Thursday, May 26, 2011

BEA, Memorial Day, and Storms

Book Expo America is in full swing this weekend! The BEA is an event like no other. I attended in 2006 and was overwhelmed. Hopefully they will resume moving the venue again. Until then, New York is too far for me.


If you can’t attend, check out Armchair BEA for updates, news, and giveaways.



Memorial Day is this coming Monday here in the USA, a time for us to remember those who’ve fallen and served during war.


I always think of my father, who served in the Navy in WWII. He was just 18 years old when drafted. He rarely mentioned his time in the service, but I still have the collection of Japanese plane insignias he acquired during that time.




And the natural disasters of the past six weeks are heartbreaking! Starting with the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the tornado outbreaks, the destruction is just unbelievable. We were lucky on April 16 when the largest tornado outbreak ever to hit NC tore through our state. No damage, just large hail.

But the town just up the road from us was hit hard, and we’ve driven past that scene many times since.

The damage in Tuscaloosa terrifies me, because in some places, there’s nothing but the foundation remaining, and the stories of missing people and those dead in Joplin break my heart.

Keep those people in mind this weekend. Be grateful your family is safe and give to the relief efforts if possible. And have a safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Check in Saturday for the Weekend Sillies.

15 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Ready for the storms to end!

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for the BEA link. Will have to check it out. Glad you are okay. Thoughts and prayers are with those who've suffered loss through these storms.

Have a good weekend,
Karen

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Thanks for the BEA link.
This will definitely be a memorable Memorial Day weekend. These storms are going on way to long.

Anonymous said...

My prayers do go out to those who have experienced the natural disasters. In my province, a wild fire recently destroyed the majority of a northern community. You just don't know when all you have could just be gone in one day. It is humbling and keeps life in perspective. Have a safe and restful long weekend, D!

notesfromnadir said...

Your father looks so handsome in his uniform.

That's big hail--you were lucky that your house avoided any damage.

Have a safe & happy Memorial Day Weekend.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Lynn, sorry to hear that!

Thank you, Notes - I think he does!

Helen Ginger said...

I'm so glad you're okay! Watching the devastation on TV has been heart-rendering. Without the pictures it would be almost impossible to imagine that much destruction.

Southpaw said...

That hail looks like the size of small rocks.

The recent devastation is heartbreaking. It's been an onslaught of disasters - very frightening.

Jules said...

Yes, I'm so over running to the basement. Family is what truly matters, safe holiday to you as well.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Anonymous said...

I wake up every morning with a grateful prayer in my heart that my daughter and my family are safe from the disasters even as my heart aches for those who are suffering. I always pray they will get help from those who haven't been afflicted. God expects us to help if we can. We are his hands.

Thank you for a beautiful post. This weekend IS a time to remember!
Ann Best, Memoir Author

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Lovely picture of your father.

My prayers are with the families involved in the tornaddoes and flooding. I hope they're over.

I've been reading about BEA. Sounds like a lot of fun.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Holly, some of it was golf-ball sized. It tore through our neighbor's screens.

Anonymous said...

Good post heading into MemDay weekend. I have an uncle who fought in WWII, and yes - prayers go out to those poor folks in the "Tornado Belt" - horrific some of the tragedies ... did you see on the news that lady who had her 4 month old baby ripped right out of her arms and hurled into the sky? Gawd ... I'd perish for sure!

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks Diane - we don't have Memorial Weekend here in Canada (we had our long weekend last week with Victoria Day) and we honour our Vets on Rememberance Day - Nov.11th. My dad was a bomber pilot in WW2 and since he died this spring, I've been thinking even more about how that shaped his life.
Crazy weather abounds. We've had over forty days of cloudy rainy weather and I'm ready to pack it in. No tornadoes though. Like Rememberance Day - our heavy weather (hurricaines) comes in the fall...

Anonymous said...

Glad you were spared from the tornados destructive damage. And nice tribute to your dad. Have a great holiday weekend!