Francis Leo Knott, my father, served over twenty-six years in the US Navy. He saw service in the last days of World War II, during the Korean War, and during Viet Nam. My father retired as an Electrician Mate Senior Chief. He passed in 2002. Read my childhood memories of him here.

Cletus James Knott, a younger brother, served twenty years in the Navy. We were in the Navy at the same time, but the Navy never detailed us to the same command. However, we had time together while I was stationed in Hawaii, and his ship spent some time in port. Though it was a short time together, we still had fun at Luaus, bowling and just being together. He retired as a Gunners Mate Guns First Class. Cletus died in a motorcycle accident after visiting the family home in 2002.

Joseph Paul Knott, the youngest brother,  also served in the Navy. But his service was cut short due to medical reasons. He passed in 2003.

Dad, Cletus, and Paul. Thank you for your service.

Here we are celebrating Labor Day during a coronavirus shutdown. A day to honor those who made and are making contributions to the well-being of the country.

At first blush, one thinks of those paid for their labor as the recipients of the honor. It should cause one to blush, for many who contribute to the country’s well-being earn little, if any, salary or hourly pay.

Those who support

They are homemakers—women and men who remain at home caring for children or elderly relatives to allow their life-mate to bring the paycheck. We cannot measure their contribution in dollars and cents, though some have tried. The Washington Post at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/a-homemakers-real-salary/2012/02/01/gIQAh7czhQ_blog.html once estimated their value at over $96,000 a year. Let’s not undervalue those who support by maintaining the home.

The holiday includes those who worked but not working today, whether retired or out-of-work because of the virus or other reasons. I am thankful for all of those who have worked, are working, or support workers. Our country is great because of you.

Another Peeve

You know me. Here is a peeve. I am disappointed in my County Executive. He never follows Maryland’s Governor’s recommendations regarding reopenings. Does he think people less capable of adhering to state guidelines run Anne Arundel County businesses? It appears so.

He should honor country workers on this Labor Day by helping them to get back to work.

I would enjoy hearing how your Labor Day goes. I provide a comment form for your use.

Some days are remembered by something that happened on the day. People think of D-Day on June 6^th and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th.

Sometimes I remember King, my Golden Retriever, passing when we celebrate Autumn’s birthday. Autumn is my daughter’s next youngest. King suffered a stroke late in the evening of her first birthday.

Ozzy

Christmas Eve, 2019, will be remembered as the day my granddaughter’s Scottish Fold cat, Osbourne  “Ozzy” McKay, passed.

Ozzy was an orange and white fur-ball. He enjoyed a lot of attention from the four grandchildren. One of his favorite hangouts was a chair near Bradley as he played on his Xbox.

He sometimes sought out a rub from Elizabeth or Autumn. Teddy reluctantly accepted his game play interrupted when Ozzy demanded his attention.

My granddaughter and son-in-law shared the grief and will miss him.

Christmas Eve, 2019, is a marked day in their lives.

One of joy shared with grandparents and great-grandparents in the evening, but one of sadness in the late morning.

Happy 4th of July 2019. It is my seventy-first, and I am thankful to be free to enjoy it. Hale and hearty, though less so than on one while stationed in Iceland.

4th of July in Iceland

It was spring 1974, and I was a newlywed waiting for my next assignment. It came to Naval Security Group Activity, Keflavik.

There was a “critical” need I would meet. My sponsor welcomed me with open arms. He was the only one of our specialty and had been spending onerous hours on equipment failures. Now, he could get some relief. And I would not get a holiday off for some time.

One day I may speak to the work situation, but this remembers one 4th of July spent there. My wife and I joined another couple on a camping trip to the base of Mount Hekla. They drove their van, and we a Jeep Wrangler.

We settled on a location near the base of the mountain. The day passed as we toured the area around the campsite (where we left the van.) After dinner with our friends, my wife and I began to erect the tent. Our friends would sleep in their customized van.

Tent goes up, literally

The tent went up with a hitch. The lava did not accept tent stakes. We moved the Jeep, so there was a space between it and the van. We placed the tent in this area and tied the tent lanyards to the vehicles.

It became time to rest. We settled in our tent and them in the van. My wife was in her sleeping bag and me in mine.

Hours passed, and everything was fine. Until that is, a wind started. It started above us and blew toward the ocean. Our camp was in a slight depression that channeled the wind.

The tent began to shake, waking us. We laid for some time listening to the wind as it grew in strength. When the floor of the tent rose off the ground, bouncing us around, we vacated the tent. We saw the tent flapping, kept from flying away by the ties to the vehicles. We spent the rest of the night in the van at our friend’s invitation.

The tent was there the next morning and showed no signs of damage from the wind.

This experience causes us to laugh each time we relate it. It concerned to feel the tent floor rise with us on it, but looking back it is funny.

This fourth will see nothing exciting beyond dinner out.

Do you have a 4th of July experience or remembrance? Share it using the comment form. I will enjoy hearing it.