From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V9 #101 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Friday, June 4 2004 Volume 09 : Number 101 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: What a cruddy day ["Steve O'Hearn" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2004 10:03:19 -0400 From: "Steve O'Hearn" Subject: RE: What a cruddy day Wow, Leslie - I hate that you're going through that. I hope he's OK. I saw lots of "grandpas" this past weekend, I was in Washington, DC for the National World War II Memorial Dedication. It included a reunion of WW II vets. Lots of grandpas. The morning of the dedication, I attended a recreation of a WW II "canteen" recreation, which was refreshments, some snacks or perhaps more, and music, and maybe an impromptu presentation. An oasis from the war. I was reflecting on the Great Depression, of the poverty that most of the soldiers came from, of the bombs and shells and years of war and rations and death and loss and never-ending sacrifice. As I walked into this WW II canteen, I felt the cool air, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, fresh pineapple, freshly baked bread and muffins - and best of all, the 1940's style music. The music of Glenn Miller. Swing. Light, cheerful, easy going music. Finally, after all these years of ignorance, it hit me. Music was an escape from the nightmare. I grew up loving rock music, and laughing at this "fuddy-duddy" music of my parents and grandparents. I grew to love Basia largely because of friends who were fanatics - quite frankly, there was a time when I would've laughed at something like "Baby You're Mine". But suddenly, rock music seemed silly and childish to me. And the dignity of my grandparents, the quiet modest strength of their sacrifice, of their generousity, of a generation that gave everything to their children and grandchildren without ever drawing attention to themselves - that stood taller and more impressively than I've ever imagined. And suddenly I find myself loving, absolutely loving, the music of the 1940's. Truly the Greatest Generation. I wish the best for you and your grandfather. - - Steve - -----Original Message----- From: owner-basia@smoe.org [mailto:owner-basia@smoe.org]On Behalf Of Leslie O. Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 7:44 PM To: basia@smoe.org Subject: What a cruddy day It started out so well, too. My grandpa, who is one of the few people on earth I would do anything for, is expected to pass away within days. I'm gonna be in and out but hopefully you guys have cool Basia/MB talk to keep me distracted when I get to check my email. :) I'm on the first flight I could get out tonight. Making no sense, brain is mush, sorry. I so wish Matt's Mood was here-- could use the comfort. :-/ - --Leslie Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V9 #101 ***************************