Karl’s Korner

Good evening, my friends,

Yes, we were privileged to attend a wreath-laying ceremony to honor our war dead at Rockport Memorial Gardens in downtown Rockport. The military band for Corpus Christi and Rockport played military marches and had much the same ceremony as I described for the one they held at the VFW on Saturday.

The Commandant for Rockport/Fulton High School Navy ROTC gave a stirring speech telling the large crowd how this small community has celebrated Memorial Day for more than 25 years without interruption.
There was also a missing man/empty space at the table ceremony that brought tears to my eyes along with many others. Quite a stirring sight and portrayal of our POW/MIAs.

We both hope you had a wonderful day, courtesy of our brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom to do as we please on Memorial Day. We do hope you took just a moment in your busy “day off” to pause and say, “Thank You!”

God bless America!

Until next time,
Vaya con Dias, my friends,
Karl & Carol

Good evening and a happy Memorial Day to you, my friends and fellow Americans.

Today and the remainder of this weekend and Monday are the days to remember our brothers in arms who have fallen in battle and to recognize their great sacrifice.

We had a very enjoyable day at the VFW in Rockport. The day began with a flag raising ceremony and prayer by a chaplain, then short speeches by members of the post.

The crawfish broil went well - they sold well over the 500 tickets they printed - probably more than 600 total - at $15 per, that adds up to a nice total for the Bahia Bay Group who sends packages to our troops.
There was also a live auction, which must have brought in $2,000 more, which is also nice.

I bid and won a very nice Air Force scrapbook/photo album, which I plan to give to our daughter.

Our book sales went well also, we sold 13 books - there’s that magic number 13 again.

About three P.M., a band came in and played Military marches and other songs. Then they had a very nice ceremony where the veterans of each of the armed forces were recognized by their flag. Carol and I stood proudly when they carried out the Air Force flag and played, “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder”.
Then, after the post members brought out a huge American flag, all the veterans gathered together in front of it for pictures.

So, for us, it was a day of pride in our own accomplishments, but at the same time, a day to think of those who didn’t come back alive. Remember, all gave some, some gave all. This is the land of the free because of the brave.

Lottery time again tonight. I haven’t checked yet, so I don’t know if I won anything, but I will mention it has been a lucky day for me - I won a door prize of $10 worth of country sausage from a local meat market, plus a $25 gift certificate for a local restaurant. Let’s hope my luck continues tonight in the lottery.

Stand tall for America and our heroes and heroines. If you see a vet with a hat that says WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, or either of the Gulf wars, take the time to walk up to him or her and say, “Thank you!” If it’s a Viet Nam vet, I always add, “Welcome Home!”

It will make their day and yours too.

God bless our troops.

Until next time,
Vaya con Dias, my friends,
Karl & Carol - both proud USAF Master Sergeants, Retired

Good afternoon, my friends,

I picked up a CD by “The Platters” and was listening to their smooth style and delivery of several nice old love songs, and then I turned on the local radio, only to find songs not being sung, but yelled at you, or “rap crap” that is supposed to be music - yeah, in what world?

I love “The Fifties” music and now I know why. The songsters back then knew how to “croon” a tune. I don’t think there will ever be another period like the fifties. Thank God I was born early enough to be a teenager then - it was a time when “rock & roll” came into being, but there were still some great old love songs being sung and written - they have lasted throughout the ages.

I just wish we had a few singers who would produce songs like those. But, times change, and taste in music too, I guess. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but as long as the music soothes your soul when you need it the most, I guess whatever you listen to is okay. I’m just a romantic; and reliving those days and nights in my mind is a lot of fun. Thank God also for the “oldies” stations.

On other thoughts, my bumper stickers finally got here, along with our new shirts - just in time for the “crawdad” boil and races tomorrow at the Rockport VFW on Market Street. Hope to see many of you there.

If you’d like a bumper sticker, just send me your name and address, and I’ll mail one or more out to you. Thanks in advance.

Today is “Red Shirt” Friday in honor of our troops. Carol and I are both wearing red shirts - hers had firecrackers and the US flag - mine has the flag and the saying, “America, land of the free and home of the brave”.

I hope you all will take a moment out of your busy days during this weekend to think about our troops and perhaps say a prayer of thanks to those who gave their lives to provide us with our freedoms; plus those who are currently serving. We can’t do enough for our troops.

Guess I’d better close for today and try to get all these bumper stickers mailed out.

So, Happy Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy your day off. Drop by again real soon.

Until then,
Vaya con Dias, my friends,
Karl & Carol

Good evening, my friends,

May 25th, 10 a.m. I decide to wash the van. It’s cloudy, but not too hot, doesn’t look like rain today. I finish the job and wipe off all the water drops. Looks nice.

May 25th - 12:30 p.m. I am sitting at my computer, working on my next novel, “The Don’s Stimulus Package”, when I hear thunder off in the distance. Then Carol comes in to ask me if I can hear the thunder and shouldn’t I turn off my computer.

I do, and then look outside, where my van sits in the driveway. It now has LOTS of water spots. It’s RAINING!!

And, so it goes. Now everyone in the neighborhood is blaming me for the rain - but they all agree we need it, so perhaps I should wash my van more often…

Other thoughts of the day:

Yes, it’s Mega Millions night - Tuesday and I have my ONE quick pick. No more extra ones - after all, as anyone knows, it only takes one.

I found two pennies today, both heads up. Perhaps my luck will change…let’s hope so.

And, tomorrow brings the $95 million dollar Texas Lotto - I have our regular numbers and one other quick pick, just in case. (Our numbers NEVER come up, but we keep playing them).

I got on Facebook today and finally saw some pictures of our second great-grandchild, plus a few of our first great-grandchild, who now is four years old. We only saw her once when her father graduated from basic training, over three years ago.

Brandon, our grandson, is off to Afghanistan, either this weekend, or shortly. From what we hear, his gaining unit didn’t know he was on the way. Hope his tour goes smoothly and he comes back, safe and sound.

I also was able to renew a friendship with an old school chum from Bartonville, IL. She and I attended four different schools together. Nice to hear from you, Barb & Norm.

This weekend is Memorial Day. We should all thank our lucky stars we have our freedoms that were won with the blood of many young men back in the 1940’s and afterward in Korea and Viet Nam. No mater what you may think about the current wars - the grunts in the field are not to blame. Support them with your donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, or to the USO, or to a group of citizens like the Bahia Bay Group, who have now sent more than 7,000 packages to our brave troops. It’s people like them, and you, who can let our troops know they are loved.

Take a moment to think about the following:

It is the VETERAN,
not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN,
not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN,
not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,

It is the VETERAN
who serves under the Flag,
and is willing to die to protect it.

Until next time,
Vaya con Dias, my fellow Americans,
Karl

Good evening, my friends,

Yes, Linda, Ver and Andrea, (who is a tiny ball of fire - 16 years old, but a very wise 16), are on their way back to California where they will catch their flight out to the PI on June 3rd. We wish them a safe and enjoyable trip.

We almost got run over again in the same crosswalk, so I am heading down to city hall in the morning to find out when the next meeting of the city council is. I want signs installed stating that pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right of way.

Let’s hope I can get something done before we or someone else gets run over and killed.

The wind is up again, blowing about 40 mph - so no fishing anytime soon. Too bad, because I could use a nice fresh fish dinner. Maybe next week.

Not a lot to write about tonight, as we didn’t do much the past few days except sit, talk and relax with our visitors.

And, I’m tired tonight. Carol snores; so do I, even though we’ve both had that operation that “guaranteed” we would no longer snore. So, the past three nights have been a chore, trying to sleep while the other snores and keeps each of us awake at times during the night. I’d love to see those doctors again.

So, tonight, it’s back in our separate beds to relief that problem. It’s hell to get old, (or so I am told - I don’t know yet)!

I hope to see some of you at the VFW Hall in Rockport this Saturday. Come out; support our troops and the group that sends the packages to our fighting men and women.

Until then, or the next time you drop by,
Vaya con Dias, my friends,
Karl