Memorial Day

To a lot of people Memorial Day means a celebration because it’s the start of summer and a free day off from work. I know that a lot of folks on the East Coast see it as a chance to head to the beach for the first weekend of sand and sun, giving them something to look forward to for the next few weeks while school wraps up and their actual summer break kicks in.

For the folks around here, Memorial Day is the reason we have a parade down main street honoring the veterans. Everyone that has any kind of excuse to be in the parade is welcome to join in. We have the baseball teams in uniform, the gymnastics troupe from high school, kids on bicycles decorated in red, white, and blue, beauty queens, and all the civic organizations like the Lions Club and the Jaycees have a float where they toss out candy into the crowd as they go by. It’s great fun and it brings the whole town together in a good way, paying tribute to all those who have served our country over the years.

The New iPhone

Heard all the buzz and fuss about a new cell phone introduced by Apple this past winter. It was THE must have item with a lot of people, with reports of long lines at the retail stores – even camping out on the sidewalks for days before the release date. That’s just ridiculous. If you need a cell phone that bad, get something to hold you over until the new one is readily available.

Now there’s going to be a second generation of that phone released this summer and everyone wants the new one. What’s the big deal about having one of the first? That is such selfishness and narcissism to me. A phone is a tool, not your identity.

As for me, I hate to carry a cell phone but every once in a while I appreciate the convenience of having it at hand rather than driving around looking for a pay phone. I’m starting to think that the only place to find a pay phone anymore is at the courthouse or near a jailhouse. Isn’t that sad?