I was driving in Santa Ana, on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, following directions, when I looked up and saw this street sign: Memory Lane. Funny, I laughed. Strolling down Memory Lane, I had already been daydreaming and talking about old memories in the days leading up to that day...and knew I would be speaking to a friend about some things I hadn't talked about in a long time, later on that day.

Memorial Day is a special holiday. It used to be that my family would watch old war movies as a way to honor those who had died for us, for what they believed in. I went to a church today that reminded us that we wouldn't be sitting there in a loving community, meeting each other freely, without the way our country was created and protected. Whether war is just or not, or is really an answer or not, people have died to protect us from who they believed would harm us. I honor those who came before us...all of the generations that led to me. Native Americans believe it is important to fully comprehend ones actions by knowing that the choices you make will affect the 7 generations following you. Intense, yet true. I wouldn't be sitting here it it weren't for the incomprehensible amount of decisions that were made by my ancestors. I am grateful for those choices made. I am grateful to be where I am today, all of the people that have come and gone in my life, some I may never see again. I hope people are alright wherever they are or have gone to. This is why I feel it's imporant to do the best I can to treat people with kindness and hopefully leave everything better than I found it. We all make plenty of mistakes...and learn the same or similar lessons in the end...or we may never learn a particular lesson...I'm finding myself learning to be comfortable with uncertainty and allow others their space and grace. On this Memorial Weekend, I'll be giving gratitude for all that has come before me and will come in the future. Ha, I just remembered reading a tea bag quote the other day that said "Love the future by loving what has come before."