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Soldier
Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. During those weeks, we do "random questions," so to speak. We encourage you to visit other participants' posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!
Saturday 9: Soldier (2016)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that the message is not lost this weekend.
1) Are you a veteran? No. Are there veterans in your family? Yes! Do you know anyone who is in the military? No. We are grateful and want to hear about it. My Joe was a veteran, as were both of his brothers and one nephew. My dad quit school during his senior year and enlisted, but WWII ended while he was in boot camp. Glad he didn't have to fight!
2) This song is about the courage it takes for soldiers to march into battle. Gen. Patton said, "The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers." He was emphasizing that each individual's dedication is essential to the unit's success. Do you work well as part of a team? Or are you better on your own? I am a decent team player, and learned those lessons in high school band and track. I think I was a decent supervisor (coach) later in my career and was blessed with great team players. Joe and I made a good team. I also do fine on my own and am usually happy just getting "it" done nowadays.
3) As of 2025, California is the state with the most military bases. Have you ever visited or lived on a base? I've never lived on a base, but have been to Quantico, Ft. Belvoir, and the Washington Navy Yard.
4) At the turn of the 20th century, wristwatches were considered non-essential jewelry items, with pocket watches preferred for everyday timekeeping. During WWI, soldiers in the trenches needed to both synchronize actions across the battlefield and keep their hands on their weapons, so the wristwatch went from "fashion item" to "standard issue." Do you often wear a watch, or do you depend on your phone for the time? I still wear a wristwatch and feel lost without it.
5) Jeeps originated with the US Army during WWII. Back then, they were specifically for soldiers deployed to the European Theater; today, there are more than 18 million Jeep-branded vehicles on the road all over the world. Have you ever driven a Jeep? I've never driven one, but I have ridden in them a few times. My daughter-in-law drives a jeep, and so does my neighbor, Sandy.
6) While Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses are a timeless symbol of cool, they were designed during WWII for a specific purpose: to give American flyers relief from glare at high altitudes. Tell us about your sunglasses. I have sunglasses that fit right over my glasses. I like them so much that I keep one in my car and a twin pair in my purse.
7) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? It's been years and years since I packed a picnic lunch. If there is a grill, hamburgers and hot dogs would be great! Don't forget corn-on-the-cob and watermelon! Fried chicken also works!
8) This marks the weekend when Americans traditionally step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the cold winter months. For example, when was the last time you worked in the garden or tended the lawn? I live in Florida. We can work in the yard all year. I don't because I highly dislike yard work and have a brown thumb when it comes to plants. I appreciate the beauty others create and am just a little jealous of pretty yards and gardens!!
9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? My AC is nearly always on, other than a couple of months when the windows can be open (or the rare night when I put the heat on to take the chill off in January/February).
Peace and Hugs!
Thanks so much for your visit!
[Chorus]
Sunshine
On my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes
Can make me cry
Sunshine on the water
Looks so lovely
Sunshine
Almost always makes me high
By John Denver
Great Answers! I also wear a wristwatch and feel naked without it when I go out the door, but it is the first thing I take off when I get back home. I don't need it in the house. They make them so cheap now that I can buy a new one practically for the price of a new battery and don't have to wait for an assistant (Walmart) to come open up the back and put in a battery. They are never available when I need them, so I just end up buying a new watch for about $10.00. I also wear sunglasses over my glasses. Not the clip on type, because they scratch the lens. I keep them in my purse, but your idea of having two is a great idea. Re: outdoor work in the yard...actually I think that here in Florida we really can't do as much in the yard in the heat of the summertime. It's just too doggone hot and humid. Our peak outdoor times are spring, fall, and most of the winter, but very little in the summer if we can help it, except for the essential lawn mowing, which now we are paying someone to do for us because our equipment is broken/old, and too expensive to repair or replace, and we are just not physically able to do the job anymore. And yes, the AC runs year round here. Even in winter there are days that we go from heat to AC and back again. I am thankful for an automatic thermostat that can be set to take care of that for us so we don't have to keep switching it back and forth. The humidity makes it essential to be on all the time. I hope you have a blessed and peaceful Memorial Day weekend. We are praying for rain here.
ReplyDeleteYep, the AC runs pretty year around, expect for those couple of weeks between Jan.-Feb. Wishing you a beautiful day, Terri. smiles
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate your military and agree with what Gen Patton said. I like your answers!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
I'm so thankful for all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so we could live in freedom, Terri, as I know you are, too. We owe them everything!
ReplyDeleteGood on your Joe being in the military. He does sound like a wonderful man. That did make me smile about you both being a good team.
ReplyDeleteI very rarely wear a watch, I just ask other people the time or look at my phone.
It is around this time of year that I wish we had air conditioning here, it's just not a thing in normal homes.
My preference for sun glasses is like you, the ones that fit over my all-the-time glasses. I've got the clip on ones, too, but prefer the more bulky ones. They just seem to do a better job of it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
Thanking all the Vets now and in the past for their service.
ReplyDeleteI feel lost without my watch too. I was just telling Susan tat I am considering buying some of the fake flowers they are selling now. Not the ones at walmart. These actually look real. They sell them on amazon and I have seen them on home shopping HSN or QVC. They have been popping up on my fakebook page too. My sister in law bought some last year and they look real. Very pretty and no work. Loved your answers! Have a nice holiday!
ReplyDeletehttps://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/
Fried chicken, corn, watermelon. Sounds delicious
ReplyDeleteGosh, I've not worn a wristwatch in years and year. Now I'm not sure why I ever stopped? Your menu sounds delish. It's not happening this weekend, but I'm going to try making Gazpacho and maybe serve with chilled chicken breast and crusty bread.
ReplyDeleteI feel lost without my watch, too! I had some delicious watermelon yesterday. Yum!!
ReplyDeleteI don't wear a watch! LOL! I used to, though. But I carry my cellphone with me in my bag when I go out and I can always see the time on the buses and metro I take.
ReplyDelete