Following the weather map for a week, seeing the storm creep closer and closer, watching the weather reports become more and more ominous as the luncheon date drew near, we didn’t want to take a chance being on the road during a snow storm.
Beltway driving around D.C. is awful on a good day, and we don’t live next door; our travel time has us out the door early in the morning to be at Walter Reed by 10:30 AM. And then there’s the drive home heading into rush hour.
The storm was predicted to hit Wednesday night and continue into Thursday afternoon, so on Monday, before Thursday’s luncheon, we went with our gut feelings, sent our regrets to the Liaison Office and cancelled with the hope of rescheduling.
Good thing we did.
Walter Reed closed down, too, essential personnel only.
If we don’t make it back this month or in March, we’ll be back at Mercy Hall on April 10th!
On another note, I just read this, dated February 13, 2014.
“Marines Don’t Plan to Cut Wounded Warrior Program”
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/13/marines-dont-plan-to-cut-wounded-warrior-program.html
But according to the article, the Army does.
Such a shame, our military being cut so drastically…
I’m reminded of this poem.
Tommy
I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-‘alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!
~Rudyard Kipling
Until next time, continued prayers for our military and their families.
Love and Hugs,
