Day of the Dead
Yesterday was the first Memorial Day that I saw as more than just another day off. I was listening to NPR and tearing paper for the invitations at the studio and the guest speakers on Fresh Air were casualty assistance officer, men who tell families about their fallen children in war and assist them with the grieving as much as they can. It made me think of my family members who lost a son in January. What a different sort of weekend this has become for them. I hadn't gotten in touch with the family yet, hadn't sent the card I picked out, hadn't called. Yesterday I picked up the phone and called them. I wonder how many more families are feeling that change in a long weekend the rest of us call a holiday.
I was talking with my parents later and my dad mentioned that he used to go visit his grandparents graves on Memorial day as a kid. This is as close to a Day of the Dead celebration as we get I guess. I think the Mexicans do it better, healthier.
I was talking with my parents later and my dad mentioned that he used to go visit his grandparents graves on Memorial day as a kid. This is as close to a Day of the Dead celebration as we get I guess. I think the Mexicans do it better, healthier.