Just Musing: Time to fall back and to thank our veterans
We turned the page on a new month this past week and with it came cold temperatures. Another notable fact, as of today (Sunday) there are 20 days until Thanksgiving, 50 days until Christmas and 56 days until a new year. To me it seems like November and December days fly by like a plane breaking the speed of sound. The downside is the darkness that also come with these months.
The time changed from Daylight Saving Time to standard time at 2 a.m. this morning. In other words, we turned our clocks back one hour. For me, that means my biological clock will be messed up for the next two to three weeks. My body will say it’s bedtime at 9 p.m. instead of 10 and want to get up at 6 instead of 7. I’m often up at 6 anyway, so I’m thinking I will have several nights of broken sleep. How about you? Does it mess up your biological clock with the time changes? Come March it will be the other way around.
If you have not already voted, Tuesday is Election Day in Ohio. There are two statewide issues on the ballot. I hope you have studied them and made a conscious decision before going to the polls. Study all your local issues as well. Casting a vote is a privilege and a way to express your opinion.
I always like to think of November as a month of thanks. Not that I’m not thankful the rest of the year, but just knowing the celebration of Thanksgiving is this month, I believe it gives me the impetus to reminisce on every day blessings in my life — family, shelter, friends, health, food, freedom and more.
Speaking of freedom, let us not forget those who have served and those serving today to give us the freedoms we enjoy.
As I think back on the years of the Vietnam War and then the Persian Gulf War when I had family on foreign soil and in combat zones, I know the stress on family left behind here on the home front to keep the home fires burning and the sacrifices they confront. During the Vietnam War, I had my late husband and two brothers there and a son in Saudi Arabia during that war.
Many veterans face lifelong illnesses/diseases from serving during combat. And then there is also PTSD that many deal with lifelong. My husband, who was a 20-year veteran, passed away from complications of Agent Orange and suffered from it for many years.
If you see a veteran, today or on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, please remember to thank them for their service. We, the United States, owe those dealing with after effects from war, much more than the limited care they get from the VA. I’m glad to say I live in the land of the free because of the brave men and women who served and are serving today.
As I write this early on Wednesday morning, I don’t know the outcome of the Ohio State/Rutgers game yesterday. Hearing that the Buckeyes have lost Myan Williams for the rest of the season and both quarterbacks dealing with injuries is not good news for the Buckeye faithful. Let’s hope they came away with a “W.” Go Buckeyes.
Let me leave you with this quotation by George W. Bush: “Throughout the course of American history, courageous men and women have taken up arms to secure, defend, and maintain these core principles upon which our nation’s freedoms depend.”
Until next week, be safe and be kind.
Brenda Donegan is a former Marion Star staffer. She may be reached at brendadonegan55@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: November means a time change and a salute to veterans
