Memorial Day

Because of you
we can get up every morning
and go to work
run errands at lunch time
drive through McDonald’s
fill up our gas tanks
and make it back to work
just in time

Because of you
we don’t have houses
we have homes
where we walk through the door
the dog jumps on us
as do our children
we hug our spouses
and smell dinner cooking

Because of you
we have artwork from Kindergarten
and shopping lists
hanging on the refrigerator
along with pictures held up with tape or magnets
school pictures, pictures of Gramma and Grampa
pictures of babies, kittens, and teenagers
dressed for the prom

Because of you
we gather around the dinner table
play in the backyard with our kids
feed the cat, walk the dog
splash water on our children in the tub
then tuck them into bed with hugs and kisses
and reassurance there are no monsters
in closets or under beds

Because of you
with the children asleep
and the dishes all done
men make love to their wives
wives make love to their husbands
and drift off to sleep intertwined
feeling life is good, all is well
and we are safe

Because of you
we are safe
we can sit in fields watching our kids play soccer
or in the stands watching our kids play hockey
we can grill hamburgers and hot dogs
eat potato salad and cole slaw
drink ice cold beer
and play pool while the kids run through sprinklers

Because of you
we must remember
to have a moment of silence on Memorial Day
to remember your sacrifice
and your family’s
and to thank you that we get to live these lives
sometimes eventful, sometimes uneventful
but always full of possibilities

Because of you