information - i even had to give them my middle name after saying they could only have the initial R). 

Sucks that I won't know how that story ended up. Sure hope all the officers and firefighters and other emergency people have a quiet holiday.

ARMED FORCES DAY - FLAG RETIREMENT

Yesterday was Armed Forces Day and the DAR & SAR held a Flag Retirement Ceremony along with the Scouts.  It was hot and windy.  As in I got a wind burn.  Sun screen doesn't help with that.

 Nice ceremony.  The Celine high school choir was there to sing and they did well - the wind did not drown them out. 

I'm sad the picture of the Buffalo Boys didn't come out very well.  They were both very nice.  The tall one received 3 purple hearts but only wears 2 of them.  Why?  Because even though his arm was injured, the soldier next to him lost a leg, therefore, to him, his arm injury wasn't worth was much as the lost leg.  Now that's a real sense of humility.

 

Special attention was given to a Tuskegee Airman, Buffalo Boys, a Pearl Harbor Survivor and VietNam veterans.  

Homer was part of the Tuskegee Airmen unit. He is a very sweet and gracious man and I think he really enjoyed the ceremony.  Several men had their pictures taken with him.  

One member from each branch was represented. It gets a little personal when you see real live people regardless of their age.  Emotional but not too emotional.  One woman had her father, husband, sons and grandsons & granddaughters in the military at one time or another. 

A tattered flag must be cut in 4 pieces but the blue area with stars can not be cut.  Each piece is rolled up tight and tied.  Then one by one, the pieces go into the fire while Taps is playing.  

 Everyone should go to at least one of these ceremonies.  It isn't publicized enough but probably because there would be protesters that don't recognize that because of those who served, they have the freedom to protest. 

 

I am so glad I went (I'm a DAR member and we had several DAR chapters there).  It means a lot to me.  I like our country even though it isn't perfect, it is ours.    

Change in the Air

Well, I don't mind change for the good of things...but....gee Blogger - get a grip!

The yard is doing great, even the weeds are doing good.  I have a neighbor that wants to live in a forest and now that I've adjusted that side of the yard with shade loving plants, they decide to trim their trees.  I don't mean trim, I mean T R I M.  Well, I can say that I bet the crape myrtle does much better this year.  We don't have large yard so the 12 or so trees is just overkill (ok ok so I mean over shade).  There is moss growing on their side and this is TEXAS with HEAT and they use water as if there was no tomorrow.  They water in the winter.  Well, not this winter since we are still in Stage 3 of water restictions and I was watching this time.  Really, several winters they watered 3 times a week just like they do in summer (yes 3 times a week is too much even here) and when I said something, they claimed their controller had problems.   hmmmm controller problems for 3 winters?   NOT

I'm in the back yard most of the time if I go outside.  So I missed a drug bust/sting/thingy on Friday night.  Apparently, there were tons of police cars in the front.  Dang it!  I could have watched live stuff happening.  I've known there was surveillance going on for a while (another neighbor is with a federal law enforcement agency and I'm sure she wasn't supposed to tell us).  Our neighborhood is soooo boring.

My furry children are doing ok as long as you think Sam terrorizing Millie is ok.  Poor Sam, I try not to keep yelling at him but he has to learn to leave her alone.  She bit the S**T out of my arm the other night when I turned over in my sleep.  I admit I must have startled her and she thought it was Sam trying to get her again.  This diabetes thing is really tiresome and I hate to see Sam acting out when he's not feeling well.  He thinks he must be near me all the time and he is taking over all her hiding places.

Yes, that is paint.  And I made him move after his tail swished over the paint.  He thinks I'm mean.

The Real Spring

We had rain over the weekend but not the storms.  Just a few thunders and no hail.  And that's always a good thing.

The backyard is looking pretty good.  That is the Texas Bird of Paradise with the Oleander in the background.

Some iris' in the side yard.  I sure wish they bloomed more.

The rain always lets me know if the oleander needs some more trimming!  If it doesn't get trimmed then the mower guys get head whacked!

 

 

 The Leaning Tree Rose... the wind got it before the rain so it needs to be staked again.  The trunk (like the Texas Bird of Paradise) is very weak. 

Happy Easter

Stormy Weather Keep On Passing Me By....please

So I'm busy cleaning out closets and not paying attention to the weather (well, they kept telling me for several days now about the thunder and rain that I hadn't seen..).  Anyhow, my Dad called to see if I was out and about while the tornadoes were paying a brief but destructive visit to the area. 

So I turned on tv to see the damage and check out the weather station when the sirens went off.  Our police department sent out emails stating it was Plano sirens not Allen sirens.  I'm on the border and with the way the wind blows, I can't hear Allen sirens, but I hear the Plano ones (thank goodness).  Soon after, I get an email from APD saying our sirens were going off as we were in the direct path of one.  Fortunately, it behaved and stayed up and didn't drop down.  Unfortunately, there were several that did touch down but not near me or any of my family. 

I kept checking with Mom to make sure she was ok and was aware of the storms on the way to her house.

A few friends had their cars damaged while they were at work - one lost her windshield and side mirrors.  All friends seem to be safe and sound and posting on FB.

Tornadoes are scary. I didn't go out and take pictures because I wasn't paying attention since it had been cloudy all day.  And then I just wasn't going to go out and get wet. 

We have a closet designated as the 'tornado closet'.  It has bottled water, a weather radio with batteries (and you can crank it), LED lights, flashlight, cat stuff (food, snacks, bowls, Sam's medical stuff all except the insulin which has to stay cold).  I hang my purse in there during tornado season instead of leaving it in my office.  I just need to put a chair in there. 

I hope all blog friends are safe and sound.