Warcorpse here with yet another group of morons and idiots to watch out for as you go about your daily life. These morons are separated into men and women.

Women who think that all other women are their sisters. You’ve heard these dunces before I’m sure. Screaming things like ”We’re all sisters” and “Help your sisters” or something like that. Usually they’re some psycho feminists spraying man hate because because because. Oh fuck it just pick what ever stupid reason they use for that week. Well ladies I have news for you YOUR NOT ALL SISTERS! If you share both or one birth parent then guess what your sisters if you do not then YOUR NOT!!! Your friends and acquaintances. Case Closed. So please stop going around saying all women are sisters on some level.

Women who think that being a woman is some sort of talent. you’ve seen this shit I’m sure. Women who walk around with pins or buttons and go to festivals like Women’s Pride or The Joy of Womanhood. Being a woman doesn’t require any talent it’s just the result of a genetic coin flip. I thought that pride was reserved for something you accomplished like going into space for example. Have you really done nothing in your life that you have to go with what gender you are and take pride in that. Ladies if your like this here’s a suggestion go to your boss and ask him or her something, anything that you do their that no one else does. I’m sure if they want to keep you they’ll think of something.

Now on to the men

Men who think that becoming a man is some sort of long difficult process. IT”S NOT! How a boy becomes a man is not that difficult. At thirteen or so he starts pubuerty that lasts for several long and annoying years finally ending somewhere between sixteen and nineteen roughly. At the end he’s now a fully grown adult male. A MAN But they’ll counter back with well that’s not a REAL man. Oh yes thathoarse shit. Being a good man isn’t all that difficult either. Treat people nicely and with tolerance. Help elderly people if they’re struggling with something. Resist the urge to beat your wife after she overcooks the roast for the seventh damn TIME! and that’s pretty much it.

Men who constantly tell guys like me ”You need to be a leader in your community!” and my personal response to that is WHY! Now if my neighbor’s house is burning down I’ll be the first one over there making sure they’re safe and getting what they need. Be it blankets or just some refreshments or snacks. But if everything is A-OK in the community why in the hell do I have to waste my Saturday planning some stupid Comunity NIght Out or Nieghberhood Picnic. What in the hell do these accomplish outside of just boring people to death and forceing them to converse with people that they couldn’t care less about. Can’t I just sit out on the porch sip a Vodka and Club Soda and relax until a real problem occurs.   

Well that’s enough for now

Warcorpse

You know every time I pick up a newspaper or hell even go on here someone is complaining about the economy and or the national debt which is a ridicules 1.43 trillion thank you Obama. People on both sides wonder how in the hell are we ever going to pay this back. Well Warcorpse is here with the perfect solution but some of you especially conservatives might not like it. Still the economy and the debt could be fixed by legalizing three little things

1 MarijuanaFirst off I have no idea why in the hell this is illegal in the first place. I don’t smoke it myself but I don’t see why the people that do have to live in fear of enjoying something that is far less dangerous than cigarettes. Most of the people that say this should remain illegal base their opinion on  a movie called Reefer Madness showing how weed is basically like LSD something that has been proven wrong time and time again. People who smoke marijuana don’t go into violent rages or have a hallucinogenic reactions unless it’s been laced with something else. And you wouldn’t get laced shit IF IT WERE FUCKING LEGALIZED! So here’s a thought legalize something that’s less addictive and less destructive than booze and guess what you got yourself BILLIONS of dollars in new tax revenue.

Prostitution. Yes I said it legalize the worlds oldest profession and hell you might create Trillions of dollars in new tax revenue. And there’s a million GOOD reasons why it should be legal. 1 It’s MUCH safer for the girls or guys that do this job. 2 It can be regulated so that minors aren’t involved and that the risk of STD’s goes way down. 3 All the crime that goes along with it goes away and you lower the cost of running the courts that deal with bullshit cases like this. 4 It’s been legal in America far longer than it’s been criminalized. Now the reason it’s criminalized is because of some people’s morale values and religious belief. Most of these people feel the need to ram their values down other people’s throats and to make sure everyone else lives the life they want. Hey I thought this was America and if I want to go to a cat house who in the hell are you to tell me that I can’t. We have freedom of religion in this country why in the hell are other people’s morale values interfering with my life.

3 Gambling With the advent of the Internet and current opinions this is just fucking stupid that this remain illegal. Once again billions of dollars could be generated. Most states have Indian casinos anyway so there already there and guess what America hasn’t ended now has it. I’m not even going to prove my point this time go to the PPA’s website and read their material

Well there you go 3 simple things that don’t hurt anyone else. Activities that are for adults only so don’t give me the save the fucking children rant. They won’t cause the downfall of mankind and you know what if you don’t want to partake in them then DON’T. But just because you are opposed to it you don’t have the right to tell other people they can’t participate in the three activities. And guess what you would have a shitload of new revenue to pay the national debt and maybe save social security

I am just one of millions of Americans barely surviving on a single income. I am retired, collecting Social Security, have my unemployed daughter and her two kids (6 and 4) living with me, not by choice but out of necessity, they simply had nowhere else to go. In the past year, my daughter has sent out hundreds of resumes and go on as many job interviews without success. I can’t fault her for not trying, she does but the jobs just aren’t there. I’ve applied for numerous jobs but who wants to hire a 65 year old man? Right, no one, I’m past my prime and set in my ways but I’ve heard that you can teach an old dog new tricks and I’m willing but employers aren’t.

For the past year, I’ve managed to shuffle bills around and still pay them all but now I’ve come to a cross roads where bills add up to more than I have coming in. Right now I have $400 sitting in my checking account, $750 worth of bills staring at me, two weeks before I have a small pension hit my account, the frig is empty, the grand kids are hungry, they have activities at school and in Cub Scouts, my car needs gas and I’m out of coffee. Which comes first? I’m sure millions of Americans are facing that same dilemma, scratching their heads and screaming in frustration. And, as many have already done, considered suicide as a way out. Yes, numerous families have committed mass suicide, wife, kids and father, all gone in the blink of an eye. Its tragic and avoidable

The national debt is now $1.43 trillion, with a capital T, after billions went to AIG, banks, mortgage companies, car manufacturers and the health car industry, supposedly as a way to create jobs but he says give it time to work. It hasn’t happened yet. If I can believe the rumors circulating in the papers, there is another round of bailout funds in the offering but not one program going to help the truly needy because our good President Obama needs to prop up his buddies in big business first, give them their multi-million dollar bonuses and salaries before helping the American people. Obama has made the United States a debtor nation, all under the guise of helping our economy.

My back is against the wall, I’m caught between a rock and a hard place, at my wits end and I can see no way out of my situation in the foreseeable future. What am I to do? What do I tell my grand kids when their hungry and there’s nothing to eat? I’m numb from trying to explain my situation to the bill collectors, who call every day, and all I get in answer is, “Pay your f**king bills.” Won’t matter much longer for I can’t pay my phone bill either. Eating the business end of my shotgun is looking better and better every day, the only reason I don’t is my grand kids and how it would be explained to them. They are too young to have to live with that. So I will continue searching for a way out of my situation and pray that millions of others in like situations can also. Anyone for Powerball?

Disclaimer: The following opinions and thoughts are my own, conceived by observation, reading and listening. I welcome any and all comments, just keep them civil and on topic.

Anyone been following the news lately? I have and I don’t like what I’m hearing and reading. If the polls are to be believed, President Obama’s approval rating is below 40%. That’s the good news, the bad news is he doesn’t care. Why should he, he and his family has a roof over their heads, a soft bed to sleep in, three squares a day, makes $400,000 a year and still has three years, four months in the White House. Short of impeachment, he’s there for the duration.

Out in the real world, unemployment is above 10%, thousands have lost their homes, thousands more are sleeping on the streets and going hungry, the sick remain sick and our children are crying themselves to sleep each night. Why should the politicians care, they are above all this pettiness and in a world of their own. They are secure in their cushy job screwing the American people and having fun doing it. They sit in their expensive homes and offices and laugh at the foolishness of the American people to keep voting them back into office. And fools we are.

During Obama’s campaign for President, I publicly stated that he was being expertly handled behind the curtain by big business and special interests. Soon after his inauguration, I was proven right when he bailed out insurance companies, banks, car manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and other special interests. What he did wasn’t in the best interests of the American people, we have yet to see any benefit, but in the interests of those who bought his election. I was called a racist for saying that he was was elected because of his race and I was proven right. I was called a doomsayer for stating that he’d drive this country close to bankruptcy and I was proven right. I was called an alarmist for saying that a civil war was coming, fortunately, I still have to be proven right on that one but we’re close. How close are we?

We already see the civil disobedience raising its ugly head as people barter between themselves for simple staples, against the law according to the income tax code. We see more and more people shooting wild game in order to put food on the table, also against the law. We see people collecting rain water, against the law at least in Colorado, to water their gardens and bath because their utilities have been turned off. Theft is on the rise as people do whatever is necessary to survive, including stealing bread. The homeless are camping wherever they can in order to survive the cold, also against the law in Denver. They are homesteading in vacate houses that banks have foreclosed on, have taken over abandoned farm houses and raising their own food in order to survive, also against the law. Jails are overflowing due to arrests of people doing whatever is necessary to survive. And I am close to joining the legions of homeless so I can sympathize with them and ask myself just how far am I willing to go? How far will I fall before I hit rock bottom?

So far, all I’ve seen is lip service from the very people who have been intrusted to prevent this fall. I see polished politicians stand up in townhall meetings and blantly lie to concerned voters, publicly stating that they are doing all they can to help when all they are doing is helping themselves. I wouldn’t trust one politician as far as I can throw a 1600 pound bull.

It boils down to this: if we are to survive, we must do it ourselves, we can’t count on, nor should we, the federal government. They have an agenda all their own and it doesn’t include American citizens.

Colorado has a “Make My Day” law. In a nut shell, it simply means that you won’t be prosecuted for defending your home, your family or your life with deadly force. It doesn’t mean that you can chase the suspect down in the street and kill him, as one homeowner did. It does mean that if someone breaks into your home with the intent to do you and your family bodily harm and rob you, the homeowner can use deadly force. In other words, blow them out of their socks. While I would prefer to cause them great bodily harm, I would not hesitate to open up with my shotgun at close range. This has two advantages; 1) it is a final solution to a home robbery and 2) the suspect can’t come back and sue for damages (that’s been done on numerous occasions).

While Colorado doesn’t have the shootouts in the streets like some Texas border towns do, we do have our share of home invasions by scumbags looking for easy pickings. I realize that the police can’t be everywhere at all times (they get there after the fact most times), it is realistic that the homeowner be prepared to protect themselves against any eventuality. I have my shotgun handy but I also have my walking stick, a six foot length of Aspen, hard as a rock and can break an arm or bust a head in one easy swing. To quote an old saying, “I’d rather be judged by twelve of my peers than be carried by six of my friends.”

The bad guys of today are getting younger and younger, knowing they can’t be tried as an adult and most likely, at the most, be sentenced to a juvenile detention center until they are twenty-one, will be released and out on the streets to continue their life of crime, often with an advanced degree in crime. Whenever I move into a new place, I always make sure that the neighbors know that I’m armed and will use my firearms; I’ve seldom had trouble from the local hoods. If I’m forced to use deadly force, I won’t apologize for doing so, I won’t feel sorry that someone is dead and I won’t apologize to his family for the loss of their child. They raised him, saw where he was heading and did nothing to turn him around. Some will see that attitude as callus and uncaring. Far from it, I care but my family comes first. If the cops can’t handle the crime rate, it is up to the individual to be prepared to do so and just call them to haul away the trash.

On a national scale, the crime rate has increased, in spite of what the Justice Department says, and more and more homeowners are being caught in the middle. We’ve been told to just call the police and let them handle it but while you’re on the phone, they’re breaking in and terrorizing your family. I have a shotgun and they have automatic weapons, like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Very unequal, unless the shotgun is loaded with turkey loads. That’s nine pieces of lead the size of a small ball bearing going out at over 1,000 ft per second. Now that can do some serious damage and discourage any intruder because they want to rob, not be killed.

We don’t live in the Old West any longer, we’re supposed to be a civilized nation of laws but the only law to date that makes any sense is the Make My Day law. More and more gun laws are passed each day and not one does any good because the criminals ignore them and they just take away yet another right of the law abiding citizen. I, for one, will not live scared in my home behind locked doors and shuttered windows. I will not be made to live in fear of venturing outside and enjoying life. And I refuse to relie on someone who won’t be there in my time of need to protect me and my family, I’ll do it myself and explain later.

Why am I ranting about this subject? because crime is hitting closer and closer to home. A new neighbor just moved in next door and while they were gone, someone broke in and stole a couple of TVs and a laptop computer (I could have told them it was unsafe to live here but they didn’t ask). I don’t believe that I could live anywhere that is completely safe and no one in their right mind would think so either. All one can do is make their home as safe as possible and refuse to live in fear. To that end, I keep my shotgun handy and loaded.

Yes a man who was light years ahead of his time penned this opening to one of the MOST influential documents ever written in history.

Sadly, today this means nothing to the elected officials governing our once great country. No it didn’t start sliding downhill when the Novelty Obama-nation uttered the statement, “We live in the greatest country in the world; help me change it, but that non hacker sure as fuck hasn’t HELPED things out a whole lot has he?

Motherfuckers (and father fuckers for you ladies who feel left out when I say it) Are lining up to defend this shitbird with statements like “No one can expect him to deliver on all of his campaign promises”. Then WHY the FUCK was he elected by a majority vote? If it doen’t matter what they say, why aren’t we picking a President’s name out of a fucking Fez? (Yeah a turban would just be a freaking hand towel with a bunch of clumps of paper inside it wouldn’t it?)

I’m getting off track here. HEALTH CARE for ALL should be FOR all not just one for us and one for them. I’f I’m having their shit crammed down my throat then at least tell me that they are getting the same lack of condiments that I am. REGULATIONS and REFORM are what the current System needs and not a Socialist, Eastern Block replacement for it.

While we’re at it, lets think about this. Nancy Pelosi and the fucking DNC is all over this shit about Leveling out the WEALTH of the nation. Lets call this what it REALLY is. They want You and I to be in the poorest 85% of the nation so THEY can be in the RICHEST 15% (if they will allow that many people to be as “privileged” as they are for being good enough to get you fucking moronic, mouth breathing masses to vote them into office.

“From Each According to His Abilities and To Each According to His Needs” is the mantra that these fuckaholics are chanting and the Public is chewing that up like it is a NEW concept. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov brought forth REFORM via these means in a little place that used to be called Russia with these EXACT words.

The FIRST thing that these radicals who wish to infringe upon OUR Inalienable Rights do is to take away the guns of the people that they wish to enslave.

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

This was written by men who had to shed blood to have the right to protect themselves from all enemies Foreign AND Domestic.

Hitler immediately took away every gun from the Jews and I hope you fucking idiots do remember what happened to them during his rise to power. NOW the Democrats have sought to take guns out of the hands of the people for many years and they always come back to the same thing. They SAY it is for OUR own good so that “Criminals” cannot get their hands on guns to harm us. WAKE THE FUCK UP. They are the criminals that wish to enslave YOU and make you work so that you get just enough to get by and they get MORE than they can possibly expect their grandchildren to be able to spend. if GUNS are so BAD, why are these people all Guarded by agents who have them?

AGAIN… WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE! Our society is being dumbed down by the lack of a true Education System. Our Wages and Income are being attacked, we are being led like lambs to the slaughter and the apathy and brainwashing that our leaders MUST be right just because they hold that position is sickening.

We are soon going to need a Revolution to get the Government out of our wallets, schools, and privacy of our own bedrooms because the MASSES can no longer think for themselves or ask the simple questions and react to the answers that are given to them rather than just going with the flow.

I can no longer sit idly by and watch the destruction of the greatest nation in the world. Who has the guts to speak out with me?

This is something that’s been bugging the shit out of me for well most of my life. Old people who think that because they’ve lived 75+ years that a you know everything, that young people today especially teen don’t know jack shit and this is the one that because your my elder i should automatically respect you. Have news for yah I’ll wait while you turn up your hearing aid and scoot your hoverround closer. Respect is earned not given away.

Now let me first start off by saying this doesn’t mean all old people fall into everything I’m talking about but all of you fall into at least one.

Lets start off with two groups of people that are almost identical teens vs old people. These two groups of people are so alike it’s actually funny here’s some examples Old people hate everything because it’s not like it was back then. Teens hate everything because its not cool or its conformo. Both groups of people can run on surprisingly little sleep. Most of them are terrors on the road. Both seem to think they should get respect from the world Teen because they’re so close to adulthood and old people because they’ve been in adulthood so long. Both groups have loads of disposable cash. In fact the only real difference between the two is teens have they’re over protective parents and watchdog congress looking over them and old people have they’re over protective children and watchdog congress looking over them.

Now let’s go another group of old people that make me want to grind my teeth. The ones that resist saying how lazy kids today are. That all they do is leech off their parents they don’t know the value of a real day’s work. Well snowtop you do know that most teens have a part-time job I mean just because you spent 90 hours in the sun drenched tomato fields doesn’t mean the kids of today don’t work. I mean who in the hell thinks serves you your egg Mcmuffin.  One last thing about leeching off of something Social Security and Medicare.

Now on to the ones that really give other seniors a bad name. The ones that think because they’re old they can act anyway they want. Like the one that yells at the semi-mentally handicapped person bagging they’re groceries because they screwed up and put bread on the bottom. Yet this same senior would laugh and chuckle if her granddaughter put bread on the bottom. I have news for you the two people that bagged your items have about the same mental capacity. Or the ones that go to McDonalds and complain about the egg being to hard. Didn’t they realize when they walked in the door where they were and that quality had left the Golden Arches a long time ago. Or when they starts hassling a complete stranger because he wore his baseball cap inside the dinning room of TGI Fridays.

Is it any wonder why I say to seniors you want respect give respect.

Well I think that’s were I’m going to end this post I’ll probably write on about the other end of the spectrum. Yet another group of people that I can do with out TEENS

Yep, that title is correct, back to work. Being a retired electrician with 35 years experience in the construction industry, those three words have special meaning to me. First, a little background. I wrote, and sold, my first magazine article in 1973 to Old West magazine on the Death Valley Borax wagons. It was an interesting subject and I have since sold that same article, with some rewriting, nine times over the years bringing in over $1500. I’ve also written a piece on slot machines, honey bees, San Jose, California’s Winchester Mystery House, electrical subjects, parenting, raising teenagers, my experiences during the Vietnam War (and it was a war, not a conflict), windmills, fishing, hunting (I eat what I catch or kill), lost gold mines and just interesting characters and subjects. I’ve gone from pounding away on a typewriter (those antique machines that actually used a ribbon) to a computer.

Several years ago, I had an episode of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder, something brought back from Vietnam) that almost killed me, literally. The shrink I went to couldn’t figure out why I’d be having flashbacks after all these years and I went on Prozac, or something similar, and my writing suffered. I couldn’t concentrate long enough to finish anything, after several pages my mind would wander and I’d lose track of what I was doing. I’d sit for hours in front of the screen and not touch a key, just stare. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t remember what I was thinking about and this didn’t help with the shrink sessions. Again, unfortunately, this carried over to my driving. I’d start out just to drive to the grocery store and end up a hundred miles away and not remember getting there. Now that was scary and I knew something had to be done before I hurt myself.

It wasn’t the shrink who came up with a cure, he was more interested in grabbing his paycheck from the VA than helping veterans, but my inner voice. No, I’m not crazy but that’s open to interpretation. I figured the only one who knew me best was best qualified to diagnose my problems — myself. So what did I do? I went fishing for a week, packed my truck, grabbed a couple boxes of worms and found myself a secluded spot to be by myself. It was high up in the Rocky Mountains, off the beaten path (I have four-wheel drive truck), set up my tent by the water and tossed in a line. I spent a week catching trout, cooking them over an open fire, drinking beer (something I hadn’t done in ages) and began to sort out my life (you don’t need to be a teenager to do that).

I figured out that I was in a rut with my life, I wasn’t doing anything but feeling sorry for myself for getting older but not necessarily wiser. I’d lost my retirement through a faulty investment firm, all $165,000 of it, am now living on a small pension and Social Security and living with my daughter. I had become that which I had always despised, dependent on someone else. Okay, I didn’t have a lot of money, so what could I do about it. I couldn’t return to work, my body has been beat up too much and wouldn’t take it. I’m not one to set up a scam on the Internet and rip people off. That left one avenue open to me, return to my writing. I’m still on anti-depressants and mood-changing chemicals but I’m much better for having that talk with myself, I now know where I’m going and how to get there.

I now devote three hours a day to writing, anything just to get words down on paper, or screen. I’m exploring new subjects, making a list of things I’m fairly knowledgeable about and researching potential markets. It still takes me a while to finish a project but at least I’m finishing it now. I’m also posting blogs in order not only to help myself but others as well, just maybe my experiences will help someone else get through life. Let me tell you, getting old isn’t for sissies. It takes determination and perseverance to get up in the morning and check the obituaries to see if my name in in there. It isn’t? Then it’s going to be a good day and I sit down to write, like this morning. Just maybe, someone will read this and tell themselves that their life isn’t so bad after all.

So there I am at the convenience store the other day. It’s early evening, so the place is crowded. People hitting the ATM, getting some sandwiches, etc. So the front parking lot is packed. In fact, it’s full, there are no free spots. In such instances, most rational people would merely drive the extra 60 feet to the parking lot on the side. That’s what we did because I am of said rational mind. My wife went in to use the ATM, and I was waiting in the car. It was here I saw something that really fucking pisses me off.

Car comes in from the street. It pauses as there are no open spots in the front parking lot. Well, not exactly, there is one open spot-the handicap spot. Surely this car won’t park …son of a bitch! The black Pontiac cruises right into the spot. I can see there are no handicap plates, nor is there a tag hanging from the rear view mirror. What happens next makes me sick. The driver’s side door opens as a woman gets out. Right after that, from the back seat, emerge 2 kids.

What kind of fucking example is she setting for those 2 kids? “Hey, kids, if you see a cheap way to get by, take it! That’s what I do!” From her demeanor getting out of the car, she was clearly not ashamed to be parking in the handicap spot. She disappears into the store. It’s merely conjecture on my part, but I think she’s going in there to buy smokes for her kids, but I could be wrong.

I think assholes who do this shit be immediately handicapped themselves. In fact, I just petitioned by township to install me to the newly created title of town handicapper. They informed me they already have an official handicapper, his name is Sal and he hangs out at the Town Tavern most nights. I told them, no, I wanted to be a different kind of handicapper. I would station myself at random public parking lots; malls, shopping centers, grocery stores, churches, etc. And whenever I see someone without the proper tags park in a handicap spot, I just wait for them. With a baseball bat. As they walk out, I would politely step on their foot and swing for the fences at their knee. You’re handicapped now, sucker. Lesson learned.

For some reason, the township didn’t go for it, but my point still stands. I absolutely hate seeing people trying to get an unfair advantage. Is it really all that important to park 10 feet closer to the door just to pick up a paper and some joe? How low class to take it just out of sheer laziness. I can’t imagine if someone who really needs the spot can’t get into it. What kind of example is she setting for her kids? She is probably the same kind of person who walks her dog, but never picks up the poop. The same kind of person that doesn’t put things back right in the gym. The same kind of person that has 25 items in the express lane. The same kind of person that makes my blood absolutely boil.

The world is too full of these people.

This last weekend I spent some time with family. We didn’t fire up the grill or gather at the lake. I was at the cemetery. That might seem dreary or sad, but it really wasn’t.

Armed with lilacs, a trowel, a brush, and a big-ass shovel we set off in search of the relatives. Last year we lost my dad’s side of the family because the tree we used as a landmark by their graves had been removed. But this year we found them easily enough on a hill in the sunshine. My mom’s side of the family is easier to find, at least until the building we use as a landmark comes down.

Cleaning off the graves didn’t seem like a difficult task. I would just use my big-ass shovel and clean up the edges where grass had overgrown the flat headstone. But the dirt was dry and hard and it was funny how quickly it got hot on my sunny hillside. So there I sat, hacking at dirt and grass on my hands and knees because the shovel didn’t work nearly as well as I thought it would. And when you are there, on your hands and knees staring at a headstone it is hard not to contemplate one’s mortality.

When would I die? How long would it be? Would it be a surprise? Painful? Would the last thing I see be someone thumping on my chest and performing rescue breathing? Or, how long would it be before I was cleaning off my parents’ graves, or would they be cleaning mine?

And yet, for all that fatalistic mortality, I wasn’t really sad because I was also thinking of the people whose mortal remains were resting—what they meant to me. I hacked and cut at the stubborn grass, ants swarming over the warm, naked stone and I thought about how many pieces of these people were still alive in memories and stories.

My Grandma Lamon was always scared that people didn’t like her cooking if they didn’t have second and third helpings. My Grandpa Lamon would compare health ailments to different foods, forever tainting brown gravy and Caro syrup by association. My Uncle Larry stayed with me the night my sister was born and was the sole witness to the absolute worst tantrum of my entire childhood, and still liked me. My Grandma Sibinski let me and my sister watch horse races on television after church. My Grandpa Sibinski would call my mom Kid. My Uncle Jerry would study people all year so he could buy them something they would really love for Christmas. I brushed the dirt and debris off the granite headstone, exposing the names and the dates.

The ground was so hard and dry I had to pound a hole into it with the trowel to get the flower holder in the ground. We filled it with soft purple lilacs from our yard and poured water in to the rim. Those flowers won’t last long and the grass will grow over the edge of the headstones again and the ants will recolonize, but for now my flowers are blooming and the headstones are clean. Sometimes you just have to enjoy that one moment.