A Little Reminder (For The Author) · 5:10pm Mar 22nd, 2014
I am tagging this as story related, though it is more personal in nature. Not something I plan to make a habit, but this time I thought it was appropriate.
Last weekend found me called out of town on very short notice. My great uncle passed on, and my father and I went to spend time with family and well wishers. I didn’t know him very well, but my father did, so I went to support him and get to know my extended family better. I grew up all over the northeastern USA, so while I got to know my grandparents, uncles/aunts and my three cousins, extended family much beyond that that was just too much travel. A body can only handle so many road trips of 12+ hours (one way) a year. Thankfully I live closer now, and it’s something I can begin to correct.
I don’t want to get into too many details, but my great uncle served in the military, just as so many of his generation. Several uniforms were present both at the viewings and funeral, in addition to an honor guard and a pair of local recruiters who organized to attend and pay respects. My father made a point to collect the brass from blank cartridges fired for the seven gun salute and save them for my great uncles’ kids and grandkids. As touching as it was, it was something the day before that moved me the most. At the viewing, members from a veteran’s lodge performed a short ceremony. It included a shortened version of the last roll call.
Before then, I had never seen one in person. More than even the travel, watching that service shook me enough that I had to let my writing sit untouched until I returned home. While I have always been aware that the kinds of topics I approach in Valor is Magic are personal to both those in uniform and their families, last weekend was an in-my-face reminder of exactly that.
I’m home alone for the day with no plans but for working on chapter 13 and maybe finishing up a letter from Twilight. There will probably be pizza and a pony episode. I know there will be music and mountain dew. As I sit down to grind out more words concerning ponies of uniformed varieties, it seemed like a good time to type a quick thank you to the humans of uniformed varieties.
This chapter is for you.
Cheers.
Thank you, Subtle, for remembering those of who have and do serve. Your thanks is reward enough and all we require.