Welcome Home Soldier

I came very close to witnessing something very special this morning as we rode down Watson Blvd in Warner Robins ....the throngs of people waiting to pay their respects to a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for us just recently after being wounded in Afghanistan. I want to post a copy of the article here and then the account by one person who was there .....

A fallen Marine Corporal who was killed in Afghanistan this month began his final journey home Thursday morning.

21-year-old Cpl. Stephen "Coty" Sockalosky of Cordele was killed in action on Oct. 6.
His body landed at Robins Air Force Base around 10 a.m. Thursday.
Dozens turned out to pay their tribute as the funeral procession traveled down Watson Boulevard to Highway 41.
Robins officials asked anyone who wants to pay their respects to Sockalosky to line Watson Boulevard.
The Department of Defense announced Friday that Sockalosky died last Wednesday during combat operations in Helmand province.

Sockalosky was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.

WALB-TV in Albany reports that he was wounded by an improvised explosive device and died at a U.S. military hospital in Germany.

They reported that he was a 2007 graduate of Crisp County High School.
He will be buried Saturday and his funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Crisp County Middle School.

aubreygirl wrote:

Just some thoughts to ponder:

This morning many of us on RAFB watched the funeral procession pass by for Cpl. Stephen "Coty" Sockalosky. He is the same age as my son and many of your own children, of which are also serving in the military.

As the procession turned up Robins Parkway "with so many people lined up and down both sides of the street to pay their respects while standing either at attention or hands across their hearts", I lost count of the motorcycle brigade after more than 50 went by, not counting all the sheriff/police car escorts.

You could hear a pin drop on the street from the silence until one SUV passed by. The window was rolled down and the Mother of the soldier with hands waving out the window to all, tears streaming down her face as she was sobbing out loud over and over to the crowd...THANK YOU...GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Moments later the Soldiers Flagged Dressed Casket passes by...

While I know it means so much to the family to see the kind of support visible today, I wish the Mother could have heard the hearts of everyone there in reverential silence saying... I’m so very very sorry for your loss, THANK YOU...GOD BLESS YOU and YOUR FAMILY...THANK YOU SO MUCH!

It's overwhelming and very sobering to even try and imagine what this family is experiencing and yet also know that "Coty” joined the service willingly and gave his life for all of us without even thinking about it. He was probably just doing his job and never really thought about dying for all of us.

What a sacrifice. "Coty and all our soldiers" is our reminder of why we do what we do every day here at RAFB.

It was so moving to see so many people with flags and eager to invite folks who didn't know what was about to happen to come and join them as they waited for a fallen hero to come home. I myself didn't see the flag draped casket or the mother saying thank you to all of those who stood to honor her son....I imagine I would have been crying too....but I think of them and the people who stood along that route home ...it is something I don't think anyone who witnessed even a portion of it will ever ever forget! OOOhRah and Semper Fi young Coty....and thank you!  Loveyameanit and God Bless our military! Queenie

Decorating Season Is Here...Oh And Sorry For My Silence

I know I've been out of action so to speak...I have to claim that a total lack of inspiration is the culprit of my silence these last couple of weeks....the donut lady said I should blog about it but I couldn't think of anything to say! LOL I've been doing a little "fun" housekeeping over at my Mother site Multiply today as well as faithfully apping away you know where! LOL It's always fun this time of year...I get to "dress up" things and listen to tunes that go along with the season to come! I've got things piled up on one of my tables here and my tubs outside..well they've been waiting since last year ...one nice thing is I didn't have to lug them around the house this time...as they've been used as "tables" for piles of whatnot since we took out several old windows and replaced them with new ones. It's really a mess out there and I wish "some one" would do something with all the plunder out there! Begging hasn't seemed to help though! I've also had my nose in many great reads recently which could also be the reason behind a few cases of "dry eye". Ann Rule is one great True Crime writer! The other book that recently finished was all about the Clinton marriage...I have to say that I knew the man was a horndog of mammoth proportions but there were parts of that story where my mouth literally fell open ...and his "wife" has a mouth like a sailor when she chooses to let that part of her show. She isn't as innocent as folks think either....let me put it this way...Slick Willy wasn't the only one having his cake and eating it too. Of course she kept her daliances down to one person over many years. Got your interest peaked do I??? LOL Now that the floodgates have reopened somewhat on this Sunday....I hope there will be fewer instances of dry well in the near future!! Loveyameanit....Queenie

Standing On My Soapbox On A September Day....Never Forget!

A late afternoon on the 9th anniversary of the day that our world changed forever.. I read the lovely sentiment that our former president left this morning and there were thousands of other folks who also read it and left wonderful, glowing sentiments to his sweet words. It was heartwarming to read all the well-wishes and echos of how much people in this country thanked him for being our President during that horrible time. I have to say...and whether you agree with me or not...I am so sorry he is not in office anymore....things are going to hell in a henbasket with the current bunch of narcisstic clowns that are running the big circus up there in DC and it really angers me to see these bozos stomping all over our Constitution. Please excuse the outburst on this solemn day of rememberance...it just sticks in my craw something fierce. I hope that someday....and perhaps I'll put it on my "list" I will get to meet him face-to-face and express my thanks to him ...I just hope I could do it without blubbering and making a genuine fool of myself. It's easy to say thanks in a letter...but face to face to a solider or to this man who helped us through our darkest hour in 60 years...a patriot in his own right to me....is the best way to express something as heartfelt as that. He made us feel safe...despite our uneasiness....and we moved on from that dark day...united as a nation....but are we now....I mean look at the mess we are in....the day was somewhat marred by all the threats to burn a book and then the very idea that someone would think it was appropriate to build a mosque just a few blocks from Ground Zero...makes me feel like they are attacking us all over again. Some fellow wrote a hateful posting on Facebook this afternoon...saying "Celebrate 9/11 and death to Christians and Jews" ....it was vile and disgusting....trying to get a rise out of people on this somber day....and he did. It was under the Never Forget 9/11 status posting ....and folks responded with ugliness of their own against this man. Of course I didn't like what he said at all....but I will not be lured into a verbal exhcange with someone merely out to get attention ....I am an adult and know better. He will be judged for his statements one of these days ....that was the first thought that came to my head as I read those awful things he wrote. It was as if God spoke them in my ear to reassure me. 
I paparphrased a statement that our former President used in his remarks after 9/11....when I sent an email to one of our congressional representatives from Ga....who stated that though he didn't vote for ObamaCare he would not join the fight to repeal it....In my email back to him I told him if you are not for us you are against us....I didn't get a reply back....I guess the part I also included about packing up his office because if the voters have anything to say about this he won't have that seat after the November elections...didn't go over very well! LOL But I was serious....and I hope he does lose his seat...because if he does he will know why. We are tired and weary of the same old you know what on all the different days and on November 2nd....the voters of this country are going to put the hammer down and send some career politicians packing! Do your part and help us clean out the Capitol and in just two years....oh lord it can't get here fast enough...OUR HOUSE...the White House!! No more blinders .....the gloves are off and we will overcome this mess that we are in .....God Bless America! Loveyameanit...Queenie

Witness to Tragedy....Filmed on 9/11/01

Anticipating Inspiration ....Between The Pages Of A Library Book!

This box has been sitting here empty literally ALL afternoon waiting for some sort of inspiration to hit me over the head and make that light bulb come on....still waiting! LOL Tonight's menu is nothing special...just something quick to fill our bellies before I drop one off at band practice and head back home to lose myself in another Ann Rule book....Oh did I mention I love True Crime stories in addition to my overflowing stacks of Debbie Macomber, Sheryl Woods, and Robyn Carr novels???? I think the first book of hers I ever read was way back in the early 90's ..."A Stranger Beside Me". It was an amazing book about Ted Bundy and his horrible exploits and the fact that she and he actually worked together on some hot line at night for a while. Thankfully she wasn't his "type" or none of us who have ever read her works would be able to read her works now. Well that little thought sure got the ball rolling didn't it??? Hmmmm what next.....light bulb is getting dim....Actually I love reading all sorts of things....Maureen O'Hara's autobiography was amazing...I couldn't put it down ....I've read some great Louis L'Amour westerns too!  I remember when I was a teen and read every murder mystery I could find by Robin Cook and Stephen King....I have advised my son that two movies that were made based on his novels ....weren't worth watching as they were terrible...the books were much better!! I swear as I was reading Salem's Lot I just knew the vampires were going to come and get me....that I never read it after dark! LOL Thankfully I grew out of that phase...although seeing Kathy Bates in Misery still strikes me as a true future Thriller classic....or was that as Bobby Bouchet's mama in Waterboy I can never be sure! LOL !

I found my copy of "My Life In France" and I plan to reread it because it is an amazing story...I loved it the first time I read it about this time last year I think it was while I anxiously awaited the movie that I have seen countless times but still adore (Julie & Julia) to come out on DVD. Personally without the inclusion of this story immersed with Julie Powell cooking her way through THE BOOK, the movie wouldn't have been as good....Powell's book was a good read though....and I did read the next book she wrote but I was expecting more of the same as before and it seemed like a got more of Eat, Pray, Love ...which I couldn't get past page 96 because I got so disgusted at the main character and all of her whining and fits of crying on the floor of her bathroom....just really bad. The worst part is I really tried to read further because I have stood by my rule that once you start a book you have to finish it...well I am not going to finish this one I'm afraid! As for Cleaving, I did finish this one...came away with the feeling that I really didn't want to hear about her indiscretions etc....as some folks say it was TOO MUCH INFORMATION.....so I doubt we'll be seeing this little gem on the big screen. I might give the novel she's writing a try though...I wonder if this novel is the one she wrote half of and never finished...claimed no one wanted to publish it at the time.....LOL Oh who knows the next book might be great I shouldn't be so hard on the gal! So I guess today's thoughts were more about books than beef and what else is for supper huh? Loveyameanit...Queenie

Remembering A September Day And Waiting For November....To Take America Back!

 

I was driving in to pick up yesterday afternoon and as I got further into town I saw it....a car that had one of those flags you slip between the door and the window ....it wasn't a college sports team banner that flew in the hot breeze as it made the turn to wherever it was going...but an American flag. It was worn a bit but the fact that I saw it this week with the date looming on the calendar to remind us what happened nine years ago on that beautiful September day caused me to feel a bit sad yet at the same time I was proud that this car crossed my path ....I thought to myself...He or she hasn't forgotten. Yes we have gone on with out lives after our little bubble that we had been living in was suddenly burst when those planes hit those buildings that morning....we have not spent the last nine years in fear....because that would mean that evil had prevailed. We move on and do what we have always done...but I wonder if we have gotten jaded to it all since then....we've tucked our flags, and shirts, and other patriotic paraphrenalia away...sort feels like the upsurge is over with and there is no need to bother until July 4th like we did before. With elections looming...America is angry because folks who are supposed to be representing us aren't...and haven't been for a long time..and now for some reason we are finally waking up and realizing that if we don't stand up and do something and make our VOTES heard loud and clear in two months we will truly be in a mess and the founding fathers and others before us who fought and died for the things we take truly for granted and don't appreciate until we think we might just lose them one by one will truly be spinning in their graves wondering what in the world these folks are thinking and giving anything to be able to stand in the presence of these so-called "representatives" and shake their finger in the faces of those who seem to want to bring it all down into a pile of rubble...and remind them what this country was built on. Nine years ago 19 men brought down two buildings and damaged a third...thankfully the fourth plane didn't reach its destination because heroes on that flight said NO! and did something about it even knowing that they would not live to see their families again. Let's all band together this year and take our country back to what it is supposed to be and get the weasels and chicken hawks out of the henhouses and make double sure that nothing like what is going on now happens again on our watch...United We Stand??? Time will tell. I won't sit idly by and watch my country crumble like those towers did that day that our world as we know it changed forever....will you? Loveyameanit....Queenie

Cooking and Crying Over A Good Book....What I Did Over Labor Day Weekend

It's the last day of a blissfully long weekend and like I said to my cyberbuddy Bren a few minutes ago..I am soaking up every precious drop! Travel-free days are cherished during the school year...especially during football season. In about an hour or so I will begin preparing Paula's Farmer's Pork Chops....this recipe is from her very first "The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook". As I mentioned in a previous posting I am so thankful to this dear Southern treasure...as she, like Julia, has really helped me in the culinary department over the last few months. Honestly the recipes that I have tried so far in both Julia's Bible and Paula's ....have been "YUM"! Lord I better hush as I feel I am starting to repeat myself!

I finished Laura Bush's memoirs yesterday and I have to say it was pretty good. The section about September 11th was particularly moving as I found my eyes blurred with tears and had to stop reading for a little bit and wipe my eyes...just knowing someone would wander in for something and ask "What's wrong with you?" When I read memoirs like that I often come away learning so much more than I knew before...I felt that way when I read the Reagan Diaries last summer. I was really sorry to be finished with that one. It was an amazing read let me tell you. I've only come away wiping my eyes twice when I read a book...last summer when I read "Honky Tonk Angel"...about Patsy Cline ...and our former first lady's "Straight From THe Heart". I'm not sure how I ventured from cooking to crying over pages in a book but it happened. Shoot when Dale Jr. drove the Wrangler number 3 car to victory lane at Daytona back in July with his Daddy's old paint scheme I had tears rolling down my cheeks....I've always been pretty tenderhearted I guess...let me rephrase that...a crybaby at times...but even though I have toughened up a lot since my nightmarish school days...there are just some things that really touch me ...and if someone is reading this I'm sure you have your moments when that giant lump forms in your throat and emotions and tears spill to the surface. Events and images...and even words on a page can do it.

The house is coming alive with noises of various decibel levels now...soft at one end and I would have to say at a volume level somewhere in the mid-30's on the television in the living room....and the urge to holler..."Turn it down!" is getting harder to squash...or maybe I'll just turn on my iPod to drown it out...LOL since the person who is watching is way over 21...and there is a pretty good chance that that something that his folks have done in the last three years...that really got to him when visiting...he is doing now too although I know he wouldn't admit that just now. So let's go fix some pork chops how about it?? Loveyameanit...Queenie