Attention

Why is it that I have a million things to blog about but when I sit down to blog...the thoughts are gone? It is a curse. Something to ask God about one day.

This I remember though:
Friday afternoon was Tony's second annual Instructors vs Students flag football game. We lost...again. Last year there was only one score the whole game and it was an ugly fight. This year, the fight was pretty even and not ugly. Score was 14-13 If our quarterback wasn't a complete...well...those thoughts aren't nice...we would have easily won. But that isn't really the memorable event. What struck me this year was that smack in the middle of the game, with the stands full, dogs on leashes, children everywhere, babies being lugged around, and a sea of young troops just weeks out of basic training was the daily lowering of the base flag with the national anthem playing all over the base. Anyone that has ever spent any time at all around a base during the national anthem can tell you how seriously it is taken. Especially the newly brain-washed, fresh from basic, babies with brand new stripes on their arms. When the first sound of the music started, the massive noise of people coming to their feet and turning toward the flag was beautiful. Seeing the children halt in their tracks brought a tear to my eye. And the absolute silence from so many, even the babies was awesome. Gabe wasn't near me at the time and I remember wondering if he was singing along wherever he was, even if only to himself. But I didn't hear one single voice...not one. It never occurred to me to attempt to sing along like I normally do. Looking back now it seems curious. I always sing along...hmmm. The silence was just that profound. And what made me smile even more was the abrupt return to chaos after the last note. Even the babies started back to their fussing within the first minute. I love the military. Some things need changing but some...well...don't.

P.S. Tony should be in the base paper this week with an article about the game!