Because I can't say it in person . . .

Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day.  I'm not going to get into a history lesson here because if you don't know what I'm talking about then you can look it up and get much better background than I can probably give you.

Both my grandfathers and my great uncles on my mother's side fought in WWII.  My one great uncle lost his life in the Pacific: PFC Thomas F. Vasta.  I actually have his high school yearbooks and will someday do a post on them.

But back to D-Day.  My paternal grandfather was there and badly wounded.  As my dad said the other day - "The most important thing to me about D-Day is my dad survived."   Because if he hadn't, my dad wouldn't have been born.  So I'm pretty grateful too.

I never got to know my grandfather.  He died before I was born.  Because the universe loves irony, the career army man who was declared KIA and MIA so many times my grandmother just ignored the telegrams after awhile, lost his life in a car accident.

I know.

So to one 21 year old man who would someday have son who would grow up to be my father: Thank You.  I wish I'd known you from more than stories.  I don't smoke but I will have a beer in your honor today.

As opposed to yesterday when I just had a beer because I wanted one.

I'm definitely your granddaughter.

Summer Reads

The calendar claims it's still spring but school is out here and it's already too hot to think by midday so I'm ready for some summer reading.  Here's a sampling of what I'm reading now:

I Capture the Castle 
My favorite book ever.  I've read it so much I have passages memorized.  I have forced myself to only reread it once a year.  I always end up reading it now as it's the time when my brain is worn out and I need a vacation.  Apparently my ideal vacation spot is a ruined castle in 1930s England. 

Bust
I used to have a subscription but now I just pick up an issue based on who is on the cover.  This issue it's Dolly Parton, so I had to get it.  I'm not so much a fan of her music as her.  She's a savvy businesswoman and probably a total hoot to hang out with.  Hopefully the article doesn't destroy my beliefs.  Also there's an article on a silent film star, too.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces
I studied Joseph Campbell and archetypes and the hero's journey in both high school and college and along the way I fell in love.  I started this way back in 2009.  I am making notes as I go but it's really silly I've been reading it so long- I need to finish this one before the summer is out.  After all, I can always read it again. 

The Windsor Factor
An alternate timeline novel.  This one focuses on how events would have panned out if Wallis Simpson died before Edward VIII abdicated.  I'm not very far so I am not ready to judge if it's any good.

Dawn Powell : A Biography
In theory I like biographies, in practice they are often hard slogs.  I usually only read about writers or people I love (Myrna Loy, Nina Simone) and Dawn Powell is both.  Like many writers, it's pretty sad.

Free Comic Book day Comics
Yes, I know it was nearly a month ago and it doesn't take that long to read a comic book.  Let's just say I was saving them for summer.  I have a Rocket Raccoon, a steampunk Star Wars, and a fairytale one.

What are you reading right now?