Tribute to Memorial Day

At the eve of Memorial Day, my thoughts and prayers go out to all soldiers who have passed away or are with their loved ones. Every Sunday on the segment of “In Memoriam” from “This Week with George Stenanopoulos”, and before heading for my ritual to heading to mass, my heart goes out to all families who have lost a daughter, wife, son, husband, mother or father.
The following are the names released by the Pentagon:-
Army SPC David A Schaefer Jr, 27, of Belleville, IL
Army SSG Esau l De la Pena-Hernandez, 25, of La Puente, CA
Army SGT Carlie M Lee, III, 23 of Birmangham, AL
Air Force 1st Lt Roslyn, L Schulte, 25, of St. Louis, MO
So many who will not be returning to their homes have had their names displayed every week and month ever since I began watching this particular airing on ABC. I so much admiration for what this nation has accomplished, none of this would have been possible were it not for the valiant unsung heroes fighting for its ideologies. And so I have taken it upon myself to pay my respects to the fallen soldiers during this brief pause to cease whatever my activities are and say a short prayer for all of them.
And so being in the United States of America for only eight years, I hope that all of you will join me and raise a toast for the brave men and women serving at battle fields far away and to all who have perished so valiantly so that we are all safe!!!!

I had a dream

An alternate universe cycle that runs in parallel to what I envision my life to be, but do not take it as my present to be as – how can I put it….dreary – but a part reality and part fantasy in this beautiful city of New York.

It will encompass my thoughts on mostly the nuances of pop culture, lavish events, enlightening seminars, excerpts of skewered views of political so called ‘talking heads’ and even the mundane daily activities.

But before it rolls out the welcoming carpet to a delightful yet intriguing Pandora box of Manhattan, my journey began halfway round the world in the beautiful paradise island of Bahrain.

Once considered as the Garden of Eden and the legend that it gave birth to the Tree of Life it is where part of my heart and soul still resides to this day.

Presently it is in the middle of the night and while I am in deep slumber right in the heart of New York City, I am sweeping over the sandy dunes of the little island as a falcon until the capital of Manama appears. But it is not the Bahrain of 2009 but of 1990. I am at peace, which is surreal, perhaps subconsciously being a precocious teenager leading a very sheltered life.

All the while the drone of the Big Apple is all around me until the crack of dawn and I am awake.

I go to the window and view the horizon which is New Jersey. Another day, cars and buses appear as moving dots on a miniature trail. What are people in them thinking of while they view the Manhattan skyline across from the Hudson River?

Smiling while taking a deep breath, I think to myself how lucky I am to be in the most beautiful city in the world.