Philosophical comment! The 60s and 70s were the "protest years," but most people who were “protesting” never figured out the difference between protesting the war in Viet Nam and protesting the soldiers who were sent to fight that war. What was done to those men, who were drafted and had no choice about going, when they returned home from Viet Nam was, and always will be, an absolute travesty in my mind. It was so very wrong. Fast forward to 2001, and 9-11. I was based in San Fran, was commuting, and had been released on 9-10 in time to get home to Denver. Sleep deprived like I always was when I got home, I went to bed, and woke up in the morning to an incomprehensible sight on TV. I was still trying to figure out if I was watching some warped version of Candid Camera when I watched, live, the United plane fly into the second tower. After 36 hours of watching the reruns of the United plane flying into the second tower I couldn’t deal with it anymore. My vacation started on 9-11 in 2001, I had reservations to fly back east to visit Gettysburg, among other things, and it finally soaked in that that was not going to happen, so I called to cancel all my hotel and car reservations. I threw everything I could think of in the car and headed out to the hills--Montrose, for no good reason at all, but it was out of Denver and away from the “reruns.” On the way out of town I stopped to pick up some red, white, and blue ribbon to wear. But what I’m really getting to is that as I was heading west I almost immediately found people in their cars and trucks flying the American flag out of their windows, and mounted on their vehicles wherever they could. Of all the horrendous ways for it to happen, it seemed to me that there was finally patriotism in this country again, for the first time since the protests of the Viet Nam era. I cried most of the way to Montrose--every time I saw another flag! I lost twelve flying partners that day, and no words can ever excuse or forgive what was done to the returning Viet Nam soldiers, but out of the ashes I saw patriotism restored--finally. I’m olde, and even with all the “problems” it has, I am, and always will be, grateful to have been born in this most amazing country. On a lighter note, when I was still flying, during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, whenever we had uniformed service men/women we would upgrade them to first class anytime we had empty seats available. This was not company sanctioned, just something we flight attendants did, so it was always done at the very last minute, after the door was closed. On one flight we upgraded four young guys quickly as soon as the door was closed, and one of them asked me if his buddy was going to be able to join him. I asked him “what buddy,” and he pointed out that there was another soldier in coach. We had missed him on the manifest, so I went back to “get him!” The upgrading had to be done quickly because as soon as the door is closed you “push” and need to get ready to do the “demo,” so I found him and told him I was gonna move him to a "different" seat, and to come with me! He had apparently never had this happen to him, and he looked at me like I was nuts, tried to ask what I meant, and just stayed sitting where he was! I didn’t have time to try to explain to him what I was doing (it was clear the other pax around him had figured out what was happening) so I said to him, “don’t ask any questions, just follow orders, get your stuff and come with me!” He said, “yes, ma’am,” and did what I told him to do! I got him up front and had to leave immediately, but I’m sure his “buddy” explained what had just “happened” to him! It was the only time I gave “direct orders” to someone, and it was the funnest “upgrading” I ever did--all the other pax watching what was going on were smiling! (I have an Iraqi coin that was given to me by a (very) young soldier, and it’s one of my Favorite Things!) Margaret, thank you to your husband and brother, and any other Viet Nam vets you know. A thank you that is long, long overdue! Skybird

Ditto on the GO NAVY! I spent the weekend with my nephew (actually my best friends youngest son but he calls me Uncle Jeff and I've been beside him since the day he was born) who was home from Coronado, CA where he is in BUD/S training. This soon-to-be Navy SEAL is one of 19 left out of a class of 200+ that started 13 weeks ago. You cannot fathom the physical, mental and emotion trials that these young KIDS are going through to serve our country. They weren't drafted, they WANT to be there! If I were to tell you about most of the stuff that they go through on a daily basis you would think that it is humanly impossible! Thesee young men, as all members of our military deserve our thanks, appreciation and respect for what they endure just to serve us and this country in an effort to keep this nation free. They are doing a job that has to be done and they have the courage and fortitude to step into the breach where many will not. I couldn't be more proud of anyone and my heart swells everytime I see Chris. Please keep our service personel in your prayers EVERY day. Without them we are doomed. Look around your house at your family and posessions - appreciate them because you owe it all to the young men and women who have served! "The only ones who have willingly given their lives for you are Jesus Christ and the American Military".

After some consideration of my earlier post here, I offer my apology for having made it on this thread, as I did not intend it in any way to detract from your appreciation of the service that military people have given, including death for many. While I consider that the point that I made is valid, I think that I should have made it on a separate thread. Our May holiday, last weekend, earlier dealing with our queen of the late 1800s, has been just a holiday for many years, with no military connotations. We remember their contributions on November 11, which we used to call "Armistice Day", related mainly to te multiplied thousands who were killed in World War I, and later in World War II and Korea. Our family has more reason than many to be thankful for the soldiers' contribution, for Grandpa was 54 (Dad 13) in 1914, when World WarI began. When World War II began in 1939, Dad at 38 had a wife in the chronic hospital, an old mother 77 and me, aged 10 plus 2 younger brothers and a fairly large farm to look after. Korea was not a major deal here, I wondered about going, but was busy in University at the time. I finished just as the Korean War was winding down and asked to be appointed as a missionary of our (liberal Protestant)(1) church, to help heal the wounds of war in Korea, then spent 10 years there. I do not like war. So our family, not having been personally involved in war, have reason to be more thankful than many for the gift of their lives that many soldiers have been called upon to make. I drove my son, who has lived all of his life in Canada, a dual citizen, to Toronto to register for the U.S. draft in the late '70s, when he was near or at 18 ... but he has not served. He was in the Canadian Navy Officers' Training or Reserves for a while, while he was in University, and spent a summer with them, but did not continue. When given an order, he had a tendency to ask the officer to give him three reasons why he should follow it. I think that he and the Navy felt that they would not make a good fit. Good wishes to you all as you remember later today, Memorial Day. ole joyful 1. When I started university in 1947, I was assigned a room in our seminary dorm that had been furnished in tribute to our first ordained female clergyperson, which took place in the 1930s on the Prairies, I think. Most of the Presbyterians, the Methodists and the Congregationalists (plus a number of local union churches, mainly in the recently-settled Prairies) joined into The United Church of Canada in 1925. o j

I make a lime pie where I melt semi sweet chocolate bits and line the baked pie shell with a layer of chocolate before I add the lime filling. That reminds me of a similar step used to make "Heart Tarts." They have a thin layer of chocolate, a cheesecake-like center,and strawberries on top. Philadelphians may know their source, the old Commissary. Tart Shells 1 1/2 cups flour 2 tablespoons sugar 6 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 3 tablespoons cold water Cream Cheese Filling 8 ounces softened cream cheese 3 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Assembly 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 2 pints of strawberries 1/3 cup sieved or seedless raspberry jam 1 Make the shells: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, butter, and shortening. Whiz for several seconds until crumbly. Add the water and whiz until the dough forms a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 1/2 hour. 2 Preheat the oven to 350°. Bring the dough to a workable temperature and divide into 6 equal portions. On a floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a circle large enough to drape over the back of one of the (heart shaped) gelatin molds. Trim off any excess and prick the molded dough several times with a fork. Set the 6 molds dough-side-up on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until pale gold and crisp. Cool the shells completely while still on the molds. 3 Make the filling: In a mixer or food processor, combine all the ingredients until smooth. 4 Assemble tarts: Fill the tarts as close to serving time as possible. Melt the chocolate in a small pan over simmering water, then divide it among the 6 shells and spread evenly over the bottom of each. Let the chocolate cool 10 minutes before filling. Divide the cream cheese filling among the 6 shells. Stem the strawberries and toss gently with the jam to coat. Top each tart with 5-8 berries (depending on their size) stem-end-down. Yield 6 individual heart-shaped tarts